Extreme weather has had major consequences for Georgia’s agriculture sector: Hurricane Idalia destroyed one in nine pecan trees in the state and up to 90% of Georgia’s peach crop was destroyed due to a warm winter and a late freeze

In September, the Senators surveyed storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia in Valdosta, Georgia

Senator Reverend Warnock is the only southern Democrat on the Senate Agriculture committee

The Senator is pushing to strengthen crop safety net programs in the upcoming Farm Bill, including introducing legislation to improve the Tree Assistance Program, which would benefit peach and pecan growers impacted by recent natural disasters

Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff: “This year, Georgia growers have suffered from natural disasters that have devastated crops and communities across our state…In response to these and other disaster events, we respectfully request that you include funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Administration’s forthcoming supplemental appropriations requests.”

Washington D.C. — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) are urging the Biden Administration to support Georgia’s agricultural industry after this year’s natural disasters. In a letter sent to Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, the Senators urged the Administration to include funding for agricultural disaster assistance in the Administration’s supplemental appropriations requests to Congress, noting the particular impact of Hurricane Idalia and the early freeze in March on Georgia’s key agricultural industries.

“This year, Georgia growers have suffered from natural disasters that have devastated crops and communities across our state. Hurricane Idalia spent more time over Georgia than over any other state, flooding vegetable fields and uprooting pecan trees. A freeze in early March destroyed an estimated 90 percent of Georgia’s peach crop,” the Senators wrote. “In response to these and other disaster events, we respectfully request that you include funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Administration’s forthcoming supplemental appropriations requests.”

In September, Senators Warnock and Ossoff surveyed storm damage from Hurricane Idalia and met with local leaders in Valdosta, including key agricultural leaders. In June, USDA declared a large part of rural Georgia as a natural disaster area after the state’s peaches and other crops were hit by freezes earlier this year. According to the AJC, an estimated 90% of Georgia’s peach crop was destroyed. Senator Warnock, a member of the Senate Agriculture committee, is pushing to strengthen crop safety net programs in the upcoming Farm Bill, including introducing legislation to improve the Tree Assistance Program, which would benefit peach and pecan growers impacted by recent natural disasters. He and Senator Ossoff also recently urged President Biden and the Department of Agriculture to boost funding to protect Georgia’s poultry industry from avian flu outbreaks.

Find Senators Warnock and Ossoff letter HERE and below: 

Dear Director Young,

This year, Georgia growers have suffered from natural disasters that have devastated crops and communities across our state. Hurricane Idalia spent more time over Georgia than over any other state, flooding vegetable fields and uprooting pecan trees. A freeze in early March destroyed an estimated 90 percent of Georgia’s peach crop.

In response to these and other disaster events, we respectfully request that you include funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Administration’s forthcoming supplemental appropriations requests. We know that assessments are continuing around the country, but given the scale of the damages, we encourage the Administration to ask for the resources that are sorely needed by growers in our state and across the nation.

As you know, agriculture is the backbone of our state’s economy. Thank you for working with us to support Georgia growers.

Sincerely,

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