Flood recovery continues for East Tennessee farmers a year after Hurricane Helene

Experts estimate the flooding from Hurricane Helene caused more than $1.3 billion in damage to Tennessee agriculture.

It’s been a year since Tropical Storm Helene caused heavy flooding in Upper East Tennessee. The impact on farming could be measured for the next decade.

University economists are also working with producers to recover financially. Experts estimate the flooding caused more than $1.3 billion in damage to Tennessee agriculture.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) is working with farmers as they restore their land and soil. UTIA Reporter Charles Denney shows us how they’re stabilizing land along riverbanks so that crops can grow again.

Related Stories
FFA Alumni Shelby Humbarger shares how the program helped her navigate personal loss, build lasting relationships, and find her passion for agricultural education.
“No matter who you are, what you want to do— there is a place and a blue jacket.”

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Earlier this year, the BLM moved to rescind the Public Lands Rule from the Biden Administration. Interior Secretary Doug Bergum says overturning the rule will protect the American way of life and give rural communities a stronger voice.
Lower turkey and wheat prices helped ease Thanksgiving costs, but underlying farm-sector pressures remain significant.
Hunter Biram, an extension economist with the University of Arkansas, is tracking Mississippi River water levels as grain shippers shift their focus to transportation following the wrap-up of fall harvest.
With feed supplies running tight, producers can tap into some creative options, according to University of Pennsylvania Veterinarian and Professor Dr. Joe Bender.
Shawn Haney, Host of RealAg Radio on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147, joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report with the latest news from Canada impacting the ag sector.
Dr. Deb Vnoverbeke, UNL’s Head of Animal Science, joins us with more about the university’s experiential learning programs designed to prepare veterinary students for the future of agriculture.