Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
While North Carolina’s agricultural sector had a significant economic impact totaling $111.1 billion in 2024, the state also faced substantial setbacks due to natural disasters, including droughts, excessive rainfall, and tropical storms. These events led to agricultural losses across the entire state, with every county included in federal disaster declarations.
Last Thursday, North Carolina House of Representatives Jimmy Dixon (Rep.) filed H.B. 130. Dixon told Duplin Journal that this legislation is aimed at helping affected farmers recover and continue their production.
According to Dixon, the bill aims to provide much-needed support to North Carolina’s farming community in the wake of disaster-related agricultural losses suffered in 2024.
The legislation includes a significant fund allocation of $475 million for the 2024 Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program, which will be administered through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Dixon shared that the goal of this program is to offer financial relief to farmers, with the funds intended for agricultural production expenses and recovery.
The proposed legislation outlines that the program will provide financial assistance to farmers who have experienced verifiable losses of agricultural commodities planted or raised by Jan. 1, 2024. Financial assistance will be calculated based on a formula that considers county loss estimates and national statistics, among other criteria. Payments will be determined using yield and price averages at either the county or state level.
To ensure transparency, the department will provide semi-annual reports to the Fiscal Research Division detailing information on applications, grants awarded, fund distribution, and any refunds issued. Additionally, the department has the authority to audit recipients’ financial records to ensure the proper use of the funds. If any recipients are found to have submitted inaccurate information, they will have to repay the amount received.
Additionally, the proposed legislation states that the program will terminate 30 months after becoming effective, and any unused or unallocated funds will revert to the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund.
