Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeastern US Poultry and Cotton Industries

The Category 4 storm has caused over 100 deaths and significant agricultural damage across multiple states.

Hurricane Helene has resulted in the closure of at least two poultry plants in Georgia and North Carolina due to power outages.
Georgia's top chicken producer reported that 107 poultry facilities were damaged or destroyed, likely leading to millions of chicken deaths.
South Carolina's cotton crops have been severely affected, with twisted plants and damaged open bolls complicating the harvest.
North Carolina's pork processing and poultry industries faced transportation and operational challenges but avoided major disruptions.
The storm has highlighted vulnerabilities in the factory farming system, exacerbating environmental and economic risks.