| I know many of our local farmers, ranchers, and foresters are still feeling the heavy impact of Hurricane Helene. The sheer grit and resilience you all have shown over the last several months is truly a testament to the strength of South Georgia. Needed relief is long overdue. Since Hurricane Helene hit our communities I’ve been in close conversations with state and federal officials including Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, and our federal Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. I’m proud to share that those efforts have paid off. Georgia has successfully secured a massive relief package for our state – here are the details you need to know: Total Funding: Georgia will receive $531,236,000 to provide relief for commodities and losses that are not covered under pre-existing USDA programs. Application Window: Applications for the Georgia Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program open on March 16th, 2026. The application will remain open for a period of six weeks, closing at midnight on April 27th, 2026. Where to Apply: The application, eligibility requirements, guidance documents, and additional details are available at www.farmrecovery.com. Who is Eligible: Georgia farmers, ranchers, and foresters in eligible counties (incuding each county in the 176th District) may apply for assistance to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Unmatched Coverage: Georgia is covering more commodities and loss types than any other state. Eligible losses include timber, infrastructure, poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, milk loss, dairy feed loss, pecans, blueberries, citrus, nursery, plasticulture, and bare ground practices. Compensation Details: Timber payments are based on pre-hurricane values of damaged timber stands. Infrastructure losses cover on-farm physical structures needed for agricultural production. Poultry losses are based on lost production cycles. Beef and dairy cattle losses cover drops in conception rates. Pecan, blueberry, and citrus losses are for future production losses due to destroyed bushes and trees. While we know this funding won’t make everyone 100% whole right away, it is a massive step in the right direction to help our farm families get back on their feet. We are optimistic about the future of Georgia agriculture, and we will keep fighting for you. I want to personally thank President Trump and Secretary Rollins for understanding the critical need for financial relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. If you or someone you know needs assistance navigating this application process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or 404-656-5024. My office stands ready to help you get the relief you deserve. May God bless you, and may God bless the great state of Georgia. Yours in service, | 
