Precision Farming Dealer's editorial team is continuing to monitor and report on the impact and news from Hurricane Helene. Here we present an update on ways dealers can support dealers in the storm-impacted regions, followed by comments from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on USDA Relief and resources available.

NAEDA Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF) Urges Donations for Relief Efforts

Noting the overwhelming damage in the southeast region of the United States caused by Hurricane Helene, leadership from NAEDA and its non profit foundation, the Equipment Dealers Foundation, are calling on members to help. In a letter to members and industry partners sent via email on Oct. 7, NAEDA President/CEO Kim Rominger and Tom Nobbe, Chairman of the Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF), announced that the EDF is raising money to help offset some of the financial demands faced by those affected. 

The leadership reported that the organization has been contacted by dealers throughout the country looking for a way to help their peers.

The note writes, in part, “The amount of rainfall is unprecedented and has left countless people without access to food, water, shelter and other necessities. Some of those impacted are equipment dealer employees…As the full extent of the damage becomes better known, it’s important that we are able to help these individuals begin to rebuild their lives. In addition to donating to relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, we suggest a donation to the Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF),” wrote Rominger and Nobbe, adding that  contributions will help hurricane victims find shelter, transportation, and money for food, clothing, school supplies, medicine, and countless other daily needs.

Please consider making a generous donation to the Equipment Dealers Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible.

Background on EDF Disaster Relief

In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the foundation created a Disaster Relief fund and, since its inception, EDF has provided $350,000 in grants to employees of equipment dealerships affected by natural disasters.

The NAEDA/EDF correspondence added that the outreach effort will help ensure that the Disaster Relief Fund can continue to help those in the industry. Every penny contributed to the fund will be used to assist equipment dealers and their employees.  

How to Make Donations

Checks should be made out to the Equipment Dealers Foundation and mailed to EDF office at: 10100 N. Ambassador Drive, Suite 310 in Kansas City, MO 64153. The organization also offered for donations to be made by credit card, which can be done using the link below (select funds to be allocated to the EDF Disaster Relief Fund).

Donate to Disaster Relief Fund via Credit Card

Ag Secretary Addresses Hurricane Impacts, USDA Issues Resource and Recovery Update

Several members of the Lessiter Media team attended the World Dairy Expo 2024 in Madison, Wis., last week. Speaking during the Global Dairy Summit on Friday, Oct. 4, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed a range of issues impacting agricultural growers. Among his chief concerns was the damage caused across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee from Hurricane Helene. Having visited storm-impacted areas in Florida and Georgia the day before with President Biden, Vilsack said, "The devastation is real, the pain is real, the difficulties and challenges are real.” He noted that he was heartened by the hopefulness of the people with whom he met, and assured them the Department of Agriculture was going to be there to help work with farmers and rural communities to help them recover from "significant" losses. 

In a USDA news release on Disaster Assistance issued Oct. 4, they estimated there were more than 38,000 crop insurance policies, covering more than 4.8 million acres, in place in the affected areas. In sharing resources available to those impacted, the statement noted: In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated communities, homes, farms and businesses across parts of the Southeast, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deployed staff to assist with response and recovery efforts. USDA is also putting in place contingency plans and program flexibilities  to ensure farmers, foresters and communities are able to get the support they need. It further reported that USDA has instructed crop insurance companies to expedite loss adjustments that are necessary to make payments, expected to be made within 30 days.

Vilsack noted, "We're working with crop insurance companies now to expedite payments so farmers will receive help in November, if not sooner." Additional assistance from USDA include disaster programs focused on helping farmers, rebuilding water and telephone service in rural communities, and providing nutrition assistance after catastrophes. Leaders with USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) held a virtual briefing on Oct. 7 for agricultural producers and stakeholders to share information on disaster assistance programs for agricultural operations. 

Vilsack further noted recent updates, including record job growth, lower unemployment rates and lower interest rates, combining to yield improvements in the overall economy. He discussed the department's Climate Smart Agriculture program, which he noted creates value-added opportunities as well as new income source opportunities, and updated the audience on the status of the Farm Bill, and updated those in attendance with an announcement of an additional $11 million in funding of four Dairy Innovation Centers across the country which are working with USDA to leverage a wide range of resources and innovations. He reported that, to date, $64 million had been invested, resulting in 600 new opportunities in 40 states. 

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