‘We’re hurting’: Southwest Virginia farms suffer $125M in losses due to Helene

Damages from Hurricane Helene to farms and agricultural operations in Southwest Virginia are estimated at $125 million, and the total is expected to increase.

The preliminary estimate is based on the work of Virginia Cooperative Extension agents in 16 of the most heavily impacted counties who have spent the week assisting communities and completing damage assessments with farmers and landowners.

Assessments of timber losses are being completed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

The losses include livestock, crops, farm buildings, equipment, feed and hay, fences, water cisterns and other features that were washed away by floodwaters and damaged by high winds, falling trees and debris.

Cleanup efforts could take months, but the residual impacts could last much longer.

“It’s catastrophic,” said Kevin Spurlin, an Extension agent in Grayson County, who grew up in the area. “I’m 47 years old, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The flooding was unprecedented and caused so much loss.”

Grayson County suffered more than 46 percent of the region’s total damage at $58 million.

Damages are widespread in other portions of the region as well, with Wythe, Carroll, Smyth and Washington counties rounding out the top five localities in terms of highest estimates.

Some family farms lost everything.

“We’re not a big county, but we’re hurting,” Spurlin said.

Extension’s damage assessments will help state and federal officials direct response and allocate relief funding.

“The economic and human toll of this storm is immense,” said Mike Gutter, director of Virginia Cooperative Extension. “We are working in our communities and with our agricultural producers — who constitute the state’s most valuable private industry — to support their recovery in every way possible.”

Agricultural relief program

Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia Agribusiness Council and Farm Credit of the Virginias are partnering on an agricultural relief program to connect farmers in need with donations of hay, feed, fencing, water, volunteer assistance and other necessities.

Virginia agricultural producers impacted by Hurricane Helene who have a need for supplies or volunteers, click here.

Interested in donating supplies such as hay, feed, and fencing or volunteering your time to help impacted farmers? Click here.