(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins met with Florida agricultural leaders and producers on Monday and announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers recover from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton. Secretary Rollins signed a block grant agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that provides recovery assistance for Floridian farmers.
In this agreement, FDACS is receiving $675.9M in funding to administer a program that will cover infrastructure, citrus and timber losses in addition to direct market losses. This funding is part of the $30 billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025. USDA is working with 14 different states, including Florida, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.
“America’s farmers and ranchers across the Southeast and in Florida have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during the last two hurricane seasons. USDA has worked closely with the State of Florida to ensure those impacted have the relief they need,” said Secretary Rollins. “The Trump Administration has our farmers’ backs and will ensure they have the resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most abundant food supply in the world.”
Commissioner Simpson
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson added:
“I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Brooke Rollins and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for critical financial relief for our farmers, ranchers and growers. Florida’s producers have endured back-to-back devastating hurricane seasons, and this funding is a major victory that will help them rebuild, recover, and continue feeding our state and nation. Food production is not just an economic issue, it’s a matter of national security — and we appreciate the President’s consistent support for our farmers,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.