USDA providing $221 million to help N.C. farmers recover from Helene

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. — A new round of relief is on its way to farmers in western North Carolina affected by Helene.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it is allocating $221.2 million to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a program to assist farmers who suffered infrastructure, timber and market losses in Helene.

The funding is part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act.

“It’s going to keep a good many farmers in business,” Kenny Barnwell, an apple orchard farmer, said.

“I believe it’s going to be helpful to get our growers back on their feet so that when they start in the next season, maybe they’ll be in a little better shape than they have been this season,” Dr. Terry Kelley, the director of Henderson County Cooperative Extension, said.

Helene is estimated to have caused $4.23 billion of damage to the state’s agricultural industry, according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, including crop, infrastructure and equipment loss. 

Helene washed out a road on Barnwell’s apple orchard and killed over 3,000 of his apple trees. He estimates his property sustained about $500,000 in damage and expects to feel the impacts from Helene for the next six years.

“I hope we never have another 12 months like we had this last 12,” Barnwell said.

The USDA’s funding comes after the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $478 million to farmers for crops lost in Helene. While that money is starting to be distributed, farmers are hopeful support from the USDA will help them recoup some of their losses.

“Until these checks get into these people’s hands, a lot of it is up in the air,” Barnwell said.

The USDA has not announced when farmers can apply for this assistance. Officials encourage farmers to keep in contact with their local North Carolina Cooperative Extension office for more information.