The Georgia Green Industry Association is in contact with many growers in the southern half of Georgia who have been impacted by Hurricane Michael. Damage ranges from overturned nursery stock to severe loss of both structures and crops.
This photo from Greenbrier Nurseries illustrates the damage Hurricane Michael has caused to the nursery industry.
GGIA staff will be joining UGA Extension in these affected areas on Friday, October 12th, and there will most certainly be needs and opportunities for those who are willing to help with labor, equipment and other needs.
In the meantime, if you have been impacted by the storm, please notify GGIA so that they can communicate with local, state and national officials.
Georgia Green Industry Association
GGIA Office: 706-632-0100. Jennifer Addington - Jennifer@ggia.org, Ashley Prather - Ashley@ggia.org
Chris Butts Direct: 706-540-2813 or Chris@ggia.org
GGIA also published a list of additional resources from both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Farm Service Agency:
Farm Service Agency
Local Agency Locator: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
USDA
USDA recently launched a disaster assistance discovery tool through its new website Farmers.gov that walks producers through five questions to help them identify personalized results of which USDA disaster assistance programs can help them recover after a natural disaster. https://www.farmers.gov/recover/disaster-assistance-tool#step-1
Tree Assistance Program (TAP)
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) authorized the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to provide financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters. The 2014 Farm Bill makes TAP a permanent disaster program and provides retroactive authority to cover eligible losses back to Oct. 1, 2011. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/tree-assistance-program/index
Emergency Farm Loans
When a tornado, flood, or drought strikes, or a quarantine is imposed by the Secretary of Agriculture, or when other natural disasters occur, FSA's Emergency loan program is there to help eligible farmers and ranchers rebuild and recover from sustained losses. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/emergency-farm-loans/index
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance/index