CSRA farmers face ongoing struggles after Hurricane Helene

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia’s House Speaker Jon Burns and the Agriculture Commissioner are urging President Trump to extend FEMA’s application deadline for Helene.

In a letter sent to the president, Burns says, “Right now, the future is uncertain for far too many Georgia farmers, and without assistance, some of them will not make it through this growing season.”

They’re not wrong. Our local farmers are hurting.

We’re talking about damage so bad; that some people aren’t sure they can afford to rebuild.

Producers throughout our region say the aftermath is shaping up to be harder than the actual storm.

“You don’t realize the damage that was done till you start actually getting in here,” said Rosalynne Burns, owner of Double B Plant Farm.

It’s one battle after another.

“We’re not the only ones in this boat. All the other growers that we know in this area are, you know, under the same, you know, circumstances that we are,” said Rosalynne.

Underneath all the destruction also lies broken irrigation systems and less salvageable products.

The Pecan Barn says cleanup is only half the battle once they realize what’s barely hanging isn’t viable either.

“It’s definitely never good to see more things that need to be fixed or more problems,” said Jayme Powell, owner of The Pecan Barn.

Other generational businesses, like Double B Plant Farm, say it’s more than just closing doors to the public.

“It’s a type of grieving, and it comes in stages because we’ve lost not only our family business that we’re not all working together as a family anymore,” said Rosalynne.

Augusta Locally Grown says 25% of its local farmers are still struggling from catastrophic damages.

They say this year’s season at the farmers market may look slimmer.

“Not only did farmers lose their crops that were in the ground, they lost their harvest because electricity was down, and they lost their means of production because the facilities were actually damaged,” said Chuck Simpson, farmer business manager for Augusta Locally Grown.

2025 will be a make-or-break year for many farmers hoping to sprout something positive to build upon.

Augusta Locally Grown and producers throughout the area are urging local support this year.

An in-person farmers market will open on March 20 and go every Thursday through the growing season.

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