Photo by Lindy Savelle
By Clint Thompson
Financial relief is available for specialty crop producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). That means much needed assistance for growers in Alabama and Georgia who have dealt with their share of hurricanes, freeze events and prolonged drought over the last couple of years.
AFVGA Statement
Blake Thaxton, executive director of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA), commented:
“Our guys have faced tremendous pressure from every angle the last couple of years. Natural disasters have certainly been one of those things. We were very pleased that they’ll get some relief and some opportunity to keep their farms economically sustainable moving into the future.”
GFVGA Statement
Chris Butts, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), added:
“We’re approaching a year since Hurricane Helene and then other disasters, including freezes, that have been a long time coming in terms of getting payment support to growers. We’re glad to see it roll out; glad to see the USDA be able to expedite it and expedite the process, and we’re looking forward to working with our growers, Georgia Department of Ag and FSA; anything that we can do to expedite that process. It came on the heels of the MASC payments over the last couple of weeks. We’re getting some funds going to growers after what I think was, by many accounts, a hard season. The funds are coming at a good time.”
To expedite the implementation of SDRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering assistance in two stages. The first stage is open to growers with eligible crop losses that received assistance under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program during 2023 and 2024. Stage One signup has begun at FSA county offices, and prefilled applications were mailed to producers on July 9. SDRP Stage Two signups for eligible shallow or uncovered losses will begin in early fall.