Georgia ag damage from Helene estimated near $6.5b
Hurricane Helene was the third named storm to hit Georgia in the past thirteen months.
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UGA CAES) has released a preliminary report estimating agricultural damages from Hurricane Helene will cost Georgia’s economy at least $6.46 billion. The figure represents the sum of direct crop losses, losses to businesses that support agriculture and forestry, losses to workers in those related industries, and estimated recovery and restoration costs that agricultural businesses will face. The estimate, which should only be interpreted as preliminary, is based on projections by UGA commodity analysts, Georgia Forestry Commission foresters, and a model of the Georgia State Economy. The full scope of the damage will take months to understand.
"We depend on our farmers and timber growers to provide the food and fibers we use every day and that drives our economy as part of Georgia's No. 1 industry," said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp during a press conference where he was joined by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper as well as members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation and state legislators. "Following the immense losses caused by Hurricane Helene, and with Hurricane Milton possibly bringing further impacts to our state, I'm urging all of our local, state, and federal partners to join efforts in bringing them relief. That's why we're calling on the federal government and Congress to act quickly in appropriating relief funds and helping them rebuild their livelihoods."
Commissioner Tyler Harper said the future is uncertain for thousands of Georgia farmers and farm families who were devastated by Hurricane Helene.
"We are working around the clock with state, federal, and industry leaders to deliver federal aid to Georgia farmers to help them recover and bounce back stronger than before,” he said. “I’m proud to see our entire Georgia delegation rallying around and supporting the Georgia farmers who fuel the success of our state’s #1 industry, and we will not stop working until we’ve delivered the relief our Georgia farmers and producers need."
Hurricane Helene is the third named storm to hit Georgia in the past thirteen months and could not have come at a worse time for farmers and producers who were already facing economic hardship caused by inflation, high input costs, and depressed commodity prices. Prior to Helene, U.S. net farm income was projected to drop by $6.5 billion in 2024, following a decline of $35.6 billion in 2023.
Agriculture is Georgia’s No. 1 industry – contributing more than $83 billion to our state’s economy on an annual basis. On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene ripped through Georgia, leaving catastrophic damage in her wake and devastating our state’s agricultural community and thousands of farm families in its path.
"I have seen the devastation first-hand in visits to the affected regions, and I have heard of the struggles our friends and neighbors have faced since Hurricane Helene," said UGA CAES Dean Nick Place. "From significant losses in the agricultural sector to challenges meeting basic needs like food and water, it has been a difficult time for Georgians. We’ve seen agricultural producers across the state dealing with power loss and property damage, both of which have short- and long-term effects on their crops and livelihood.”
Place added: “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. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension stands ready to provide support in continued damage assessment and rebuilding our state’s No. 1 industry: agriculture."
State leaders said federal relief will be needed to help the state’s agriculture industry recover. As Governor Kemp and Commissioner Harper have shared since before Helene's arrival, impacted farmers should continue documenting the damage their operations have sustained to help ensure they are made whole.
Georgia hurricane relief fund
In response to Hurricane Helene, over 40 agriculture industry organizations, led by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau, and Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, have joined together to create the Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund. 100% of donations to the fund will go to help impacted Georgia farmers recover from Hurricane Helene. More information is available at www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org.
