Florida’s signature crop, citrus, accounted for one-third of the losses suffered by the state’s farming sector last month from Hurricane Ian, said a preliminary damage assessment by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Estimates of total agricultural damages ranged from $1.2 billion to $1.9 billion.
Significant production losses were expected on citrus farms “due to fruit drop, damage to branches and impacts due to heavy precipitation and flooding,” said the assessment. More than 6 million of the state’s 55.75 million citrus trees might be lost to flood-caused tree mortality. Total damage could be as high as $676 million, said the report.
Citrus production has been on the decline for years in Florida because of citrus greening disease. California is forecast to be No. 1 in orange production for the 2022-23 season.
Damage to the livestock, dairy and aquaculture sector may total as much as $492 million, followed by $297 million to horticultural crops, $231 million to fruits and vegetables, $160 million to field crops including sugarcane, and $33 million to forestry.
State agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried said the damage assessment was a first step toward securing federal disaster aid for producers. “As we move ahead on the road to recovery, I look forward to working with Florida’s congressional delegation and our U.S. Senators on a relief package to help restore Florida’s second largest industry,” she said.