Hurricane Helene has had a “catastrophic impact” on Georgia’s agricultural industry, requiring immediate action, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Commissioner Tyler Harper wrote in a Sept. 30 letter to the state’s congressional leadership, wherein he asked for support for the state’s top industry.

Harper said agriculture is the state’s #1 industry, contributing over $83 billion to our economy every year.

“Hurricane Helene could not have come at a worse time for our farmers and producers, who are already faced with record setting drops in net farm income caused by inflation, high input costs, labor shortages, global competition, and low commodity prices,” he wrote. “Right now, the future of hundreds of agricultural operations across Georgia is uncertain, and without immediate assistance, some will not make it to the next growing season. We stand ready to utilize every state resource at our disposal to assist in the recovery effort.”

During a press conference days earlier, Harper said some of the most significant impacts were reported east of I-75 from Valdosta to Augusta.

“We’re seeing and hearing about damage to pecan trees, poultry houses, flattened row crops, dairies and poultry houses without power along with food processing facilities without power,” Harper said. 

Meanwhile in North Carolina, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said that although the full extent of damage to crops, nurseries, and infrastructure is unknown, the storm has been “devastating” to the state’s agriculture industry.

Assessment in Florida is also underway, but much like North Carolina, the extent of loss and damage is unknown.

Georgia poultry industry hit hard

Numerous reports of flattened or damaged chicken houses have come in from Appling, Atkinson, Bulloch, Coffee, and Jeff Davis counties, with many more reports expected to come in from other counties in Southeast Georgia, according to Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB).

Adam and Lori Carter, of Appling County, reported to GFB that two layer hen houses were flattened and a third sustained heavy damage, although no birds were being housed when the storm struck.  

“We are thankful we didn’t have birds when the storm struck. While we do have our chicken houses insured, they were older houses. We’ve been told we’ll receive about $100,000 per house but the cost to build a new chicken house is about $500,000,” Lori said.

The storm also damaged a stack house where chicken litter is stored for fertilizer, several farm shelters and their home.  

Coffee County farmers Danny and Angie O’Steen reported that half of the poultry houses in their county have been either flattened or damaged.

“We are surrounded by poultry houses,” Angie said. “Pilgrim’s Pride is the largest employer in our area. There’s just lots of chicken houses, cotton and timber in our area.”

So far, GDA has reported that 100 poultry farms in Coffee County have been affected. In Pierce County, a table egg producer has 17 houses down. In Evans County, five breeder houses were flattened, and 12 pullet houses lost their roofs. 

Assessment just beginning

In addition to the poultry operations, GFB relayed that reports of downed pecan trees have come in from Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler Coffee, Jefferson, Richmond, Toombs counties. Wide-spread damage is expected across the state, GFB said, just weeks ahead of the pecan crop being harvested.

In the days leading up to the hurricane, the state’s peanut farmers worked into the nights trying to complete harvest before the storm hit.

The Georgia Cotton Commission said cotton producers are reporting yield losses ranging from 35% to a total crop loss. Burke, Candler, Coffee and Turner counties have already reported some damage, but more counties are expected to report as power and communications services return.

Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said that while assessment is still underway, the storm “has already disrupted lives and caused significant damage, particularly within our farming communities.”

“Georgia's producers are resilient. They’ve weathered storms before, and they will do it again,” he said. “Georgia Farm Bureau stands ready to support our farmers as they work to recover and continue providing the food, fiber, and resources that sustain us all. In times like these, our strength comes from standing together and moving forward."