USDA advises farmers to prepare for hurricane season

ATHENS, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency in Georgia advises producers to prepare for the 2024 hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an extremely active hurricane season this year. Therefore, it is crucial for producers to be educated, prepared, and aware of potential disasters.

“20% of the land here in Georgia is considered farmland, and that’s a very big deal. When it comes to agriculture. As you know, agriculture is a top industry in the state of Georgia. And, so, we have to do everything we can to protect our farmers and our ranchers. And, so, when natural disasters strike; hurricanes, excessive wind, excessive water, excessive rain, it really does put a huge damper on our farmers and ranchers. Excessive wind knocks trees over. It makes it very difficult to get to operations, an excess of rain, floods operations, also loss of electricity. All of these factors come in to negatively impacting our farmers and our ranchers, which is why it’s so important that we’re getting the word out to prepare early, get all your records and let’s make sure we can do our very best to prepare for hurricane season,” said Arthur Tripp, Jr., USDA Farm Service Agency Georgia State Executive Director.

In the event of a hurricane or other natural disasters, the USDA Farm Service Agency provides a range of resources to assist farmers and ranchers in their recovery efforts.

“We know when the time of disaster strikes, a lot of farmers and ranchers may not have extra dollars lying around to clean up to get their operations back up and running. And, so, the first thing I would mention are emergency loans. But, we also have a host of programs, our livestock indemnity program, our emergency conservation program. There are resources there to help our farmers and ranchers get back on their feet,” said Tripp.

Arthur Tripp Jr., Georgia State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency, offers guidance on how producers can prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.

“So, the number one thing I would say to prepare is get all your records, make sure you’re doing your recordkeeping. Let’s make sure that you have your receipts. So, let’s make sure you have your plans. Go ahead and store that in a safe place. So, that if indeed disaster strikes, and we hope and we pray that it will not. But if it does, the we will be prepared. Do not go and do immediate cleanup. Do not do that, unless there is a loss of life of some sort. There is a law, NEPA, the National Environmental law, that governs how we go in and provide resources in the event that there is a disruption to an operation. Because we want to make sure you don’t void yourself from getting some resources from the USDA,” said Tripp.

Agricultural producers are highly advised to meet with their local USDA Service Centers.

“Given that we are predicted to have an active hurricane season, it’s very important for our farmers and ranchers to engage with their local USDA Service Center. We have a whole host of programs, a ton of programs, a ton of knowledge, a ton of resources to help our farmers and our ranchers, because agriculture is so critical. That’s the backbone of our state’s economy. And, we have to make sure we’re continuing to feed our communities. And, so, I would say go ahead and just call your local USDA Service Center. It doesn’t matter if you have half an acre, it doesn’t matter if you have a quarter acre, it doesn’t matter if you have 25,000 acres. We are here to serve our farmers and our ranchers allow us to do that. Give us a call. Just Google ‘USDA Service Center’ and we’ll be there to help you,” said Tripp.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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