Agriculture sustains losses in excess of $2 billion
from storm damage
(GAINESVILLE, Fla.) – Losses to Florida
agriculture will exceed $2 billion, equal to about 30 percent
of the total cash receipts, due to the one-two punch thrown
by hurricanes Charley and Frances, according to estimates reported
by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
A third strike, Hurricane Ivan, could increase those numbers.
“These storms have dealt a major blow to the economy of
the state,” said Carl Loop Jr., Florida Farm Bureau Federation
president. “Agriculture, a crucial economic engine for
the state, felt the brunt of the storm.”
There are more than 280 commodities produced in the state and
none were spared. Nursery greenhouses, barns, fences and livestock
markets were destroyed. Fruit trees and seed clams were decimated
and pre-planting fumigation was rendered a futile effort. Milk
could not leave dairies and beef cattle that were supposed to
be shipped out of state were stranded in pastures.
Early estimates indicate the nursery industry, the top agriculture
industry in Florida, will suffer a loss of between $530 million
and $600 million from both storms, including the loss of product
and structural damage. Florida's citrus industry faces losses
of more than $400 million from Charley and Frances, not including
structural damages. The state's timber industry anticipates
more than $150 million dollars in losses, and that number is
likely to rise due to root rot and insect infestations in downed
trees. In addition, dairy farmers have been forced to dump more
than 300,000 gallons of milk because there were no tankers available,
and dairy and beef cattle will continue to succumb to storm-related
problems such as stress. Now that much of Florida has been federally
declared a disaster, producers are anxiously waiting to hear
if there will be any relief in sight.
Even in the face of so much adversity, the industry remains
strong. The president of the state’s largest agricultural
organization is encouraged by how the industry has responded.
“One of the greatest strengths of the agricultural community
is its ability to unite and overcome,” said Loop. “We
have watched all aspects of the industry come together to build
fences, locate generators and distribute food and supplies to
farm workers and neighbors near and far. It makes you proud
to be a part.”
A major factor influencing the success was the local, state
and national collaborations that produced a model which can
now be used by other states recovering from disaster. “We
commend the agencies who have orchestrated the recovery process,”
said Loop. “Years of planning have been tested and paid
off.”
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest
general-interest agricultural association with more than 150,000
member-families statewide. There are Farm Bureaus in 62 counties
in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg
of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic
importance. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is
an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is
not associated with any arm of the government. More information
is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.
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Florida Farm Bureau Federation