U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) recently joined U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Alexander Vaden and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler in Asheville for the announcement of a $221.2 million federal aid package aimed at helping North Carolina farmers recover from Hurricane Helene. The funding comes through a block grant agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS).
Senator Budd commented on the impact of the hurricane, stating:
“For almost a year now, farmers across Western North Carolina have fought to rebuild their livelihoods given widespread devastation to infrastructure and timber and crop losses caused by Hurricane Helene. On Friday, USDA finalized a $221 million block grant to help our farmers recover from these losses. Thank you to all those involved, particularly President Trump, Secretary Rollins, Commissioner Troxler, and members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation. While there’s much more to be done to rebuild Western North Carolina, this block grant goes a long way to help restore the foundation of our state’s largest single industry—agriculture.”
Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed the broader challenges faced by producers in 2024:
“America’s farmers and ranchers across the Southeast and in North Carolina have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024. USDA has worked closely with the State of North Carolina to ensure those impacted have the relief they need. President Trump has our farmers’ backs, and we are working quickly to get these much-needed relief funds to those who need to rebuild. This is one part of our daily actions to ensure our farmers have the resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most abundant food supply in the world.”
Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden emphasized support for agricultural communities:
“Today’s announcement is about delivering on our promise to stand shoulder to shoulder with America’s farmers in times of need. By signing this block grant with North Carolina, USDA is ensuring that producers have the resources to rebuild stronger after Hurricane Helene and keep producing the food and fuel our nation depends on. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are moving quickly to cut red tape, get relief dollars into the hands of those who need it most, and protect the backbone of our rural economy, our family farms.”
Commissioner Steve Troxler noted how crucial this assistance is for affected regions:
“This $221.2 million federal disaster assistance block grant for agricultural damage due to Hurricane Helene is welcomed news to North Carolina farmers in western North Carolina who have been holding on in the aftermath of massive ag losses in 2024. We are grateful for USDA’s continued efforts on this block grant and appreciate their willingness to partner with us on this much needed assistance. We all have an interest in the success of agriculture because farmers produce the food and fiber we all depend on.”
The NCDA&CS will manage distribution of these funds as part of a larger national disaster relief initiative authorized by Congress under the American Relief Act, 2025.
Further information about ongoing disaster assistance can be found at USDA’s public landing page for supplemental disaster aid.
