As Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc across the southeastern United States, North Carolina’s agriculture sector once again finds itself at the mercy of nature’s most destructive forces. With torrential rain, powerful winds, and devastating flooding, Helene has already proven deadly, and its long-term impact on North Carolina’s farmlands and crop production could be severe. For a state where agriculture is an over $100 billion industry, the consequences of such a storm extend far beyond immediate damages—they threaten the livelihoods of farmers and the sustainability of the local food supply.
In this blog post, I will explore how Hurricane Helene may affect North Carolina’s agriculture and reflect on past hurricanes that have devastated the state’s farming community.
The Immediate Threats from Hurricane Helene
North Carolina’s agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to hurricanes, with much of the state’s farmland lying in low-lying coastal plains and river basins. As with past storms, the immediate threats from Hurricane Helene are flooding, wind damage, and soil degradation. These forces not only destroy crops in the short term but can also have lasting effects on the land and the infrastructure necessary for farming.
Flooding: North Carolina has already seen record levels of rainfall from Helene, especially in the western parts of the state near Asheville. Flooded rivers and saturated soils can completely drown livestock and crops leaving fields unharvestable. Additionally, stagnant floodwaters promote the growth of mold, mildew, and other pathogens, leading to further crop losses.
Wind Damage: Helene’s winds when it made landfall likely caused significant damage to crops, especially taller plants like tobacco and corn, which are prone to being knocked down or torn apart. Livestock operations may also suffer as barns and shelters are damaged, putting animals at risk.
Soil Erosion and Degradation: The intense rainfall from Helene will likely lead to erosion in fields, stripping away the nutrient-rich topsoil essential for healthy crop growth. This erosion will have long-term implications for the fertility of the land, potentially reducing yields for seasons to come. In areas prone to landslides and mudslides, such as western North Carolina, this issue will be even more severe.
Historical Lessons: The Impact of Past Hurricanes on North Carolina’s Agriculture
North Carolina’s agricultural community is no stranger to the devastation caused by hurricanes. From Hurricane Floyd in 1999 to Hurricane Florence in 2018, the state has experienced the full range of destruction that these storms can bring. Each storm has taught valuable lessons about the vulnerabilities in the sector.
Hurricane Floyd (1999): The Flooding Catastrophe
Hurricane Floyd, one of the most destructive storms in North Carolina’s history, made landfall in 1999 and caused widespread flooding that devastated the state’s agriculture. Over 2 million acres of farmland were affected. According to state officials, half of the peanut, cotton, soybean, and sweet potato crops were lost, as well as 40% of the tobacco crop. Nearly 3 million animals died, mostly due to drowning.
The floodwaters from Floyd lingered for weeks, causing long-term damage to the soil and delaying the planting of new crops. Many farmers who had not been adequately insured struggled to recover financially. The lessons from Floyd prompted changes in how farmers prepare for hurricanes, including better drainage systems and more comprehensive crop insurance coverage.
Hurricane Matthew (2016): Disrupting Harvests
Hurricane Matthew in 2016 caused extensive damage to crops just as farmers were preparing for harvest. Flooding, particularly in the eastern part of the state, devastated tobacco, sweet potatoes, and peanuts, leading to estimated agricultural losses of over $400 million. The hurricane also caused damage to farm equipment and infrastructure, further compounding the financial losses.
The aftermath of Matthew emphasized the importance of diversifying crops to reduce the risk posed by hurricanes, as well as the need for stronger emergency response systems to ensure that aid and supplies could reach farmers more quickly.
Hurricane Florence (2018): The Billion-Dollar Blow
Hurricane Florence in 2018 was particularly destructive, causing over $1.1 billion in agricultural losses in North Carolina. Florence brought severe flooding, which drowned cotton, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, and decimated livestock farms. Thousands of hogs and millions of chickens perished as barns flooded and farmers were unable to evacuate their animals in time.
What Hurricane Helene Could Mean for North Carolina Farmers
With Hurricane Helene following in the destructive footsteps of storms like Floyd, Matthew, and Florence, North Carolina’s farmers face a familiar yet daunting challenge. The storm will likely result in major crop losses, particularly for farms in low-lying areas. The heavy rains and flooding may have already decimated crops that were nearing harvest, such as soybeans and sweet potatoes, which are among the state’s most valuable exports.
Additionally, the loss of livestock could also be significant. Given the storm’s path through the western part of the state, farms in mountainous regions may face damage from landslides and mudslides, making recovery even more difficult.
In the coming weeks, as the floodwaters recede, farmers will begin to assess the full extent of the damage. Many will be relying on federal aid through disaster relief programs and crop insurance to stay afloat. However, as past storms have shown, these recovery efforts can take time, many small farmers will not receive the same aid that the larger producers receive, and many farmers will need to be prepared for a long and difficult rebuilding process. It’s so important in these times to do what we can as individuals to care for our fellow Carolinians and help regrow what has been lost due to Helene.
