By Taylor Sills

On the afternoon/night of October 10 and the early hours of October 11, Hurricane Michael wreaked havoc on southwest, central and parts of east Georgia and took an exceptional toll on Georgia’s agricultural economy, especially the cotton crop.

Producers are reporting losses anywhere from 25% to a total loss, depending on location in the state, as well as structural and equipment losses and damage.

Official reports of losses will be tabulated in the coming weeks as University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service personnel collect data. It is however, without question, that losses will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Those losses will extend well beyond the farm, as cotton gins, other agribusinesses and rural communities will feel the ripples of Hurricane Michael’s aftermath for years to come.

Producers are encouraged to document damage and losses before, during and after cleanup – as well as financial records of cleanup, repair, etc. – as assistance and crop insurance may take some time. Industry leadership has been in touch with officials in Washington DC and Atlanta describing the effects of the storm.

Founded in 1965, the Georgia Cotton Commission is a producer-funded organization located in Perry, GA, that invests in research, promotion and educational programs on behalf of all Georgia cotton producers.