b'When we dive into the total economic implications, if we look at all commodities across the impacted counties, were talk-ing about $14.8 billion in crops and livestock production in the areas impacted by Helene and another $7.4 billion in crop and livestock production in areas impacted by Hurricane Milton, he says. Even a conservative estimate of a 30% loss in ag produc-tion puts the hypothetical losses at $5 billion. And that doesnt even account for infrastructure losses, Munch adds.Fruit and Vegetable Losses Compound the DamageBeyond poultry, fruit and vegetable producers have also been hit hard. Georgia produces 36% of the countrys pecans, and 70% of the mature trees in the impacted counties were feared lost, Munch reports. The ripple effects extend to Florida, the second-largest producer of strawberries. A lot of the strawberries in Florida were just about to be plantedor had just been plantedand were washed out by Hurricane Milton.Munchs insights extend to other crops, such as cotton, which was nearing harvest just before Hurricane Helene struck. The cotton bolls had just opened, and the wind flattened them. Its either tangled up, which makes it difficult to harvest, or blown away entirely, he says. In South Carolina and Georgia, this could mean nearly complete losses in some areas.Infrastructure Woes The logistical challenges following these hurricanes compound the economic strain. Youve got substantial roadway and rail damage. Grain storage facilities near poultry barns have been impacted, and certain railways, like CSX, are also affected, Munch explains. With transporta-tion routes severely disrupted, the ability to rebuild and recover livestock markets remains uncertain. You cant bring chickens back until the barns are rebuilt, he points out, signaling a long recovery period ahead for the regions poultry producers.The ripple effects on grain markets are equally troubling. The demand for corn and soybean meal is going to drop temporarily as poultry producers recover, and thats going to affect local grain markets, Munch predicts.Fertilizer Production at Risk Danny Munch provided a graphic showing Helenes Munch also highlighted the potential impact on fertilizer produc- path through the United States.tion due to infrastructure damage in the Tampa Bay area, where major phosphate production facilities are located. Half of the countrys wet-process phosphoric acid capacity comes out of that region, he explains. With power outages and damaged facilities, Munch is con-cerned about how long recovery might take and the impact this could have on fertilizer exports. The Port of Tampa is responsible for 40% of U.S. phosphate fertilizer exports, and most of those are exported in the last three months of the year, he says.36/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2024'