Georgia pecan growers eligible for Hurricane Helene relief starting March 16

Georgia pecan growers and other agricultural producers affected by Hurricane Helene can apply for state disaster assistance beginning March 16, with a six-week application period that closes at midnight April 27, officials said. The program helps cover losses not compensated by existing USDA programs.

The Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program, administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, is backed by roughly $531.2 million in federal funds. In addition to pecans, eligible losses include timber, infrastructure, poultry, beef and dairy cattle, milk and dairy feed, blueberries, citrus, nursery crops, and plasticulture or bare-ground practices.

“Georgia farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for relief beginning on March 16, 2026,” said Georgia agriculture commissioner Tyler J Harper in a statement. “While this relief will not make impacted producers 100% whole, it will help farm families get back on their feet after the devastation of Hurricane Helene.”

For pecan growers, state guidance specifies documentation needed to substantiate losses. Applicants must demonstrate they suffered at least a $1,000 pecan loss and provide supporting records, including:

• Acreage reports showing affected areas
• Crop insurance documents
• Invoices for replacement trees
• Photographs of damaged trees and groves
• Records detailing:
  • Number of trees affected
  • Number of acres affected
  • Number of replacement trees needed
• Proof of property interest, such as:
  • Tax assessments
  • Deeds
  • Lease contracts

Pecan losses are covered based on future production reductions tied to damaged or destroyed trees, rather than typical crop-insurance indemnities.

Other assistance categories include:

• Infrastructure payments for on-farm structures needed for production
• Timber compensation based on pre-hurricane values
• Poultry losses calculated by missed production cycles
• Beef and dairy cattle losses covering reduced conception rates and lower milk output
• Nursery crop assistance for future production losses
• Funds to restore damaged plasticulture and bare-ground practices

Growers are encouraged to gather all relevant documentation before the application period opens to facilitate a smoother process. Applications, eligibility guidance and supporting documents are available online.

The block grant reflects Georgia’s effort to provide broad agricultural relief, with pecans among the key commodities targeted for recovery from one of the state’s most destructive storms in recent years.