APPLY FOR SUPPORT
Farming is inherently challenging and risky. But when a natural disaster or medical emergency strikes, farmers, along with their farm businesses, can become acutely stressed, straining their very livelihood.
The Farmer Fund was established as a safety net for local and organic farmers to overcome setbacks wrought by natural disasters or health crises. The fund is managed by Georgia Organics to assist farmers that feed the state of Georgia primarily through farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), and restaurant sales – a foundational element in the supply chain of healthy food to our local communities.
In addition to the Farmer Fund, there are many resources available to help farmers recover from natural disasters. See below for a comprehensive list of disaster relief resources.
*Please note we are no longer accepting applications for Hurricane Helene
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Steps to Take Now:
Document Damage: Photograph affected crops, structures, and equipment.
Contact Local Agencies: Reach out to your local FSA and NRCS offices to report damage and begin applications.
Check Insurance Policies: Notify your crop insurance agent as soon as possible.
Monitor Deadlines: Many programs have tight application windows following a disaster.
Federal Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA):
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Funding for repairing farmland and infrastructure.
Tree Assistance Program (TAP): Financial help for rehabilitating or replanting damaged trees, bushes, and vines.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): Assistance for crops not covered by federal insurance.
Emergency Loan Program: Low-interest loans for recovery efforts.
USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA):
Emergency Relief Program (ERP): Federal Crop Insurance and Natural Disaster Resources
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS):
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Support for conservation practices that enhance resilience.
Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP): Assistance with flooding or erosion caused by snowmelt.
Rural Development Disaster Assistance: USDA Rural Development Resources
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
FEMA Disasters & Assistance: Disaster Information, Assistance, and Recovery Tools.
State Resources
Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA):
Georgia Agricultural Disaster Response: Updates and assistance during declared agricultural disasters.
University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension:
Weather Emergency Guide: Educational tools for recovering from extreme weather.
Local Extension Agents: Free technical support for assessing damage.
Nonprofit and Community Support
Farmer Resource Network: Emergency funds and regional support connections.
Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI):
Educational resources for disaster recovery & Disaster Hotline.
Emergency Farmer Fund: Relief funding during natural disasters.
Additional Resources
Small Business Administration (SBA):
Disaster Assistance Loans: Low-interest loans for rebuilding farm infrastructure.
Guidance on disaster declarations and insurance claims.
Check out the qualifying criteria below before applying for relief through the Farmer Fund to see if you are eligible to receive funding.
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To qualify for financial support through The Farmer Fund, you must:
Be a current, active Farmer Member of Georgia Organics (for more info on membership, click here)
Be an established Georgia-based producer/grower (not a reseller).
Farm using soil-based, sustainable production practices.
Sell to the public through a farmers market, CSA, wholesale outlet, or restaurants that serve Georgia families.
Not have already met the annual cap for Emergency Relief funds.
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Any weather-related event including hurricanes, tornados, storms, flooding, wind damage, freezes, etc., that results in significant damage to crops, livestock, equipment, or infrastructure.
Farm owners must be in business for 6 months before applying.
Farm owners must apply within 60 days of the weather event.
What this fund does NOT cover: loss of crops/livestock due to lack of infrastructure, drought, loss of sales due to anything outside of a natural disaster or medical emergency
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Any medical emergency including physical injury, physical illness, mental illness, or death in the family that results in a sudden and unexpected loss of work and/or income for a farm employee or farm owner.
Medical emergencies don’t have to take place at work to qualify.
Farm owners must have been in business for 6 months before the medical emergency to apply.
Farm workers must have been employed for 6 months before the medical emergency to apply.
You must apply within 60 days of the medical crisis.
What this fund does NOT cover: chronic injuries and illness, medical bills
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Hardship experienced due to cuts to SNAP/EBT funding because of the government shutdown
Must apply within 60 days of the loss of SNAP/EBT benefits and/or SNAP/EBT sales*
*Note: For now, we are offering relief for November 2025 losses only.
A MESSAGE TO FARMERS FACING NATURAL DISASTERS
From former Board Chair and owner and farmer of Gilliard Farms:
“Oftentimes, when people hear the phrase ‘hunker down,’ they think about staying in place. Well, as farmers, we’re all about staying in place, hunkering down, getting as low as we can to the ground, making sure things are secure. So, this is our verb of the day: hunker down.
And as we’re hunkering down, do not let your heart not be troubled. Georgia Organics and your extended farm family is here for you.
And when this passes, when we’re done hunkering down, that’s the time we need to—as [Georgia Organics’ Director of Farmer Advocacy] Michael Wall says—lean on each other.”