Producers have until January 2027 to apply for disaster relief funding
Florida agricultural producers now have more time to apply for disaster assistance designed to help them recover from losses caused by the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has extended the application deadline for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program to January 1, 2027. The program offers more than $600 million in funding to support eligible producers affected by recent hurricanes.
“Florida’s farmers are self-reliant and do not like to ask for help, but we encourage any producers who suffered damage or loss to apply to the Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. We have staff standing by to support producers with the application process and have streamlined the program to ensure that impacted producers can receive grant funding as quickly as possible,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
He added, “Extending the application deadline allows more producers to access this critical assistance to rebuild and recover. Food security is a national security issue, and we will continue to do everything we can to support the men and women who feed our state and nation.”
The available funding can help farmers, ranchers, citrus growers, and timber producers recover from a variety of hurricane-related challenges. Assistance is available for infrastructure damage, market losses, citrus-specific impacts, future economic losses, and timber damage.
State officials encourage producers who experienced losses to apply and review program requirements before submitting applications. An online information hub provides details about eligibility, necessary documents, and application procedures.
Since the program opened, more than 600 agricultural producers have already been approved for nearly $100 million in disaster relief funding. Officials have also taken steps to simplify the application process and speed up the distribution of assistance.
The federal funding was made available through a disaster block grant program authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture. Florida became the first state to finalize an agreement with USDA to implement the program.
The more than $600 million available represents a significant portion of Florida’s agricultural losses from the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. The funding is intended to help producers rebuild operations, restore damaged infrastructure, and strengthen recovery efforts.
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding will remain available until all funds are distributed or until January 1, 2027; deadline is reached.
The program is open to eligible agricultural producers located in designated disaster areas who have ownership or financial risk in affected commodities. Producers are encouraged to apply early to ensure access to available funding and support ongoing recovery efforts.
For more information on the program, including eligibility and documentation requirements, is available at blockgrant.fdacs.gov.
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