Washington, D.C. |

Senator Jon Ossoff urged swift bipartisan action from Congress to deliver disaster relief to Georgia farmers devastated by Hurricane Helene. Speaking before a Senate committee, Ossoff described the catastrophic damage caused by the storm to Georgia’s agricultural sector, infrastructure, and rural communities.

“Georgia farmers, who are the backbone of our rural communities and state economy, are in acute distress,” Ossoff stated, calling for urgent congressional action to pass disaster assistance legislation before the end of the year.

Hurricane Helene brought hurricane-force winds and torrential rains, which ravaged fall crops, destroyed pecan orchards, and damaged 1.5 million acres of timberland. The senator detailed the staggering impact on Georgia’s agricultural production, including significant losses in poultry, cotton, timber, beef, blueberries, pecans, peanuts, and more.

Among the most affected are pecan farmers, some of whom face losses of up to 85% of their orchards, with replacement taking decades. The poultry industry also suffered extensive damage, with 495 poultry houses heavily affected. Other crops like vegetables and cotton have similarly experienced devastating losses, with Georgia projected to lose nearly one-third of its cotton crop.

“This isn’t about numbers; it’s about families and rural communities,” Ossoff emphasized, warning that without immediate assistance, many family farms face bankruptcy. “If they go under, our rural communities go under,” he said, highlighting the ripple effects on local economies, schools, and infrastructure.

The senator’s appeal was underscored by bipartisan unity, with Ossoff and Republican Senator Thom Tillis jointly advocating for expedited relief. Ossoff concluded by urging Congress to set aside politics and act swiftly to support disaster-stricken communities.

“We must pass disaster assistance by the end of the year,” he stated, adding, “The rural way of life in Georgia risks disappearing altogether without our help.”

Senator Ossoff’s call for action comes as Georgia’s agricultural industry, a critical pillar of the state’s economy, faces unprecedented challenges in the wake of the storm.