Crops across the Southeast are feeling the impact of last week’s Hurricane Helene. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says, considering the swath of winds and heavy rains from a stretch from Florida’s big bed to as far north as areas of Virginia and Tennessee…
“Believe it was 140 miles per hour moving much faster that pushed the wind damage envelope further inland. It was the rainfall with Helene. It did so much more damage across the southern Appalachians.”
There are some indications, although very preliminary, according to Rippey, of the extent to farm crop and infrastructure damage associated with Helene, for instance…
“We’re certainly thinking that there will be extensive damage to the number two cotton state, Georgia, as the hurricane rolled right through some of the major production areas in the southern part of the state. Those bowls were mostly open and were likely stripped from the plants and are completely lost.”
Georgia’s pecan crop is also expected to be impacted by Helene.
“Georgia likely lost a number of trees and orchards due to the extensive wind damage that pushed up through South Central Georgia, places like Valdosta and even northward into the central part of the state.”
Unharvested summer crops in the Peach State and along the path of Helene also face damage.
“Things like corn. As you move a little further north and getting into the soybean country in the southeast, there will be some effects there as well, but those are relatively minor crops from a national perspective.”
Rippey adds crop fields suffering significant flooding along the path of Helene…
“…are ruined for this year and perhaps for years to come, due to extensive damage, debris and potential contamination from floodwaters.”
One crop that could fare all right in the wake of Helene…Georgia peanuts.
“Hoping at this point that peanuts, which can withstand some water, as long as it’s not standing water, should be able to survive harvest will Be able to resume once the soils dry out enough for harvest. So we’re hoping that peanuts will be a little less affected than some of those above ground crops like the cotton and the pecans.”