Survey Deadline for RI Disaster Aid (2023-2024 weather-related damage)

Attention Farmers, Foresters, and Agricultural Leaders:

The U.S. Government recently approved a $220 million fund for block grants to support crop, timber, and livestock losses, as well as on-farm infrastructure damages caused by weather events in 2023 and 2024. This funding is specifically for New England states, Alaska, and Hawaii.

To determine how much funding each state will receive, the USDA requires states to submit their total needs by the week of January 20th, 2025. Rhode Island DEM's Division of Agriculture and Forestry (DAFE) is conducting an initial needs assessment survey, and your input is crucial.

👉 Take the survey here: Survey Link
🗓 Deadline: Complete by January 17th, 2025

Key Points:

• Participation is voluntary: Farmers and foresters who don’t respond now will remain eligible for future funding.
• No guarantees: Responding to the survey helps determine state needs but does not guarantee individual payments.
• Privacy assured: No personally identifiable information is required, except for optional email addresses.
• Next steps: If Rhode Island receives funding, a separate process will follow to assess and validate individual needs.

DAFE will keep you updated as details emerge, including whether future-focused mitigation efforts may qualify for funding.

🔗 Share this survey with your networks, listservs, and fellow agricultural and forestry representatives. Your feedback is vital to ensure Rhode Island gets the necessary resources to support our community.