Tallahassee Agricultural Sector Faces $642.7 Million in Losses Due to Hurricane Milton

Damaged crops in a flooded agricultural field post-hurricane.

Tallahassee Faces Agricultural Crisis Following Hurricane Milton’s Devastation

This past October, Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc across Florida, resulting in estimated agricultural losses of up to $642.7 million. The storm struck Sarasota County on October 9, recording sustained winds of 120 mph. With its path cutting through 55 counties, Milton is expected to push the state’s total crop and livestock losses from hurricanes this year close to $1 billion.

What Happened

According to preliminary estimates released by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Hurricane Milton’s impact on Florida’s agricultural sector was substantial. Losses attributed to Milton range from $190.4 million to $642.7 million, surpassing the damages incurred from Hurricane Debby in August and Hurricane Helene in September. Both of those storms made landfall in the less populated Taylor County.

Where and When Did It Strike?

Milton struck on October 9, 2023, affecting more than 5.7 million acres of agricultural land across the state. The timing of the crop season, combined with the areas hit hard by the storm, contributed to the severity of losses, as noted by Christa Court, director of the Economic Impact Analysis Program at UF/IFAS. “It’s both the timing and the geography of the storm in this case,” Court explained.

Why Are The Losses Significant?

The assessment from UF/IFAS outlines severe impacts on various agricultural sectors. The hardest-hit sectors include:

Vegetable and melon production: Estimated losses of $52.5 million to $233 million.
Greenhouses and nurseries: Estimated losses of $66.9 million to $177.3 million.
Livestock and animal production: Estimated losses of $29.3 million to $86.5 million.
Fruit and tree-nuts: Estimated losses of $14.6 million to $57.7 million.
Citrus: Estimated losses from $23 million to $55 million.
Field and row crops: Estimated losses of $3.89 million to $32.9 million.

Furthermore, due to power outages following the storm, significant disruptions occurred in cow-milking operations, compounding the challenges faced by livestock farmers.

Comparative Analysis with Other Hurricanes

This year’s losses from Hurricane Milton are notable when compared to the damages caused by other recent hurricanes. For instance, Hurricane Ian in 2022 resulted in approximately $1.033 billion in losses, while Hurricane Irma in 2017 caused about $1.31 billion. In terms of recent storms, Milton’s agricultural losses were higher than those from Hurricane Helene, largely due to better geographic targeting of high-value crops.

Ongoing Recovery Efforts and Challenges

The aftermath of Milton follows years of challenging weather patterns and economic disruptions, including inflation and supply chain troubles. According to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, between all recent hurricanes, agriculture in Florida faces an aggregated damage estimate of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion. A federal aid proposal seeking $110 billion to assist affected communities is currently under debate, but its future remains uncertain as legislative negotiations progress.

Conclusion

As Florida grapples with the financial fallout from Hurricane Milton, the agricultural community is bracing for a long and challenging recovery. Timely assistance and recovery plans will be critical in minimizing future losses and enhancing resilience against similar natural events.