Hurricane Helene causes billions in damage to Georgia agriculture

Oct 14, 2024

Georgia’s agricultural community is reeling from the destruction left by Hurricane Helene, which caused an estimated $6.46 billion in damage, state officials said.

The storm, which struck on Sept. 26, is the third to hit the state in just over a year, compounding the financial strain on farmers already dealing with rising costs and depressed commodity prices. The damage estimate includes crop losses and the high cost of recovery efforts for one of the state’s most vital industries.

“Right now, the future is uncertain for thousands of farm families who were devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “We won’t stop working until we’ve delivered the relief our farmers and producers need.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, alongside Gov. Brian Kemp and the University of Georgia (UGA), announced the preliminary damage estimate. The figure includes crop losses, damage to agricultural businesses, and the costs of recovery and restoration efforts. The estimate is based on analyses by UGA commodity experts and the Georgia Forestry Commission. Full damage assessments are expected to take months.

Agriculture is Georgia’s No. 1 industry – contributing more than $83 billion to the state’s economy on an annual basis and employing more than 320,000 Georgians. On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene ripped through Georgia, leaving catastrophic damage in her wake and devastating the state’s agricultural community and thousands of farm families in its path with an estimated impact of $6.46 billion. Photo courtesy of CAES UGA Cooperative Extension.

“This storm could not have come at a worse time for Georgia farmers,” Harper said. “Right now, the future is uncertain for thousands of farm families who were devastated by Hurricane Helene. We’re working with state, federal, and industry leaders to ensure we deliver the aid they need to bounce back.”

Farmers in Georgia were already contending with inflation, high input costs, and low commodity prices when Helene hit. National farm income was already projected to drop by $6.5 billion in 2024, following a $35.6 billion decrease in 2023, compounding the challenges.

Gov. Kemp urged federal leaders to expedite relief efforts. “We depend on our farmers to drive our economy and provide the food and fiber we rely on every day. It’s crucial that we act quickly to help them rebuild,” Kemp said, noting the potential for further damage from the looming Hurricane Milton.

UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Nick Place highlighted the storm’s immediate and long-term impacts, including power outages and property damage. “In the coming weeks and months, it will be critical that we do all we can to support Georgia producers as they navigate lost income and determine the next steps forward in their operations,” he said.

In response to the disaster, more than 40 agricultural organizations have launched the Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund. All donations will go directly to help affected farmers recover.

Georgia agriculture employs more than 320,000 people, and the hurricane’s impact threatens the stability of the state’s largest industry, making a swift recovery essential for both the economy and local communities.