ADVISORY: USDA ANNOUNCES ASSISTANCE TO PECAN GROWERS AFFECTED BY 2017 WEATHER EVENTS

ALBANY, GA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will provide up to $15 million in assistance through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), to pecan growers impacted by 2017 weather events.

Last year, Georgia was struck by a series of severe weather events. Hurricane Irma was particularly devastating, wiping out nearly a third of Georgia's pecan crop. The assistance announced today is intended for pecan orchardists and pecan nursery tree growers and provides funding to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees.

To be eligible for assistance, orchardists and nursery tree growers must have suffered tree losses in excess of 7.5 percent from Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017.

More information on how to qualify for TAP assistance can be found here. Additional information on USDA disaster assistance programs can be found here. Farmers can find contact information for their local USDA FSA Office here.