APPLY FOR SUPPORT


Farming is inherently challenging and risky. But when a natural disaster or medical emergency strikes, farmers, along with their farm businesses, can become acutely stressed, straining their very livelihood.

The Farmer Fund was established as a safety net for local and organic farmers to overcome setbacks wrought by natural disasters or health crises. The fund is managed by Georgia Organics to assist farmers that feed the state of Georgia primarily through farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), and restaurant sales – a foundational element in the supply chain of healthy food to our local communities.

HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF AND RESOURCES

If you are a Georgia farmer in need of support due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, we urge you to review the criteria below and apply if you meet the eligibility requirements. You do not have to be a Farmer Member of Georgia Organics to qualify or receive relief funds for Hurrican Helene. While we cannot guarantee that we can meet every request, we are committed to doing our utmost to help mitigate the storm’s impact on you and your farm. 

For additional resources, please review Farm Aid: Resources for Farmers Affected by Hurricane Helene. We are working with Farm Aid to keep this page up to date with Georgia-specific information. For federal disaster response updates from the US Department of Agriculture, visit the USDA Disaster Resource Center.

  • To qualify for financial support through The Farmer Fund, you must:

    • Be a Farmer Member of Georgia Organics (for more info on membership, click here) NOTE: You are NOT required to be a Farmer Member to apply or receive relief funds for Hurricane Helene.

    • Be an established Georgia-based producer/grower (not a reseller).

    • Farm using soil-based, sustainable production practices.

    • Sell to the public through a farmers market, CSA, wholesale outlet, or restaurants that serve Georgia families.

  • Any weather-related event including hurricanes, tornados, storms, flooding, wind damage, freezes, excessive heat, etc, that results in significant damage to crops, equipment, or infrastructure.

    • Farm owners must be in business for 6 months before applying.

    • Farm owners must apply within 60 days of the weather event.

  • Any medical emergency including physical injury, physical illness, mental illness, or death in the family that results in a sudden and unexpected loss of work and/or income for a farm employee or farm owner.

    • Chronic injuries and illness are not covered by this fund.

    • Medical emergencies don’t have to take place at work to qualify.

    • Farm owners must have been in business for 6 months before the medical emergency to apply.

    • Farm workers must have been employed for 6 months before the medical emergency to apply.

    • You must apply within 60 days of the medical crisis.

A MESSAGE TO FARMERS FACING NATURAL DISASTERS

From former Board Chair and owner and farmer of Gilliard Farms:

“Oftentimes, when people hear the phrase ‘hunker down,’ they think about staying in place. Well, as farmers, we’re all about staying in place, hunkering down, getting as low as we can to the ground, making sure things are secure. So, this is our verb of the day: hunker down.

And as we’re hunkering down, do not let your heart not be troubled. Georgia Organics and your extended farm family is here for you.

And when this passes, when we’re done hunkering down, that’s the time we need to—as [Georgia Organics’ Director of Farmer Advocacy] Michael Wall says—lean on each other.”