The Georgia Department of Agriculture and leading agricultural organizations have recently banded together to build a relief fund for Georgia farmers impacted by the storm. Today, AGCO announced that its Agriculture Foundation (the "Foundation") has donated $50,000 to the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture to support that initiative, the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund. The relief fund initiative is led by over 40 of Georgia's top agricultural organizations, including the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and is dedicated to helping farmers recover from the severe damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
The Hurricane Relief Fund for Georgia farmers aims to raise $1 million to provide immediate support to farmers, with 100% of donations going directly to those in need. The fund offers resources to help farmers recover and continue their vital work.
For its part, AGCO’s Agriculture Foundation is a private foundation with the vision to prevent and relieve hunger through sustainable agricultural development, according to the statement released Nov. 4 by AGCO.
The announcement noted the devastation from Hurricane Helene to Georgia's agricultural landscape, which it reports wiped out entire fields, destroyed timber and damaged farm infrastructure, leaving farmers facing significant financial and emotional challenges. As a recovery response, the Hurricane Relief Fund was created to provide direct assistance to Georgia farmers impacted by the storm, focusing on filling gaps not covered by insurance or other forms of aid.
"Farmers are the backbone of our communities, and their strength in overcoming adversity is truly remarkable," said Roger Batkin, Board Chair of the Foundation. "As our Foundation has done over the past years, we want to extend our helping hands to our farming communities and we are proud to support this relief fund in AGCO's home state of Georgia, helping farmers to recover, rebuild their operations and restore their livelihoods after such a devastating Hurricane Helene crisis."
Donations from corporations and individuals, which will help Georgia family farms rebuild and continue to produce food, are being accepted through the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture set-up page.
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