Farm Recovery Block Grant Program

The Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program is a state-administered initiative designed to provide financial relief to agricultural producers and timber owners in 27 Virginia localities significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene. Administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the program offers direct financial assistance to eligible individuals and entities who can verify losses resulting directly from the storm. In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension, this program aims to help recover from market loss, economic disruptions, and infrastructure damage caused by the hurricane. The grant targets producers and timber owners who experienced verifiable losses in 21 counties and 6 independent cities across the state. Eligible producers must be U.S. citizens, resident aliens, qualifying tribal organizations, or legally structured business entities organized under state law. Timber owners eligible for funding include individuals or entities engaged in the harvesting or manufacturing of forest products, provided they own the timber rights on the affected property. Foreign entities may also qualify if they meet eligibility under 7 CFR part 1400. Applicants must also commit to acquiring and maintaining USDA Risk Management coverage for two crop years if they are seeking aid for market loss, economic loss, plasticulture, or aquaculture. This provision ensures that producers are actively mitigating future risks in addition to seeking current recovery funding. The open application period begins on September 22, 2025, and closes on November 6, 2025. Applications must be submitted via the VDACS WebGrants platform, which is best accessed on a desktop or laptop computer. A live virtual public training session will be held on September 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, providing applicants with a guided overview of the program and application procedures. A recorded session is also available for applicants who cannot attend the live session. Applicants must prepare their submission documents according to VDACS guidelines and are encouraged to review the complete program details prior to submission. For further assistance or general inquiries, applicants may contact VDACS via email at DisasterRecoveryGrants@vdacs.virginia.gov or by calling 1.833.469.5037 or 1.804.225.3924, Monday through Friday during business hours. Award notifications are expected later in 2025 once the application review process is complete.

Applicants must apply online and ensure risk coverage compliance if applying for certain claims. Public training session available Sept 24.