Florida’s agricultural industry is facing a devastating financial blow from Hurricane Milton, with estimated losses potentially reaching $2.5 billion. This comes on top of the already significant damage caused by three previous hurricanes – Idalia, Debby, and Helene – which collectively resulted in over $1.5 billion in losses.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, requested immediate federal assistance for Florida farmers and ranchers struggling to recover from the repeated impacts of these storms.
READ: Florida Citrus Industry Faces Devastating Blow After Hurricane Milton
“Hurricane Milton has caused widespread destruction, impacting our farmers and putting Florida’s agricultural leadership at risk,” said Commissioner Simpson. “In the last year, we’ve faced four major hurricanes, and the financial strain on our agricultural communities is unprecedented. We need immediate action from the USDA to ensure these family farms can recover.”
Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Sarasota County as a Category 3 storm on October 9th, impacted 51 counties with its strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. This comes as the agriculture industry was already grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which struck Taylor County on September 26th, and Hurricanes Debby and Idalia, which both impacted the state in August.
READ: UF/IFAS Needs Your Help To Assess Hurricane Milton’s Impact On Florida Agriculture
Preliminary assessments reveal widespread damage to various agricultural sectors:
- Nurseries and cattle ranches: Major structural damage.
- Dairy farms: Power outages disrupted milking operations.
- Crops: Cotton, peanut, and rice crops suffered varying degrees of damage, while vegetable, melon, berry, and tropical fruit crops experienced significant losses.
- Citrus industry: Already facing a historically low production season, the citrus industry is now dealing with fruit drop, flooded fields, and potential tree mortality.
The cumulative impact of these storms has placed immense pressure on Florida’s agricultural community. Commissioner Simpson emphasized the need for swift action to provide financial assistance and support to farmers and ranchers as they work to rebuild and recover.
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