Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In Montgomery County, more than a year after Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia, pecan orchards are still struggling to recover. While younger trees bounced back, older orchards suffered devastating losses — and the impacts go far beyond a single season.
In this Farm Monitor report, John Holcomb speaks with UGA Pecan Agent Andrew Sawyer, who explains how a season that started with unexpected promise quickly turned into one of the toughest years growers have faced:
🌧️ Persistent early-season rain that fueled severe scab disease
☀️ A sudden, historic drought that caused widespread tree stress
🌬️ Lingering hurricane damage compromising root systems and long-term production
As Sawyer describes, each challenge compounded the next, shrinking the crop and putting long-term income at risk for growers already stretched thin.
Hear firsthand how Georgia’s pecan farmers are navigating the aftermath — and what this difficult season means for 2025 and beyond.
In Montgomery County, more than a year after Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia, pecan orchards are still struggling to recover. While younger trees bounced back, older orchards suffered devastating losses — and the impacts go far beyond a single season.
In this Farm Monitor report, John Holcomb speaks with UGA Pecan Agent Andrew Sawyer, who explains how a season that started with unexpected promise quickly turned into one of the toughest years growers have faced:
🌧️ Persistent early-season rain that fueled severe scab disease
☀️ A sudden, historic drought that caused widespread tree stress
🌬️ Lingering hurricane damage compromising root systems and long-term production
As Sawyer describes, each challenge compounded the next, shrinking the crop and putting long-term income at risk for growers already stretched thin.
Hear firsthand how Georgia’s pecan farmers are navigating the aftermath — and what this difficult season means for 2025 and beyond.
