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Hurricane damage takes $6.5 billion toll on Georgia ag

A preliminary report estimated agricultural damages from Hurricane Helene will cost Georgia’s economy at least $6.46 billion. This 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.

This estimate is based on projections by UGA commodity analysts, Georgia Forestry Commission foresters and a model of the Georgia State Economy. This estimate should be interpreted as preliminary, as it will take months to understand the full scope of Helene’s damage.

"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 Governor Brian Kemp. "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."

"Right now, the future is uncertain for thousands of Georgia farmers and farm families who were devastated by Hurricane Helene," said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. "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. I’m proud to see our entire Georgia delegation rallying around and supporting the Georgia farmers who fuel the success of our state’s No. 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 the state of Georgia in the past 13 months, and it could not have come at a worse time for Georgia 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 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 our state’s agricultural community and thousands of farm families in its path.

In response to Hurricane Helene, 40-plus 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. All donations to the fund will go to help impacted Georgia farmers recover from Hurricane Helene. More information is available at www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org.

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