Resources available for agricultural interests in wake of hurricanes
Hillsborough County farmers and ranchers impacted by this fall's hurricanes should know help is a fingertip away. Numerous resources are available to assist in your recovery so you can continue producing delicious vegetables, fruits, meats, and other bountiful goods for everyone to enjoy as valuable contributions to the county's economy.
To begin, take the time to participate in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences' (UF/IFAS) survey to determine agricultural damages. Survey results will be used to estimate production losses and help local, state, and federal decision-making related to disaster declaration, response, and relief.
This is your chance to help shape and improve response.
Next, to help you recover, here are some valuable programs:
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Low- or interest-free loans are available to eligible agricultural and aquaculture producers who have experienced damage from a declared natural disaster.
The Rebuilding Florida Fisheries Program was established to provide financial assistance from the Florida Disaster Fund and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida to support fishery participants impacted by the 2024 Florida hurricane season with direct payments to support immediate needs to reopen fishery operations.
Requests to repair or replace fishery-related items and equipment, as well as reimbursement for repairs and replacements already performed, are eligible through this program.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides long-term low interest loans up to $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.
Depending on the circumstance, businesses may be eligible for the following loans:
SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans
- Eligible Applicants: Qualified businesses of any size and most nonprofit organizations. There is no charge to apply for the loan, and you do not have to accept it if you are approved.
- Use of Proceeds: May be used to repair or replace physical assets such as real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory, leasehold improvements. Proceeds may not be used to upgrade or expand a business, except as required by building codes.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The SBA provides long-term low interest loans up to $2 million for working capital to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations impacted by a disaster meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations until normal operations resume.
To apply:
- Visit: SBA.gov/Disaster
- Call: SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, 8 AM to 8 PM, ET, Monday - Friday
- Email: Disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Deadline to apply:
- Physical Damage Disaster Loans - Dec. 16, 2024
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans - July 16, 2025
Assistance for Your Employees
Tips and programs to help your employees:
- Encourage employees to apply online at Disasterassistance.gov.
- Offer internet connectivity, if you have it available, to help them register.
- Pass along the information on this page that may be relevant to your employees.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency offer recovery programs and insurance products to help farmers, ranchers, and communities that have been hard hit by hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.
• Emergency Assistance for Hurricane, Flooding, and Related Natural Disaster Events
• Comparison of USDA's Conservation Programs to Aid Recovery after Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton
The USDA provides a suite of disaster assistance, farm loan, and conservation programs to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to recover. In September 2024, USDA made changes to its emergency loan program so that producers can access emergency loans for any amount of damage (previously farmers had to show a 30% production loss), and to increase access to flexible repayment terms, including interest-only payments, if necessary to recover from the disaster.
Below you will find links to direct you to a variety of recovery assistance:
Livestock and Poultry Assistance
- Livestock Indemnity Program
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- Environmental Quality Incentives Programs (EQIP)
Crop Assistance
Farm Loans
Farm and Forest Land Damage