When Gov. Brian Kemp and Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced in late September that the federal government had agreed to provide more than half-a-billion dollars in aid to the state’s hurricane-wracked agriculture industry, Georgia’s farmers, ranchers, and timberland owners breathed a sigh of relief.
In a press release, Harper said he was “incredibly proud” to disclose the $531 million in funding for those industries wracked by devastation of Hurricane Helene. The aid “would provide much-needed relief to impacted farmers and producers,” he said. Tweeted Kemp: “Great news for Georgia’s farming families and our No. 1 industry!”
It turns out that the celebrations were premature.
In response to a question from Rep. Steven Meeks (R-Screven), Harper told a state House committee on Monday that the administrative details for dispersing the aid weren’t finished on Sept. 30, when Kemp and Harper made their aid announcement. The federal government shut down a day later.
Harper told lawmakers that his office has hired staff to handle applications from Georgia producers and that his department will send the U.S. Department of Agriculture the state’s proposed spending formulas as soon as the federal government has reopened.
“Soon as they sign those off, we’ll open the application period,” Harper said. “We hope that happens in the next couple of weeks.”
The Tide brings regular notes and observations on news and events by The Current staff.
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