North Raleigh Today

On the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina's Governor Josh Stein and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler appealed for financial assistance from the USDA. The letter sent to US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requested the approval of a block grant to aid farmers in Western North Carolina affected by the disaster.

Governor Stein expressed the urgency, emphasizing, "Agriculture plays a crucial role in the region’s economy, and the farmers of western North Carolina have always demonstrated resilience. However, Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact has left them in a difficult position, with staggering losses they will not recoup without external assistance.”

Commissioner Troxler mirrored these sentiments, stating, “The damage to farms from Hurricane Helene is almost unimaginable, and it is going to take a lot to put them back together. We will need funds to help with that recovery. We hope USDA will come through with block grant funding to do the things we know are going to be needed.”

The proposed block grant would draw from funds allocated by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025. Early discussions have started on the fund's allocation, with the leaders stressing that prompt approval is crucial to helping farmers swiftly resume sustainable production.

Governor Stein recently signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part 1 into law, providing $200 million to assist farmers with crop losses and infrastructure repairs due to Hurricane Helene. He remains an advocate for securing further aid to assist in the removal of debris and restoration of farm infrastructure.

To read the full letter from Governor Stein and Commissioner Troxler, click here.