Farmers and agribusinesses hurt by Hurricane Helene have a one-stop shop for finding resources in South Carolina’s new Farm and Forestry Recovery Resource Days.
State estimates put the amount of damage suffered by the state’s agribusiness industry at $621 billion from Helene, Tropical Storm Debby and summer flash drought.
Gov. Henry McMaster will be on hand Friday to launch the initiative at USC Aiken, according to a news release. The event will be held at the Student Activities Center.
Farmers and agribusinesses can draw from a wealth of agencies participating in the event. They will include AgSouth, Clemson University Extension, FEMA, the IRS, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the USDA, South Carolina Farm Bureau and numerous state agencies and other groups. They will offer financial, technical, educational and other support to those who attend.
Friday, McMaster wrote a letter to the South Carolina Congressional Delegation asking for federal aid in the form of a block grant to the S.C. Department of Agriculture to funnel additional resources to the state.
“The future of hundreds of agricultural operations is at risk, and without timely intervention, we face the prospect of long-term harm to the livelihoods of families who sustain our rural communities and contribute significantly to South Carolina’s prosperity and heritage,” the letter said.
The resource days also will be held Nov. 21 in Greenville and Dec. 6 in Myrtle Beach.
Georgia agricultural damage estimates are far higher, at $6.5 billion for the state’s largest industry, valued at $84 billion.
While the state isn’t hosting a similar event, on Nov. 1 Gov. Brian Kemp announced the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission had redirected $100 million to the Georgia Development Authority to provide financial assistance to farmers and timber producers.
The state has also requested federal block grants to provide relief for farmers and agribusinesses.
