In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, representatives from Georgia’s congressional delegation are rallying to provide support for the state’s agricultural community, which has faced catastrophic losses. The hurricane, which swept through the Southeast, has left farmers and agricultural operations in dire straits, and officials are calling for swift federal assistance.
Representative Austin Scott, who represents Georgia’s 8th congressional district, has spent the last several days visiting affected areas to thank volunteers and assess the situation.
“Yesterday we started in Ben Hill County…a tremendous number of volunteers at one of the schools that has power, putting together lunches and breakfast for the kids,” he explained. With many local schools lacking power, the need for community support to provide meals has become crucial. “It’s just incredibly important…to make sure that the community can get fed.”
Ag Community hit hard
The agricultural sector has been hit hard. Scott noted the extent of the damage, saying, “It doesn’t matter whether it was chicken houses where the houses are literally just laid on the ground now, or pecan orchards where all of the trees are laid over.” He pointed out that estimates of agricultural losses would be essential to request federal disaster assistance once Congress reconvenes in November and December.
Senator Jon Ossoff echoed these sentiments, highlighting the extensive agricultural damage across Georgia. “The damage that Georgia growers have sustained, as well as poultry and dairy operations, is in some cases catastrophic,” he said. He described the fall crops as being “defoliated or knocked over” and now at risk of rot and disease. “Our pecan orchards have been uprooted. Our foresters have taken very serious damage.”
Both Scott and Ossoff are advocating for an ag-specific disaster relief package to support farmers in recovery efforts. Scott noted the urgent need for electricity to restore operations. “Getting power back to their facilities…if you’ve got things that have to be kept cool…if not, then obviously things will have spoiled.” He emphasized that farmers face tremendous losses in equipment and resources necessary for farming.
Ossoff stressed the importance of a coordinated federal response, saying, “We need to step in. We need to come together as Democrats and Republicans and act swiftly once these damage assessments are complete to pass ag disaster assistance.” He described the farmers as the backbone of rural Georgia’s economy, asserting that their struggles are closely tied to the overall economic health of their communities.
Immediate Assistance Needed
Both representatives acknowledged the need for immediate assistance, not just for recovery from Hurricane Helene but also for long-term sustainability. “This is a very significant additional blow to them,” Ossoff said. “So, for their long-term economic prospects…we need to step in.” He highlighted the vital role that agricultural production plays in national food security.
Scott and Ossoff also addressed the question of how individuals outside Georgia can help. Scott mentioned various organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse and the Red Cross, that are on the ground providing relief. “All of those contributions help…just understand that right now we’re still struggling to get water and food and power to people,” he urged.
Ossoff encouraged farmers in other states to advocate for agricultural disaster assistance, emphasizing that the need for support extends beyond Georgia. “This is really a national issue,” he said. He called on farmers across the country to engage with their representatives and push for disaster relief funding.
In the face of significant challenges, both Scott and Ossoff remain committed to supporting Georgia’s agricultural community. They stressed the necessity of a robust farm bill that includes provisions for production agriculture during disasters. “It’s crucial for farmers in Georgia…to get a farm bill done,” Ossoff said.
Listen to the full interviews below:
Senator Jon Ossoff
Representative Austin Scott
Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.
In this story, we used Artificial Intelligence to transcribe the audio from our interviews with sources and/or our in-house radio reports. We reviewed all quotes and scripts for accuracy by listening to the original audio before including them in the story. Using AI made the reporting process more efficient, giving us more time to fact-check this story for accuracy and fairness. For more on Sabrina Halvorson’s AI policy, click here.