This year has plagued farms and the ag community with wildfires, drought, and now hurricanes. As Hurricane Ian leaves Florida ravaged by its Category 4 winds, rain, flooding, and more, crops have been left decimated and livestock in need of assistance.
However, there’s one thing that the ag community is incredible at, and that’s rallying together for a cause. As Ian makes its’ way toward the Carolinas and other Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, organizations and volunteers are stepping up to ease the effects of the storms.
How can you help?
Make smart donations
If you are considering donating to a group you haven’t heard of before or to a fund that isn’t administered by a reliable source, please check out the list of legitimate charities on Charity Navigator to make sure that you’re not getting scammed.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
FDACS through the Florida Solicitation of Contributions Act creates a safe environment for individual donors to give confidently in response to needs in the community and causes they care about.
Update: Florida Farm Bureau
Florida Farm Bureau has created a fund that will assist Florida farm and ranch families recovering from the storm. The Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for Agriculture will provide support for the recovery from agricultural-related losses. All donations will be tax deductible and can be made by check or credit card. Affected farmers and ranchers can also apply for additional resources and relief funding programs here.
American Red Cross
This well-known and prominent organization is accepting donations related to Hurricane Ian.
Professionals can donate time and expertise
Florida Vet Corps Volunteers are needed to assist fellow veterinary professionals. Some veterinarians, clinics, and organizations are taking donations to help fund the purchase of drugs and other needed antibiotics to assist with providing care for wildlife.
Consider helping by sending supplies to ag producers affected by Ian
Individual businesses and organizations are asking for supply donations and non-perishable items to take with them to assist with farmers and ranchers in disaster-ridden areas.
Donate time or non-perishables to ag organizations such as 4-H and FFA
Keep an eye out for organizations such as 4-H and FFA that are raising funds for water, food, and non-perishable items needed by those affected by Ian. Opportunities to volunteer man hours and sweat may also be available through local, state, and national agricultural organizations.
Take advantage of opportunities to donate sweat equity
Environmental factors such as high winds stress fruit and citrus trees while flooding can submerge livestock. Planted fields may become saturated as water rips up crops or destroys harvests. This list is truly endless. As farmers prepared over the previous days for the damage by storms, volunteers, the public, and other farmers came together to help mitigate losses.
Farmers and ranchers have options to get help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
“When the producers go out and notice that they’ve got a loss they need to contact their insurance agent within 72 hours. So, I would suggest even if producers haven’t been able to go out and assess everything to get ahold of their agent and file that notice of loss right now,” says American Farm Bureau Federation Government Affairs Director RJ Layher.
Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock
LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the Federal Government. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
Honeybee, Farm Raised Fish Program
ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary.
Tree Assistance Program
Tree Assistance Program provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.
Emergency Conservation Program
Provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters, and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures during periods of severe drought.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
Provides financial assistance to eligible producers affected by drought, flood, hurricane, or other natural disasters. This federally funded program covers noninsurable crop losses and planting prevented by disasters.
