Hurricane Milton, striking as a Category 3 storm on Oct. 9, inflicted an estimated $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in damages across Florida's agricultural sectors, as per the state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The hurricane impacted 51 counties, 34 of which have been declared disaster areas, affecting the majority of the state's citrus-producing regions, alongside dairy, cotton, peanut, rice, blueberry, strawberry, and tropical fruit operations due to high winds and flooding.
The citrus industry, in particular, faces "significant production losses" from fruit drop, branch damage, and the effects of heavy rainfall and flooding. The preliminary assessment highlights concerns over infrastructure damage and potential tree mortality due to flooding. Additionally, cotton, peanut, and rice crops are expected to suffer from "minor to catastrophic damages." The dairy and cattle sectors also reported severe losses, including significant infrastructure damages and operational disruptions caused by power outages affecting cow milking and production processes. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services anticipates releasing more detailed damage assessments as further information becomes available.
Source: Reuters