Damages to Florida Agriculture Caused by Hurricane Irma Total $2.5 Billion and Expected to Rise
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the preliminary agricultural damages caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida amount to over $2.5 billion.
These preliminary economic assessments include: current crop losses and ancillary losses, such as debris clean-up, damaged infrastructure, and animals’ long-term welfare. This preliminary assessment will change as new information becomes available, and does not reflect any specific funding request.
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, said,
“We’re likely to see even greater economic losses as we account for loss of future production and the cost to rebuild infrastructure. We’re going to do everything within our power to support Florida agriculture as it recovers from Hurricane Irma’s devastation.”
The estimated economic agricultural damages according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ preliminary report are as follows:
- Total Florida agriculture: $2,558,598,303
- Citrus: $760,816,600
- Beef Cattle: $237,476,562
- Dairy: $11,811,695
- Aquaculture: $36,850,000
- Fruits and Vegetables (excluding citrus): $180,193,096
- Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture: $624,819,895
- Sugar: $382,603,397
- Field Crops: $62,747,058
- Forestry: $261,280,000
The estimates included in the preliminary report are based on data obtained from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the UF-IFAS “Impacts of Hurricane Irma on Florida Agriculture: Update #4 Report,” UF-IFAS crops budgets, Timber Damage Estimates prepared by the Florida Forest Service, and early surveys the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services conducted with industry leaders and individual producers.
