Tennessee Launches $34M Hurricane Helene Relief Fund

Eligible farmers and forest landowners can apply starting April 22 to offset losses from the devastating storm.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:49pm

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A vast, dramatic landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, with a massive, swirling storm system dominating the frame and dwarfing the small, indistinct shapes of damaged farmland and forests below.A sweeping, atmospheric landscape captures the raw power and devastation of Hurricane Helene, which left a heavy toll on Tennessee's rural agricultural and forestry communities.Knoxville Today

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced the launch of a $34 million Hurricane Helene Agricultural and Timber Relief Fund, which will provide grants to eligible farmers and forest landowners in eight counties impacted by the hurricane. The fund, backed by federal American Relief Act funding, aims to help producers recover losses, rebuild operations, and strengthen the long-term resilience of Tennessee's agricultural economy.

Why it matters

Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to Tennessee's rural agricultural and forestry communities, placing a heavy burden on producers. This relief fund is a critical step in helping these communities recover and rebuild in the wake of the unprecedented natural disaster.

The details

The relief fund is open to agricultural producers and forest landowners in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. Eligible applicants can apply for grants starting April 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern (noon Central) to offset verified losses from hurricane damage. The funding aims to restore farm productivity, support forest recovery, and strengthen the long-term resilience of Tennessee's agricultural economy.

  • The application period for the $34 million Hurricane Helene relief fund opens on April 22, 2026 at 1 p.m. Eastern (noon Central).
  • Hurricane Helene, an unprecedented natural disaster, impacted Tennessee in 2025.

The players

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

The state agency overseeing the $34 million Hurricane Helene relief fund and providing resources to help eligible producers and forest landowners apply.

Gov. Bill Lee

The governor of Tennessee, who stated the funding will help producers recover losses, rebuild operations, and continue driving the state's agricultural economy forward.

Andy Holt

The Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner, who said the funding aims to restore farm productivity, support forest recovery, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the state's agricultural economy.

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What they’re saying

“Hurricane Helene was an unprecedented natural disaster for our state and placed a heavy burden on Tennessee's rural agricultural and forestry communities. We're grateful for strong partnerships with USDA and TDA that will allow us to deliver resources to help producers recover losses, rebuild operations and continue driving our state's agricultural economy forward.”

— Gov. Bill Lee

“We want eligible producers and forest landowners to be ready when the application period opens on April 22, at 1 p.m. Eastern (noon Central), and we encourage them to take advantage of the resources TDA is providing to help them apply.”

— Andy Holt, Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner

What’s next

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The takeaway

This relief fund is a critical step in helping Tennessee's rural agricultural and forestry communities recover and rebuild in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage and placed a heavy burden on producers. The funding aims to restore productivity, support recovery efforts, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the state's agricultural economy.