Two weeks after Hurricane Helene battered Florida’s Big Bend region, Hurricane Milton made landfall, further devastating the state’s agricultural sector. Farm Bureau economist Danny Munch said a combination of data allows them to assess potential damage based on production value in the region.

"What we found was that vegetable production is the largest agricultural sector in those counties impacted by Hurricane Milton, with a total value exceeding $1.6 billion produced in those counties," Munch said. "FDA requires and restricts any sales of edible portions of crops that have been exposed to flooding, so any vegetables that were flooded have been lost. The fruit and tree nuts sector, were the next largest sector, $1.3 billion in ag sales in those affected counties are produced, such as the state’s citrus industry."

The estimated losses don’t stop there.

"Florida is also the second-largest producer of strawberries in the U.S., producing over $430 million in strawberries each year, and 99 percent of the acreage was in the counties within Hurricane Milton's path," Munch said. "You also had wind damage on barns and infrastructure, cutting power to dairies and aquaculture facilities in the area, and damaged fencing and livestock containment areas."

The road to recovery will be long for Florida’s agricultural community, but Munch says there is help available.

"So, when we're talking about crop insurance providers, approved insurance providers, they've been authorized to accept delayed notices of losses due to Hurricane Milton. FSA has provided some flexibilities," Munch said. "You also have some permanent disaster programs in the farm bill that will continue to help, such as the Tree Assistance Program, which provides vital financial support to cover the cost of replanting or rehabilitating orchards when those trees are damaged or destroyed. Then, the Livestock Indemnity Program, which compensates livestock losses exceeding normal mortality due to extreme weather. So, those are just a few of the programs farmers can use."

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene & Milton, communities across the Southeast from Florida to Georgia, through North & South Carolina, to Virginia and Tennessee are picking up the pieces. The devastation in rural and farm communities has been widespread, and it will be weeks—possibly months—before we know the full impact of the storm. Farm Bureau organizations across the region are providing resources for those affected and those looking to help their neighbors near and far. The American Farm Bureau will continue to pass along updates from our state Farm Bureaus as information becomes available. Relief funds have been set up by Farm Bureau organizations across the region. If you'd like more information on how you can help, click HERE.