Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the launch of a new Virginia and USDA block grant program designed to support farmers and forestland owners who experienced damage or commodity loss due to Hurricane Helene. The Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program will be administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS) once federal funding is allocated and a state workplan is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA is providing block-grant funding for this initiative, as authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025 (HR 10545 – 118th), to help those affected by Hurricane Helene, which struck Virginia in September 2024. The program aims to provide direct payments to eligible producers.
“Hurricane Helene left a lasting impact on Virginia’s agricultural and forestry communities, especially in Southwest and Southside, damaging infrastructure, destroying crops, and threatening the livelihoods of families, farms, and forestry operations across the region,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This new recovery block grant program ensures that Virginians who haven’t qualified for other disaster relief finally have access to targeted support. My administration is committed to standing with our producers, helping them recover, rebuild, and continue driving the strength and resilience of Virginia’s rural economy.”
“We look forward to this USDA partnership, as this block grant funding relief will help many Southwest Virginia agricultural and forest producers recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene’s devastation,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “The application period for the Virginia block grant program will open soon and will be communicated by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. I encourage agriculture and forestry producers who were impacted by Helene to apply for this grant opportunity.”
The financial assistance targets losses not covered by other federal disaster programs. VDACS is currently working with USDA on an implementation plan for fund distribution as well as developing an online application portal at https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/about-farm-recovery-block-grant.shtml.
According to VDACS, eligibility extends to agricultural and forestry landowners in 27 designated localities including Bedford, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe counties; plus the independent cities of Bristol, Covington, Danville, Galax, Norton and Radford.
Applicants are advised to prepare documentation such as tax forms (W-9), Federal Tax ID information for all owners or beneficiaries involved in farm operations or timberland ownerships within these localities; Farm Service Agency documents; photographic evidence of damage; proof of insurance claims; invoices for repairs; documentation regarding crop loss or timber casualty; evidence related to any other indemnity programs received due to Hurricane Helene; among others.
To qualify for certain types of assistance under this program—such as market loss or future economic loss claims—producers must agree to obtain USDA Risk Management coverage for two crop years.
Once the workplan receives approval from USDA authorities VDACS will announce registration dates publicly. Staff from VDACS along with representatives from Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) agents and Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) will assist applicants throughout the process both online at https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/about-farm-recovery-block-grant.shtml and at local VCE offices for those lacking computer access.
Further updates about application periods or requirements can be found on VDACS’s website.
