Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 3 storm on October 9, leaving a trail of destruction across 51 counties. According to a preliminary assessment by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the hurricane has caused an estimated $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in damages to the state's agricultural sector.
The storm brought high winds and severe flooding to major citrus-producing regions, as well as areas dedicated to dairy cattle, cotton, peanuts, rice, blueberries, strawberries, and other tropical fruits. With 34 counties declared disaster areas, the impact has been widespread.
Florida's citrus industry has faced significant production losses due to fruit drop, branch damage, and heavy precipitation. The damage to agricultural infrastructure has raised concerns about long-term effects, including potential tree mortality from flood-related issues.
Other crops like cotton, peanuts, and rice have experienced varying levels of damage, from minor to catastrophic. The state's dairy and cattle operations have also been hit hard, with infrastructure damage and power outages disrupting milking and production processes.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continues to gather information, and more comprehensive damage assessments are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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Hurricane Milton causes $1.5-2.5b in losses to Florida agriculture
cgtn.com
