Florida has once again faced formidable challenges with the recent impacts of Hurricane Milton, which struck on October 9, 2024. This storm has proven particularly devastating for the state’s agricultural sector, marking the third hurricane to hit Florida this season and perhaps the most damaging of the trio.
According to the recently released preliminary report from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Economic Impact Analysis Program (UF/IFAS EIAP), the estimated agricultural production losses from Hurricane Milton range from $190.4 million to $642.7 million. This report, compiled from extensive data and surveys conducted among producers, sheds light on the significant toll the storm has taken on various key commodities.
One of the hardest-hit categories was vegetables, melons, and potatoes, which faced estimated losses between $52.5 million (low) and $233 million (high). The damaging winds and flooding wrought havoc on crops. According to the EIAP report, growers have observed substantial flooding impacts particularly affecting potatoes and beans, along with wind damage to peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Greenhouses and nurseries sustained considerable losses as well, primarily due to structural damage and numerous power outages. Christa Court, director of UF/IFAS EIAP, noted the difficulty faced when estimating the impacts of Hurricane Milton, exacerbated by the recent landfall of Hurricane Helene just weeks earlier.
“We had to do some quick thinking and make adjustments to both the data and the methods we used for our Hurricane Milton analysis,” Court remarked. “This was necessary to account for the quick succession of Hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as the tornado outbreak accompanying Hurricane Milton.”
The report highlights the wide-ranging effects Milton had across Florida’s agricultural lands, impacting over 5.7 million acres. This territory is responsible for generating approximately $8.6 billion worth of agricultural products annually. The extent of the damages has sparked concern within the industry as growers grapple with the fallout.
Comparatively, the agricultural losses for Hurricane Debby, which was classified as Category 1 and impacted Florida earlier this year, were about $170 million, affecting 2.2 million acres. Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene was rated as Category 4 and caused losses estimated between $40.3 million and $162.2 million across 6 million acres. Notably, Milton's higher agricultural losses were attributed not just to its severity as a storm but also its impact on regions producing high-value commodities.
Xiaohui Qiao, EIAP research assistant professor, emphasized this point, stating, “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.”
The USDA and UF/IFAS will continue gathering data related to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton throughout 2025. Their findings will contribute to the final report, expected to be published by spring 2025, offering more comprehensive insights. This report is anticipated to assess the longer-term effects of the storms, as growers are already reporting delays in winter crop planting, disrupting production schedules and potentially affecting future harvest values.
Milton’s impacts on local agriculture extend beyond immediate losses. Crop rotations and timing of planting are likely to be altered, affecting future harvests and the overall economic stability of Florida's farming community. Rainfall from Milton was particularly concentrated across the western and central regions of Florida, with some areas reporting up to 18 inches of rain between October 6 and October 12. Flooding from the storm reached staggering levels, up to 15 feet high along coastlines and 4 feet inland around rivers and low-lying areas.
With each hurricane season, Florida's agriculture sector is under continuous threat, and the aftermath of Hurricane Milton serves as yet another reminder of the volatile interactions between natural disasters and agricultural production. The reports from UF/IFAS will be integral for both responding to this year’s challenges and preparing for future ones, emphasizing the importance of timely data and the resilience of the growers.
