UGA report estimates Hurricane Helene caused nearly $6.5 billion hit to Georgia’s agriculture industry

Two members of the Secret Service stand back-to-back at Shiloh Pecan Farm in Georgia as Biden speaks out of the frame.
Members of the Secret Service look on as President Joe Biden speaks at the Shiloh Pecan Farm in Ray City, Ga., Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, as part of his trip to see areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Hurricane Helene has not only caused damage to Georgia homes, schools and cars, but to the state’s agricultural industry as well.

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) announced on Thursday that the estimated cost of lost crops and farm recovery, as well as losses for workers and agricultural support businesses, will amount to a $6.46 billion hit to the state economy.

And that is just an early estimate.