USDA supports farmers after 2024 disasters

Nov 20, 2024
By Farms.com

Over $2 billion pledged for specialty crops and storage aid

The USDA has unveiled over $2 billion in funding to help farmers recover from 2024’s natural disasters. This support focuses on specialty crops and crop storage needs.

The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program allocates $2 billion to support fruit, vegetable, and nut producers facing high costs and market barriers. Applications open in December 2024.

The Commodity Storage Assistance Program provides $140 million for farmers to access necessary storage facilities. This program helps mitigate disaster-related challenges like those caused by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “Specialty crop producers play a critical role in U.S. agriculture,” emphasizing the importance of these programs for recovery.

Additional USDA initiatives include the Emergency Relief Program and over $6 billion in crop insurance indemnities in 2024, aiding farmers nationwide.

These efforts highlight USDA’s commitment to supporting local food systems, expanding market opportunities, and ensuring recovery from disasters. Farmers can find resources at farmers.gov/hurricane.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.