Georgia agriculture agency details hurricane aid, bird-flu response and $37.4 million Atlanta market request

The commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture outlined emergency response work and budget requests during a presentation to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development.

The department reported it activated operations after Hurricane Helene, which the commissioner described as causing “about a $5.5 billion impact to agriculture” in direct losses; the speaker also warned of additional future losses. The department said it partnered with more than 40 agricultural groups to raise about $1.8 million in private aid for producers and noted the governor directed $100 million in state relief last November. Of that $100 million, 75 percent was allocated to the Georgia Development Authority for low‑interest loans and 25 percent to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the commissioner said.

The department described the loan demand. It said it received 322 applications totaling about $121.3 million and has approved 40 applications for roughly $15.1 million so far. The department said applications closed Dec. 31; staff estimated another 250–260 applications could…