Agriculture Damage From Hurricane Michael Ripples Through Southeast Alabama Economy

By Maggie Lawrence – Alabama Extension

The impact of agriculture damage from Hurricane Michael is rippling through southeast Alabama’s regional economy. The associate director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System said total agriculture impacts top more than $300 million and could cost the region more than 2,500 jobs.

“Direct agricultural losses total $204 million alone,” said Paul Brown, the Extension System’s storm response leader. “But when you consider associated impacts on agricultural suppliers and the absence of household spending, the total damage done by Michael to Alabama’s agriculture industry and communities reaches $307 million.”

Cotton, which is grown on about 200,000 acres in the region, accounts for about 54 percent of the total damage, almost $163 million. Combined timber and pine straw losses reach $53 million, while livestock damages total more than $36 million.

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