Florida’s agriculture sector has suffered catastrophic losses estimated between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion after Hurricane Milton tore through the state earlier this month. The preliminary assessment, released by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Thursday, highlights the extensive damage to crops and agricultural infrastructure across the region.
Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9 as a formidable Category 3 storm, unleashing high winds and torrential rainfall that devastated 51 counties. Of these, 34 counties have been declared disaster areas due to widespread flooding and severe wind damage.
The state’s renowned citrus industry has been particularly hard hit. “Significant production losses” have been reported, with long-term impacts anticipated for the sector. The majority of citrus-producing counties experienced fruit drop, damaged branches, and severe flooding. Growers are also contending with heavy infrastructure damage and face concerns over tree mortality caused by prolonged flooding.
Beyond citrus, the hurricane’s destructive path affected areas cultivating cotton, peanuts, rice, blueberries, strawberries, and other tropical fruits. The agency noted that damages in these sectors range from “minor to catastrophic.” Dairy and cattle operations were not spared, suffering “significant infrastructure damages.” Power outages in the aftermath of the storm disrupted milking processes and production, exacerbating the industry’s challenges.
“Most of these losses are due to fruit drop, damage to branches, and impacts from heavy precipitation and flooding,” the agency stated in its preliminary report. “Growers are also reporting heavy infrastructure damage, and there are major concerns of flood-caused tree mortality in the near future.”
As the state continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, officials are gathering more data to provide a comprehensive damage assessment. The full extent of the hurricane’s impact on Florida’s agriculture is expected to unfold in the coming weeks.
(Cover image: People bike past damaged homes and debris left by Hurricane Milton on the sand-coated main road of southern Manasota Key, Englewood, Florida, U.S., October 13, 2024. /CFP)
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Hurricane Milton causes $1.5-2.5b in losses to Florida agriculture
cgtn.com
