USDA Announces $38.1 Million in Grant Agreement to Cover Agricultural Losses due to Hurricane Helene in Tennessee

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2025) - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen A. Vaden today announced $38.1 million in additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers in Tennessee recover from Hurricane Helene. Deputy Secretary Vaden signed a block grant agreement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) that provides recovery assistance to eligible Tennessee farmers.

America's farmers and ranchers across the southeast and in Tennessee have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during 2024. USDA has worked closely with the State of Tennessee to guarantee those impacted have the relief they need," said Deputy Secretary Vaden. "The Trump Administration has our farmers' backs and will ensure they have the resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most abundant food supply in the world.

"We're grateful for Secretary Rollins' leadership and USDA's partnership in delivering meaningful relief to our farmers and forest landowners," said Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt. "This block grant funding recognizes the unique challenges faced by Tennessee's agricultural producers in the wake of Hurricane Helene and will help cover a wide range of critical current needs as well as setbacks still to come."

Under this agreement, TDA is receiving $38.1 million in funding to administer a program that will cover infrastructure and timber losses in addition to future economic losses and market losses. This funding is part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025. USDA is working with 14 different states, including Tennessee, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.

USDA, Governor Bill Lee's office in Tennessee, and TDA have finalized a grant agreement that will cover qualifying losses not addressed by other USDA disaster programs. Producers should look for additional program information available through the TDA.

Additional USDA Supplemental Disaster Assistance

Since March 2025, USDA has supported U.S. farmers and ranchers with more than $16 billion in supplemental disaster assistance mandated by Congress in the American Relief Act, 2025 including $9.3 billion through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, over $1 billion through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program, with an additional $1 billion in expected ELRP payments and, to date, more than $5.7 billion in SDRP Stage One payments. Visit the 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance webpage to track the status of USDA disaster assistance. The page is updated regularly and accessible through fsa.usda.gov.

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