Thu. Jan 16th, 2025

The coastline in Steinhatchee remains covered in debris on Oct. 3, 2024, following Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Hurricanes inflicted up to $975.8 million in Florida agriculture production losses in 2024, a year in which three hurricanes made landfall in the state, according to University of Florida researchers.

A report presented to the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday estimated agricultural production losses for the 2024 hurricane season at between $402.3 million and $975.8 million, with the third storm, Hurricane Milton, inflicting up to $642.7 million in losses itself.

Researchers calculated values using crop growth stage, value per acre, and reported loss percentages. They did not include already-harvested products stored on farms at the time of the storms, nor timber and forestry damage or commercial fishing and working waterfronts. 

Hurricane Debby made landfall in the Big Bend near Steinhatchee on Aug. 5 and caused approximately $170 million in agricultural losses in the Big Bend, North Central, and southwest peninsula regions. The most significant losses were to field and row crops and animal products.

On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry and inflicted an estimated $40.3-$162.2 million in agricultural losses in the Big Bend and North Central regions. The highest losses were field and row crops and animal products. 

Hurricane Milton inflicted the greatest agricultural losses, estimated between $190.4-$642.7 million across much of the peninsula, taking out vegetables, melons, potatoes, and greenhouse/nursery products at the highest level. 

Forty-one counties experienced at least tropical storm conditions during all three 2024 events. Taylor, Lafayette, Dixie, and Suwanee counties faced hurricane conditions during Debby and Helene, having already experienced hurricanes Idalia in 2023 and Ian in 2022. 

Wilton Simpson via Florida Department of Agriculture

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson addressed the losses, calling for Congress to pass an updated farm bill, including disaster assistance, and for the Legislature to replenish state loan programs. The farm bill is meant to be passed every five years but was most recently approved in December 2018 and has been operating on extensions, most recently one lasting until the end of September.

Simpson pointed to the state’s zero-interest loan and grant program as a major factor in hurricane recovery and said he hopes for “$50 or so million to replenish that loan program.”

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Simpson said the program “is never going to match” what the farm bill will do. “Clearly, that $50 million is not going to replace the farm bill, and it’s not meant to replace the farm bill.”

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is reporting loan requests have exceeded available funds. “All loans approved will be funded according to future state appropriations in the order of their approval,” the department’s website states.

“With that program, we were able to get a lot of farmers back on their feet in real time, not two years later, not 18 months later,” Simpson said. “And if you’re going to operate in real time, we have to have a trust fund of money that’s attached to an emergency program so that we can fund them in real time and get them back on their feet.”

Part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a special session starting on Jan. 27 includes agricultural relief in response to natural disasters, although some lawmakers, including the leaders of both legislative chambers, have been critical of the need for the session.

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