November/December 2024
Georgia agriculture struggles in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Georgia’s agricultural industry, the state’s largest economic driver, faces an estimated $6.46 billion in damages. The storm, which struck in September, devastated farms and rural communities across the Southeast, particularly in Georgia and Florida, leaving thousands of farm families struggling to recover.
Agriculture contributes more than $83 billion annually to Georgia’s economy and employs more than 320,000 people. The preliminary damage estimate, announced by State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Governor Brian Kemp and the University of Georgia (UGA), includes crop losses, damage to agricultural businesses and recovery costs.
“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.”
Full damage assessments will take months. The hurricane’s impact adds to challenges farmers were already facing, including inflation, high input costs and low commodity prices. National farm income was projected to decline by $6.5 billion in 2024 after a $35.6 billion drop in 2023.
“USDA is taking steps to keep farms viable and help rural communities recover as quickly as possible,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The department has deployed 190 staff to assist with debris removal and disaster response.
Farmers and ranchers impacted by the storm can access various USDA disaster assistance programs, including Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), beginning Oct. 15. The USDA has also expedited crop insurance payments aiming to issue payments within 30 days. Farmers are urged to report losses to local USDA Service Centers and document damages with photos and inventory records.
Harper, alongside state lawmakers, sent a letter to Georgia’s congressional delegation requesting a federal block grant to provide more flexibility than existing USDA emergency programs.
“We depend on our farmers to drive our economy and provide the food and fiber we rely on every day,” Gov. Kemp said.
Nick Place, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at University of Georgia, highlighted the storm’s immediate and long-term effects, including widespread 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,” Place said.
In addition to federal aid, more than 40 agricultural organizations have launched the “Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund.” Donations from the fund will directly support farmers affected by Hurricane Helene.
For more information, farmers are encouraged to visit farmers.gov or call the USDA’s Farm Service Agency hotline or visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery/hurricane.
