WNC Farmers Face Mounting Strain as Goverment Shutdown Halts Aid, Insurance
HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. – Western North Carolina farmers already struggling to recover from a difficult growing season are facing renewed hardship as the ongoing government shutdown halts critical disaster aid and insurance application processes. Many are awaiting funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) following damage from Hurricane Helene and earlier hailstorms, but with the USDA closed, those payments are on hold.
Terry kelley,Director of the Henderson county Cooperative Extension,explained the immediate impact: “There’s still a lot of disaster payments that need to be paid out and all of that’s put on hold right now.” Farmers typically submit receipts to the USDA for reimbursement after repairing storm damage, but are currently unable to do so, nor are they receiving previously submitted funds.
“They’ve still got bills to pay and so anytime these payments are delayed, basically we are just putting them in a tougher position,” Kelley said.
The shutdown also threatens farmers’ access to vital crop insurance. Many rely on the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for coverage of less common crops like peppers and cucumbers. The deadline to apply for next year’s insurance coverage is Thursday, November 20, but applications are unfeasible to process while the government is shut down. Missing the deadline could leave farmers uninsured for an entire year.
“So, folks want to get those insurances so that if we do have another disaster, they can be eligible for payments,” Kelley stated.
Kelley emphasized the compounding effect of these delays, saying, “It’s just adding salt to the wounds, it’s compounding the problems, and we just frankly don’t need that right now.” Local crops have already suffered notable losses this year due to adverse weather conditions. Farmers fear the shutdown could have lasting financial repercussions well into the next growing season.
