Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it. From battered cotton fields to flattened pecan orchards, the storm’s aftermath is bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. 

The hardest-hit commodities

The immediate losses from Hurricane Helene were staggering. While the hurricane affected nearly every crop Georgia farmers produce, several key commodities — timber, pecans, poultry, cotton, nursery and livestock — bore the brunt of the damage. While greenhouse and nursery crops occupied less acreage than other commodities, their high per-unit value resulted in significant economic losses, said the University of Georgia’s Timothy Coolong, interim assistant dean for Extension in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Livestock losses were more infrastructure-based, including substantial damage to fencing and facilities. 

For cotton farmers, the timing of the hurricane was particularly cruel. Cotton is largely harvested in the fall, and the storm hit at a critical time. “Losses ranged from 50% to 60%, compounded by a severe reduction in quality,” said Camp Hand, a UGA Cooperative Extension cotton agronomist based on the UGA Tifton campus. For many cotton growers already struggling with two years of low prices, the hurricane turned what could have been a break-even year into a financial nightmare.

Pecan growers, whose trees become productive at least seven years after planting, are also facing steep challenges. Global trade disruptions and lower market prices had already put pecan producers in a tough spot before the storm hit. “Helene makes three storms growers have faced over the last year and a half in eastern Georgia,” said Lenny Wells, UGA horticulture professor and Extension pecan specialist. “It’s been very difficult for growers to try and survive in this era of low market prices while repeatedly facing storm losses back-to-back.”

The loss of mature trees and nuts compounds the financial and emotional toll. Replanting trees is a long-term investment, and some growers may choose not to commit. “These are decisions that affect not just one season but entire generations of farming families,” Coolong explained.

The urgency in timber recovery is a harsh reality for timberland owners, said David Dickens, a UGA Extension forestry specialist and forest productivity professor in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “Salvage operations usually last 18 months to two years, but after that, the wood is no good,” he explained. “For high-value wood, especially pine, you have to salvage it within about eight weeks to prevent blue stain fungus from setting in.”

Dickens recalled the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and noted the even greater impact of Hurricane Helene. “The Georgia Forestry Commission estimated that 8.9 million acres of forest land were in Helene’s path, with timber losses valued at $1.28 billion. To compare, Hurricane Michael’s losses in Georgia were about $247 million. That’s a fivefold difference,” said Dickens.

For landowners, these losses can be crippling as it can take anywhere from 20 to 30 or more years for pine stands to be ready for harvest. “And many landowners rely on their timber as retirement income or to fund their children’s college education,” Dickens said. “After a hurricane, landowners might only get 10 to 25 cents on the dollar compared to pre-hurricane prices. It’s devastating.” 

Despite these challenges, many landowners remain committed to replanting, and Dickens is optimistic about the resilience of Georgia’s forestry community. “The industry has weathered hurricanes before, and it will again. With the right support and planning, landowners can rebuild and continue to steward their forests for future generations.”

Economic ripple effects

The storm’s impact extends far beyond the fields. Michael Adjemian, professor in the CAES Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, described how the destruction of crops, barns and equipment created immediate financial strain on farmers. “The supply chain disruptions from reduced production ripple outward — affecting feed and other input suppliers, transportation networks and packaging facilities,” he said. Lower farm incomes for agricultural workers and workers elsewhere in the supply chain translate to reduced spending in rural communities, amplifying the economic burden.

“These disruptions naturally increase production costs along the chain, leading to higher prices for consumers,” Adjemian said. He noted that the speed of recovery will determine how long these aftershocks persist in the broader economy.

Building resilience

Helene served as a wake-up call to develop long-term strategies to mitigate agricultural vulnerabilities. Diversification is one approach, although it is not without challenges. “Spreading operations across locations or growing multiple crops requires significant investment and planning,” Coolong said. “And when very large storms like Helene hit, even those strategies can only do so much.”

In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. Anna Scheyett, former dean in the UGA School of Social Work and current professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, said the stress of rebuilding livelihoods is immense. 

In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support. Scheyett urges anyone in mental or emotional crisis or considering suicide to call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org. She also highlighted specific resources for agricultural producers, such as the 988 Farm Stress Resource Center.

UGA Extension’s Mental Well-being page offers resources for farmers, their families and Extension agents. One such asset is a peer-reviewed Extension publication titled "Resources for Farmers Under Stress and People Who Care About Them", which Scheyett described as a guide to dealing with stress as a supportive partner or family member responding to loved ones in crisis.

Extension agents, too, face emotional strain as they support their communities. “I talk a lot about compassion fatigue and secondary trauma,” Scheyett said. “Many agents are dealing with their own losses while supporting others. It’s emotionally draining, and you have to take care of yourself.”

Still, Hand finds hope in the resilience of Georgia’s farmers. “I’ve seen growers who lost nearly everything, but their main concern was helping their neighbors,” he said. "Seeing farmers use what they have to support their neighbors, coming together for cleanup efforts and reopening roads — it's powerful to see that selflessness, where the good of the community comes first. That, to me, offers a strong message of hope.”

A call for policy action

Looking ahead, experts agree on the importance of agricultural policy to address these challenges. Adjemian, Coolong, Dickens, Hand, Scheyett and Wells unanimously emphasized the role of the upcoming farm bill in improving disaster relief measures and safety nets.

“Sometimes there’s a disconnect between policymakers and the realities of agriculture and rural communities,” Coolong said. “Better communication is key to crafting policies that truly support our producers.” 

Scheyett pointed out that nearly 96% of farms are family-operated, with more than 85% considered small farms. “Even on a good day, farmers operate on razor-thin margins. Higher input costs and lower market prices mean many are losing money just to produce staples we all rely on.”

Hand stressed the importance of tools like crop insurance and production contracts. “Disasters like this expose how broken the system is but also give us an opportunity to advocate for meaningful change,” he said.

Financial assistance

After a disaster, people can experience significant memory problems and confusion, Scheyett said. “It can also be hard to locate paperwork and other documentation if you’ve lost your home or office,” she explained. “I always recommend talking to your county Extension agent and making sure you have your losses correctly assessed and documented. Your county Extension agents can help you with that. Talk to your (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Farm Service Agency representative, people who know how to navigate these types of assistance programs and can double-check your paperwork before submitting requests.” 

In addition to state and federal assistance funds that are beginning to reach agricultural and timber producers, the Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund is now accepting applications through Tuesday, Dec. 31, to provide direct assistance to affected farmers. Applications can be submitted at supportgeorgiafarmers.org/application.

While timber insurance exists, it’s rare for landowners to have it, Dickens said. Federal assistance through programs like the Emergency Forest Restoration Program offers some relief. “The program provides up to $1,700 per acre for cleanup,” Dickens said. “That’s significant, especially compared to past hurricanes, but it requires detailed documentation — photos, invoices, days and hours of work, and applications filed through the Farm Service Agency.” 

Dickens emphasized the importance of working with a registered consulting forester to navigate recovery efforts. “Consulting foresters prioritize salvaging high-value timber, like sawtimber and poles, and help landowners assess damage and develop salvage plans,” he said. “They’re also critical in monitoring for pests, like beetles, in stands with moderate to light damage.”

Sustaining the conversation

Scheyett emphasized the importance of sustained support. 

“After a disaster, there’s an initial wave of heroic action. But as time passes, people move on, leaving those in disaster-affected areas feeling abandoned,” she said. “This isn’t a three-month conversation — it’s a five-year conversation. Farming is a marathon with disastrous interruptions, and we have to stay strong for the long haul.”

Visit the Helene Report webpage to learn more about the hurricane’s impact on producers in the state.