Following severe damage to Florida’s agriculture from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL), and several Florida congressional colleagues are pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deliver essential disaster relief for Florida farmers.
The Florida Department of Agriculture estimates that the hurricanes caused $1.5 to $2.5 billion in crop and infrastructure losses across the state.
In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Florida lawmakers emphasized the critical need for federal aid and policy flexibility to support recovery efforts. “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second-largest industry,” the letter states. “it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.”
READ: UF/IFAS Supports Florida After Hurricanes Helene And Milton
The lawmakers are requesting USDA support for a block grant, as used after Hurricane Irma in 2018, which would expedite aid distribution and provide flexibility for Florida’s unique agricultural needs.
They highlighted delays in past USDA disaster relief and argued that block grants can help reduce red tape and avoid backlogs in Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.
Key Concerns Raised in the Letter:
- Block Grant Assistance: The lawmakers urged USDA to support block grants, which have proven effective in past disaster relief efforts. A recent bill, the Block Grant Assistance Act, aims to formalize the use of block grants in disaster relief for quick payment to affected producers.
- Staffing and Resources: The letter pointed out that FSA offices in Florida are understaffed, particularly for managing specialty crop disaster relief programs, which are more complex than typical commodity crop programs. Lawmakers requested an expedited review of applications and waivers for redundant requirements.
- Disaster Funding Gap: Noting that 2022 saw $14 billion in agricultural losses nationwide with only $3.7 billion allocated for relief, the letter called for better funding and planning in 2023 and 2024 to avoid gaps that leave severely impacted producers with inadequate support.
- Improved Crop Insurance Options: Lawmakers advocated for more accessible crop insurance options in the 2024 Farm Bill to support Florida’s specialty crop growers, who often face prohibitive premiums and low claim payouts.
READ: Florida Sens Rubio, Scott Urge Approval Of Hurricane Milton Disaster Aid For Seminole Tribe
The letter, co-signed by over two dozen Florida representatives, seeks immediate action to secure aid for Florida farmers facing unprecedented losses. It also includes a series of requests for USDA’s policies, staffing levels, and plans to efficiently address disaster relief needs in Florida, with a response deadline of November 29, 2024.
“As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation,” the letter concludes, underscoring the urgency of their requests for disaster relief and structural support for Florida’s agricultural industry.
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