$15 Billion agricultural hit from Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene devastates Southeast's farm sector

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene is a grim picture for the Southeast's agriculture, with total damages nearing $15 billion. This storm, the most lethal since 2017, significantly affected the region's farm communities, especially in Georgia and Florida.

Detailed analysis reveals that poultry suffered the most, followed by the cattle and dairy sectors, which faced infrastructure damages and power losses leading to operational disruptions.

The loss of pasture fencing and the displacement of cattle pose additional recovery challenges, with many farms forced to dump milk due to the lack of refrigeration facilities.

In response to the widespread destruction, various federal disaster assistance programs have been activated to support the affected agricultural sectors. These include programs aimed at helping pecan and apple farmers with orchard recovery, as well as initiatives to compensate for the loss of livestock and assist with emergency feed for surviving animals.

This federal support is intended to mitigate the financial blow to farmers and ensure the continuity of the agricultural supply chain in the affected areas, facilitating a smoother recovery process for a region crucial to America's food production.