RALEIGH
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has announced the approval of a $311 million agricultural disaster assistance program aimed at helping farmers recover from losses suffered during the 2024 farming season. The funding was approved by state legislators to provide relief and support farmers in continuing operations for the upcoming planting season.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture is in the process of developing the framework for distributing the funds, with $200 million designated for farmers in Western North Carolina and $111 million allocated for the rest of the state. According to Troxler, the program is expected to follow a model similar to the 2018 relief efforts that supported farmers after Hurricane Florence and other tropical storms.
Troxler highlighted the importance of the funding’s timing, stating that it will allow many farmers to move forward with planting for the upcoming season. He also noted that discussions with lawmakers regarding additional disaster assistance are ongoing, as the bill indicates a possibility of future support. Additionally, the state is seeking further federal aid through a block grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
