C Taylor Moses spent a sleepless night as Hurricane Helene ravaged her family's pecan farm in Georgia, leaving a trail of destruction that echoed across the state's leading agricultural industry. The storm obliterated every one of their pecan-producing trees, a loss that Moses describes as "heartbreaking," reflecting the years of work that vanished overnight.

Georgia, the top pecan producer in the US, was gearing up for its harvest season, which typically swells with holiday demand for pecan pie. However, Hurricane Helene's September 26th landfall resulted in the loss of approximately 36 million pounds of pecans, a third of the state's annual yield, according to the University of Georgia (UGA). This catastrophe struck an industry already battered by tariffs, escalating costs, and depressed consumer prices.

The hurricane's reach extended to at least 48,000 acres of pecan trees, with an estimated $6.46 billion impact on Georgia's entire agriculture sector. The loss is particularly poignant for farmers like Moses, who face years without production as pecan trees can take a decade to become profitable. The destruction was not just limited to young trees; it also claimed large, century-old nut producers, a fact underscored by Lenny Wells, a UGA horticulture professor and pecan specialist.

Initial assessments indicate that around 70% of Georgia's pecan trees over 50 years old were lost, a figure that compounds the industry's woes following Hurricane Michael's $2 billion blow in 2018. Wells fears that Helene's impact may surpass Michael's in terms of damage to pecans.

The pecan tree is a long-term investment, a fact not lost on Tyler Harper, Georgia's Commissioner of Agriculture, who notes that some farmers have suffered generational financial losses with the loss of decades-old trees. The recovery period is lengthy, and the ability to recoup investments is uncertain.

Chris Harrell of Southern Roots Nuts Company, a Georgia-based wholesale pecan supplier, reveals that the pecan farmers in his cooperative were already struggling with increased costs, and Hurricane Helene has only exacerbated their plight. With five farmers losing their entire crop and a significant portion of their trees, the cooperative now faces an uncertain supply situation and anticipates short-term price increases due to the reduced pecan harvest.

Greg Fonsah, an economist at UGA, warns of a potential pecan shortage, which could drive up prices, especially if long-term supply does not recover to meet demand. While other states like New Mexico contribute to the pecan market, the overall impact on prices and supply is a concern for industry insiders like Brad Rubin of Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute.

Laura Shenkar, CEO of PKN, a pecan-based milk company, anticipates future price increases as the extent of the remaining crop becomes clear. For now, some companies have already set prices for the holiday season, but the long-term outlook is one of uncertainty and potential cost inflation.

In Georgia, the road to recovery for pecan farmers is fraught with challenges. Moses and her husband are contemplating whether to replant, a decision that carries not only financial but also emotional weight, as they had hoped to pass the farm down to their young son. In the interim, they plan to diversify their farm with other crops that offer a quicker return. The loss of entire trees, even with crop insurance for some, represents a significant financial and emotional toll. As Wells reflects, "They face so many challenges that are out of their control. And this one certainly is a big one. This is one of the biggest challenges most of them will face in their lifetime."