TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida specialty crop producers can start applying for more than $600 million in disaster assistance for impacts from hurricanes in 2023 and 2024, beginning Feb. 25.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is also asking the federal government for approval to use Florida’s disaster block grant program to immediately fund relief for agricultural producers impacted by the ice storm on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Through the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program, eligible agricultural producers can apply for grant funding to assist with infrastructure damage, market loss, citrus loss, and timber damage from recent hurricanes.
“Florida’s producers suffered over $3 billion in damages and losses during the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. We’ve worked to make this funding available as quickly as possible to support the men and women who feed and sustain our state and nation,” said Simpson. “Our program is in place, and we stand ready to receive supplemental funding to address the devastating 2026 ice storm that impacted Florida. We can be a force multiplier to get assistance out as quickly as possible.”
Application Background
Producers are encouraged to begin preparing now by reviewing eligibility information and gathering required documentation to help prevent delays once the application period opens. To help producers prepare, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has established a centralized online information hub at FDACS.gov/BlockGrant with information regarding eligibility, documentation requirements, and application details.
Florida is the first state in the nation to finalize an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement this newly authorized disaster block grant program. More than $600 million in federal funding represents approximately 35% of Florida’s total agricultural losses and damage from the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. Once the application period opens, applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. All completed applications must be submitted by August 25, 2026, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
The program will be open to agricultural producers located in counties designated as primary or contiguous disaster areas who are U.S. citizens or legal entities with ownership or risk in affected commodities.
Relief funding will assist eligible producers with:
- Infrastructure damage
- Market loss compensation
- Citrus-specific impacts, including infrastructure and future economic loss
- Timber damage
Additional information on the program, including eligibility and documentation requirements, is available at FDACS.gov/BlockGrant.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.