GFB News Magazine
Hurricane relief fund raises more than $1.7 million for Georgia farmers
by GFB Staff
Posted on March 11, 2025 4:07 AM
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Following the devastation Hurricane Helene caused last September, more than 40 agriculture organizations joined forces to establish the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund for Georgia Farmers to help those whose livelihoods were upended by the storm. Thanks to the generosity of 932 donors, the fund raised $1,774,282 in just three months!
All of the funds raised are in the process of being delivered to 920 farms to help them recover from agricultural losses not covered by insurance. Farmers affected by the storm had the opportunity to apply for funds from mid-November to Dec. 31, 2024. Funds were disbursed based on the needs outlined in their applications.
The relief effort was spearheaded by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, which facilitated the collection of all donations and is coordinating the distribution of the funds.
“The overwhelming support we saw for this fund is a testament to the deep appreciation and respect that people hold for Georgia farmers,” said Georgia Foundation for Agriculture Executive Director Lily Baucom. “Donations poured in from individuals, businesses and major philanthropists underscoring the shared recognition of the critical role farmers play in ensuring food security and economic stability.”
Helene is estimated to have cost Georgia’s economy at least $5.5 billion in agricultural and timber losses, according to damage assessments compiled by the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, the UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, the governor’s office, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Forestry Commission.
“For farm families impacted by Hurricane Helene, the Weathered But Strong Fund represents more than just financial relief - it represents the generosity and kindness of our fellow Georgians who had our farmers’ backs during their time of need. That means the world to our ag community, and I’m grateful to everyone who was a part of this effort,” said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper.
It will take generations for Georgia farms to recover from much of the storm damage. Hurricane Helene blew across 8.9 million acres of Georgia timber, according to a state forestry report. Most of the damage occurred on 1.47 million acres causing $1.28 billion in losses to Georgia’s timber sector.
Many pecan growers had entire orchards blown over, destroying not only last year’s crop but future ones, too. A survey done by the American Pecan Council and Land IQ using satellite imagery estimates 17,874 to 26,750 acres of Georgia pecan orchards lost 20% or more of their trees.
“Georgia’s farmers will feel the pain of this event for years to come,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. “The relief fund won’t make farmers whole, but it will help and will also send a powerful message to our farmers that their community supports them.”
Georgia Farm Bureau was one of the more than 40 organizations that made the relief fund possible. For more information about the fund and other resources available to help farmers recover visit www.SupportGeorgiaFarmers.org.
Generous donors make relief effort a success
The Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund for Georgia Farmers sincerely thanks the 932 donors who generously gave to help farmers and ranchers recover from Hurricane Helene. Because of your generosity, the fund raised $1,774,282 in only three months. These funds are providing direct assistance to 920 farms in 69 counties to cover agricultural losses that include damage to crops, livestock and farm structures not covered by insurance.
All the funds raised are in the process of being distributed. Relief checks were calculated using submitted losses and market-based values from UGA’s Agricultural Economics Department. Farmers had the opportunity to apply for funds from mid-November to Dec. 31, 2024.
This relief fund was spearheaded by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, which facilitated the collection of all donations and is coordinating the distribution of the funds. More than 40 Georgia agricultural organizations supported the relief fund efforts. For a list of supporting organizations and more information about the fund visit www.SupportGeorgiaFarmers.org. Major donors are recognized below. To see a complete list of donors, visit https://gfb.ag/wbsfulldonorlist.
CHANGE CULTIVATOR ($250,000)
Anonymous Family Foundation
LEGACY PLANTERS ($100,000+)
AgGeorgia Farm Credit
Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
Loyce and Annette Turner Foundation
Verizon Foundation
COMMUNITY BUILDERS ($50,000-$99,999)
AGCO Agriculture Foundation
AgSouth Farm Credit ACA
Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Foundation
Tull Charitable Foundation
We Care by ZYN Fund
AG ALLIES ($25,000-$49,999)
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
CareSource Foundation
Georgia Association of Conservation Districts in partnership with Georgia's Conservation Districts: Altamaha, Blue Ridge Mountain, Brier Creek, Broad River, Catoosa County, Cobb County, Coastal, Coosa River, DeKalb County, Flint, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Henry County, Lower Chattahoochee River, McDuffie County, Ocmulgee River, Oconee River, Ogeechee River, Ohoopee River, Piedmont, Pine Mountain, Satilla River, Stephens County, Towaliga, Upper Chattahoochee River, Walton County, Warren County & West Georgia
Georgia EMC, Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission Corp., & Georgia Systems Operations Corp.
Georgia Farm Bureau, Inc.
Georgia Power Foundation
Harley Langdale Junior Foundation
Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher
Magnolia Loom
QuikTrip
Truist Foundation
FIELD SUPPORTERS ($10,000-$24,999)
AgWest Farm Credit
Atlanta Braves Foundation
Barrow County Farm Bureau
Charter Communications
Cobb County Farm Bureau
Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Inc.
Gulfstream
Henry County Farm Bureau
Kansas Farm Bureau
MAR-JAC Poultry, Inc.
Newton County Farm Bureau
Soaring Eagle Dairy LLC
Southern Belle Farms
Stevenson, Hunt
Texas Farm Bureau
The Peyton Anderson Foundation, Inc.
FARMING FOUNDATIONS ($5,000-$9,999)
ORGANIZATIONS/FUNDS
Chase Farms
Consoliplex Holding
Elbert County Farm Bureau
Fortsonia Baptist Church
Georgia Development Authority
Harper for Georgia (Tyler Harper)
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
OrthoGeorgia
Silicon Ranch
SoWeGa Feeder Cattle Marketing Association
Synovus
The Hayes Hepburn Charitable Fund
Three Pines Leasing LLC
Wellington Management Company, LLP
INDIVIDUALS
McMichael, Homer T
Meschi, Amie
Pattillo Cohen, Lynn
Rountree, William R
Schumann, Ann
Taft, Wilbur
Thomason, Robert
All donations are sincerely appreciated. To see a complete list of donors, please visit https://gfb.ag/wbsfulldonorlist.