Federal disaster aid leaves small North Carolina farms in limbo

North Carolina's small farms face mounting losses after Hurricane Helene as federal disaster relief programs struggle to meet their needs.

Meg Wilcox reports for Civil Eats.

In short:

• Hurricane Helene caused severe damage to small farms in western North Carolina, with many losing crops, infrastructure and topsoil, resulting in costs exceeding $300,000 for some.
• Federal aid programs like USDA's disaster relief and crop insurance often exclude small, diversified farms due to eligibility criteria and complex application processes.
• Local organizations have stepped in with small grants and fundraising, but long-term solutions remain uncertain amid calls for systemic reform in disaster relief policies.

Key quote:

"The most cumbersome aspect with diversified vegetable farming is, it’s hard to fit into the USDA boxes."

— Nicole DelCogliano, Green Toe Ground co-owner

Why this matters:

Small farms play a critical role in local food systems but remain vulnerable to climate-driven disasters. Weak federal support structures threaten their ability to recover, emphasizing the need for more inclusive, streamlined policies to sustain farming communities amid increasing extreme weather events.

Related:

• Congress grapples with political hurdles in disaster aid negotiations
• Federal aid deepens wealth gap after disasters, study finds
• Hurricane aftermath leaves North Carolina wells contaminated