New pest threatens Georgia cotton, could impact consumers

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Cotton is Georgia’s top row crop, worth nearly $1 billion a year. But a new invasive insect is threatening that livelihood — and experts say the ripple effects could reach consumers.

The cotton jassid, a tiny leafhopper only a few millimeters long, was first detected in Seminole County in July. Within weeks, it spread across much of Georgia’s cotton belt, infesting as much as 40% of the state’s 825,000 acres of cotton, according to the Georgia Cotton Commission .

The insect pierces leaves and injects a toxin, leaving cotton plants curled, yellow, and unable to photosynthesize properly. That weakens bolls, reducing both yield and fiber quality.

“It just seems like every year we get thrown