A bipartisan group of U.S. House Agriculture Committee members, led by Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, recently toured hurricane-damaged areas in Northern Florida and Southern Georgia. Hurricanes Milton and Helene left a trail of devastation in the agricultural sector, spurring calls for swift disaster relief efforts.
Chairman Thompson joined Representatives Austin Scott (GA-08), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), and Darren Soto (FL-09) to assess the impact and meet with affected farmers. The tour included stops at a pecan orchard in Pearson, Georgia, poultry farms in Broxton, and Florida sites such as Shenandoah Dairy and Adams Farm.
The economic toll is staggering. Georgia’s agriculture industry suffered an estimated $6.46 billion in losses from Hurricane Helene, while Hurricane Milton caused up to $2.5 billion in damage in Florida.
“We’re committed to identifying resources to help our hardworking producers recover and thrive,” said Chairman Thompson. The findings will inform future disaster aid legislation, with leaders emphasizing the need to strengthen farm safety nets and address rural challenges in the upcoming farm bill.