The USDA’s monthly crop production report estimates Georgia growers will harvest 1.65 million bales of cotton weighing 480 pounds each. This is a decrease of 400,000 bales from the pre-hurricane estimate. Hurricane Helene destroyed one-fifth of the cotton crop in Georgia.

The University of Georgia issued a preliminary damage report that estimated cotton losses at 500,000 to 600,000 bales. This would be valued at $207 to $220 million.

The North Carolina cotton crop also suffered significant damage with projections now at 700,000 bales. That is a 7% decrease from the pre-storm forecast.

As a result of the storm damage, the USDA lowered U.S. cotton crop estimates to 14.2 million bales. This is a 2% decrease due to hurricane damage. While Georgia and North Carolina account for the reduction in U.S. cotton production, the losses were partially offset by gains in other states.

Read more about the impact of Hurricane Helene on cotton production here.