Florida Agriculture Suffers $190 Million in Losses from Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Brings Devastating Damage to State’s Farm and Ranches
ST. PETERSBURG (AP) — Florida agriculture suffered more than $190 million in losses from Hurricane Milton, making it the costliest for farmers and ranchers of three cyclones that pummeled the state in 2024, according to University of Florida researchers.
Estimated Losses Expected to Reach $642 Million
When all the data is in, the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) estimates the losses from Milton could reach over $642 million. This is compared to farm-related damages of $170 million from Hurricane Debby in August and up to $162 million caused by Hurricane Helene in September.
Milton’s Impact on Agriculture
Milton came ashore October 9 near Siesta Key on the Gulf coast as a Category 3 storm, sweeping across the central part of the state with hurricane-force winds striking 14 counties. The storm impacted more than 5.7 million acres (2.3 million hectares) of agricultural land, much of it used for cattle and other livestock grazing.
Total Production Value of Impacted Land
Total production value on that land annually is pegged at about $8.6 billion, according to the report.
Reason for Higher Losses
"Milton resulted in higher agricultural losses than Hurricane Helene, not only because it caused more intense weather conditions overall, but also because areas producing high-value commodities experienced higher-intensity weather conditions," said Xiaohui Qiao, an IFAS research assistant professor.
Breakdown of Losses
The report is broken down into low and high estimates of loss. For example, researchers say losses to vegetable crops range between $52.5 million and $233 million. Greenhouse and nursery costs are estimated at between $66.9 million and $177 million.
Livestock Operations
The dominant livestock operations in the region had estimated losses of between $29.4 million and $86.5 million, the researchers said. This includes sickened and dead animals, as well as damaged fencing and structures and loss of feed.
Delays in Planting Crops
There were also delays in planting crops crucial to Florida’s winter growing season.
"Some growers have delayed winter crop planting due to Helene and Milton, disrupting the production schedule and potentially affecting the value of future harvests," the report says.
Conclusion
The loss estimates are based on a survey of agriculture producers around the state. A final report on Milton’s impact is expected in the first quarter of 2025 and will include additional survey results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much did Florida agriculture suffer in losses from Hurricane Milton?
A: Over $190 million
Q: What is the estimated total loss from Hurricane Milton?
A: Over $642 million
Q: Which hurricane caused more damage to agriculture, Milton or Helene?
A: Hurricane Milton caused more damage to agriculture than Hurricane Helene.
Q: What was the impact of Hurricane Milton on agricultural land?
A: The storm impacted more than 5.7 million acres (2.3 million hectares) of agricultural land.
Q: What was the total production value of the impacted land annually?
A: About $8.6 billion
