County staff told the Board of Supervisors at its August meeting that Virginia will roll out a Farm Recovery Block Grant program to help producers recover losses not covered by existing USDA programs.

"There's about $60,000,000 worth of funds set aside for Virginia localities," a county staff member said, adding the proposed portal and application window should open soon and the goal from the governor's office is around Labor Day. The program covers eligible loss categories that were not covered under existing USDA programs, including timber losses, farm infrastructure (for example hay barns and working facilities but not ancillary machine sheds), loss to perennial crops that require multiple years to produce, and certain market losses.

The staff member gave a market‑loss example: five semi‑trailer loads of pumpkins ready for shipment were unable to be delivered after the storm and rotted, and additional pumpkins in the field could not be harvested for market. County staff said the application window will be 45 days and that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) will administer an online portal.

The county plans outreach and direct assistance: the grant allows administrative funds to hire temporary help locally (quoted at about $22 per hour for roughly 20 hours per week for about 120 days) to assist producers with documentation and online applications. The county will host an in‑person meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Gates Center to walk through documentation and the application process; VDACS will host a virtual walkthrough Aug. 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and a recorded session the following day from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Staff warned that VDACS will first collect all applications and then allocate funds, which could require pro rata reductions if requested indemnities exceed available funds.

Next steps: county staff will publicize the meetings and assistance options; residents who believe they were affected should prepare documentation before the portal opens and may schedule help with county staff once administrative hires are in place.