Hurricane Michael Devastates Georgia Poultry, Cattle Industries

Hurricane Michael has had a huge impact on some of Georgia’s most important crops, including the Poultry and Cattle industries.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is coordinating efforts to assist recovery in the areas affected most by Hurricane Michael.

“Michael’s impact has been the most widespread and devastating hurricane in recent memory to impact Georgia’s agriculture industry,” Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said. “Crops, animals and infrastructure have all taken a substantial loss.”

The farms, dairies and processing plants impacted were in Appling, Colquitt, Coffee, Decatur, Evans, Houston, Mitchell, Randolph, Lee and Wilcox Counties.

According to the Agriculture Department, Georgia’s poultry industry has reported the most widespread power outages and loss.

As of Monday, the Department of Agriculture has received reports of more than 92 chicken houses, estimated to have held millions of chickens, destroyed on farms in Middle and South Georgia.

The poultry industry contributes over $23-billion dollars to Georgia’s economy.

Meantime, cattle farmers in Middle and South Georgia also lost millions when Michael marched through last week.

“There’s hundreds of miles of fences that are torn up. Fences that took generations of farmers to put up,” said Kristy Arnold, President of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. “The recovery is going to be a very, very long one. We have ranchers where their cattle are missing. There are hay barns filled with hay that are destroyed. There are grain silos fill with feed that are destroyed. And once that feed gets wet it’s worthless. It’s just immeasurable right now.”

Arnold said it will take years for the cattle industry in Middle and South Georgia to recover from the devestation Michael left behind.

”The biggest need right now is supplies and labor to put up fencing,”Arnold said. “And then of course feed as we go into the winter months. Most of us, especially those of us in South Georgia are already feeding hay. We’re already into our winter feeding season. So a lot of farmers lost a lot of their hay and they’re scrounging for hay to get through winter.”

Arnold said many farmers have lost cattle or yearlings from Michael, which will affect their financial portfolio for years to come.

Arnold says donations of supplies and money can be made through the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Foundtation in Macon.

To make a donation or volunteer to help you can can contact the Georgia’s Cattlemen’s Association at 478-474-6560.

All donations are tax deductible.