Putting Together a Helene Puzzle

Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces are falling into place one-by-one as we assess the damage of Hurricane Helene. Flooding from Hurricane Helene has devastated much of the Southern U.S., severely impacting a variety of commodities.

In the latest, Farm Policy News reports that cotton, pecans, poultry, and timber have been hit the hardest. A number of chicken processing plants have come to a standstill, with significant losses to flocks, pecan trees uprooted, and crops flattened.

A USDA official estimates that crop losses could result in up to $7 billion in insurance claims. Moody’s Analytics predicts property damage could range from $15 billion to $26 billion. Among the hardest-hit areas, Georgia and North Carolina—two of the nation’s top chicken producers—suffered severe damage.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp stated that 107 poultry facilities were damaged or destroyed, and in Coffee County alone, 100 poultry farms were affected. In Pierce County, a table egg producer lost 17 poultry houses to the storm.