Ga. Ag Partners Launch Joint Hurricane Relief Fund for Farmers Impacted by Helene

Courtesy of Georgia Farm Bureau | Georgia Foundation for Agriculture

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in a partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) and in support by the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), has launched the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund to aid farmers and ranchers facing devastating losses from Hurricane Helene. The fund aims to raise $1 million by December to provide direct financial aid to those impacted by the storm.

The Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund is a cross-industry initiative designed to assist Georgia’s farmers with recovery efforts, including damages to crops, livestock, and farm infrastructure. The campaign emphasizes resilience within the agricultural community and collaboration across the sector to ensure a strong recovery for the state's farming community.

“The Weathered But Strong Hurricane Relief Fund is a perfect example of Georgians helping Georgians in their time of need, and we’re proud to work hand-in-hand with Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and all our industry partners to get much-need relief to our farmers and producers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “The damage Helene caused to our agricultural community is devastating for farm families across our state, and I strongly encourage anyone who is able to donate, to do so through the Weather But Strong Hurricane Relief Fund.

The fund will help address essential needs by covering gaps left by other forms of assistance, for efforts like repairing fences, restoring livestock operations, rebuilding essential structures, and eventually providing financial aid to those impacted.

In Coffee County, farmers Danny and Angie O’Steen witnessed the destruction of cotton and timber on their land.

“The kind of loss we saw all over Coffee County is incalculable and catastrophic,' Angie O'Steen remarked after seeing the damage to farms around the area.

Danny O’Steen added, “This was a storm of a lifetime that couldn’t have come at a worse time for Georgia farmers as they were starting the harvest season.”

Visit www.Support GeorgiaFarmers.org to donate online or download the forms for check contributions.

The Weathered But Strong Hurricane Relief Fund is made possible by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the following agricultural organizations: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Dickey Farms Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension Georgia 4-H Georgia 4-H Foundation Georgia Agribusiness Council Georgia Agricultural Education Georgia Association of Conservation Districts Georgia Cattlemen's Association Georgia Citrus Association Georgia Cotton Commission Georgia Department of Agriculture Georgia EMC Georgia Farm Bureau Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service Georgia FFA Georgia FFA Alumni Georgia FFA Camps- Covington and Fort Valley Georgia FFA Foundation Georgia Forestry Association Georgia Forestry Commission Georgia Forestry

Foundation Georgia Foundation For Agriculture Georgia Green Industry Association Georgia Milk Producers Georgia Peanut Commission Georgia Pecan Growers Association Georgia Poultry Federation Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Georgia Wine Producers Georgia Young Farmers Association Lamar Pecan Co Magnolia Loom Stuckey’s Corporation Sunbelt Ag Expo The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association The Georgia Pecan Commission University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is Georgia Farm Bureau's nonprofit (501(c)(3)), and contributions to the Hurricane Relief Fund are fully tax-deductible. Donors will receive a receipt for their records. 100% of funds donated will go directly to farmers and ranchers.

About the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) organization that prepares the next generation of Georgia leaders for success in agriculture and also supports programs that address the challenges facing agriculture and works to preserve the future of farming. Donations to the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund go to the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and are tax-deductible un- der IRS 170(b)(A)(VI). Learn more at GAFoundationAg. org.