Tallahassee Faces Growing Agricultural Losses from Hurricane Milton
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Agricultural production losses in Florida caused by Hurricane Milton are projected to reach between $190.4 million and $642.7 million. This significant impact pushes the state’s total potential losses from three hurricanes this year to nearly $1 billion. The preliminary estimates were released by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) following the hurricane’s landfall on October 9, 2023.
The Storm’s Impact
Hurricane Milton struck Sarasota County with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and traversed the state, affecting a notable 55 counties. Compared to previous hurricanes, Milton had a more pronounced effect on Florida’s agricultural sector than Hurricane Debby, which hit in August, and Hurricane Helene, which followed in September. Both of these storms were less impactful primarily due to their geographic path, according to Christa Court, director of the Economic Impact Analysis Program at UF/IFAS.
Affected Areas and Crop Losses
More than 5.7 million acres of agricultural land were affected by Milton, with approximately two-thirds of this area reserved for livestock grazing. The estimated losses are intricate and vary widely among different sectors:
- Vegetables and melons: Losses estimated between $52.5 million and $233 million.
- Greenhouses and nurseries: Estimated between $66.9 million and $177.3 million.
- Livestock and animal production: Estimated losses between $29.3 million and $86.5 million.
- Fruit and tree nuts: Losses estimated between $14.6 million and $57.7 million.
- Citrus: Losses estimated between $23 million and $55 million.
- Field and row crops: Estimated losses ranging from $3.89 million to $32.9 million.
Comparison with Other Hurricanes
The damage from Hurricane Milton marks a worrying trend, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has already reduced its forecast for Florida’s orange and grapefruit production this season. While Milton has led to higher agricultural losses compared to Helene, historically, Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Irma in 2017 caused even more devastation, with losses exceeding $1 billion and $1.31 billion, respectively.
Challenges Ahead
Despite preliminary estimates indicating a wide range of potential losses, the Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has warned of even greater economic pressures. He indicated the storm could cause losses between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion altogether when factoring in previous hurricanes this year. A report from the state Department of Agriculture highlighted serious structural damage to nurseries and ranches, with power outages interrupting critical operations like milking cows.
Additionally, the challenges farmers face are compounded by ongoing economic issues, including supply chain disruptions and inflation. Many agricultural producers are struggling to access the resources necessary to rebuild.
Federal Assistance Considerations
A federal spending package has been proposed to provide $110 billion in emergency aid for recovery from recent hurricanes, including Milton. However, the approval of these funds remains uncertain as Congress continues to work through the budget.
As Florida farmers begin assessing the damage and looking toward recovery, the road ahead appears challenging with significant financial repercussions from Hurricane Milton and the other storms that have recently battered the state.
