The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has started distributing the first checks to farmers affected by agricultural disasters in 2024. The payments are part of a $478 million fund allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly earlier this year to help offset nearly $5 billion in losses from Hurricane Helene, drought, Tropical Storm Debby, and Potential Cyclone 8. An additional $25 million was approved for infrastructure losses, which will require a separate application process.
The initial round of checks has been sent to farmers in Western North Carolina. Further payments will be distributed over the coming weeks. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced the rollout, stating, “Getting disaster relief out to our devastated ag community has been a priority for the department, and I appreciate farmers’ patience as we have worked through the process of verifying damage and losses and processing the over 8,500 applications we received.” He added, “I want to thank members of the General Assembly for recognizing the urgency behind these funds and for continuing to support our ag community in the aftermath of the worst ag disaster this state has experienced.”
Payments are being issued by category. Farmers may receive multiple checks if their losses span more than one category or location within North Carolina. Categories include aquaculture, program crops, specialty crops, nurseries (including fruit trees, Christmas trees, and turf), and infrastructure. Work is ongoing to determine cost-share payments for infrastructure.
Troxler noted that nursery crop payments will be made in two installments: “Nursery crop payments will be made in two installments, with farmers receiving a partial payment in the first check,” he said. “Farmers should look for information on the check stub, which details what category the check covers.”
Disaster payment calculations take into account several factors such as county location, average yield at both county and state levels, price averages, loss percentages by county, reported acreage, and other federal payments received by farmers during 2024.
Farmers with questions can contact the department at 866-747-9823 or email agdisaster@ncagr.gov. Additional information is available under the Ag Disaster Crop Loss Program section on www.ncagr.gov.
