As Much as $162.2M in Ag Damage from Helene

Florida farmers are still tallying up the losses after Hurricane Helene, with estimates ranging from $40.3 million to as high as $162.2 million. That’s according to a preliminary report from the University of Florida.

Over six million acres of agricultural land were impacted, mostly grazing land, but the numbers are still coming together. Estimated losses include:

$12.8 to $48.2 million in field and row crops,

$11.8 to $44.4 million in livestock and animal products, and

$10.5 to $38.2 million in vegetables, melons, and potatoes.

Helene struck just eight weeks after Hurricane Debby. While Helene packed stronger winds, Debby caused more damage—$170 million—thanks to heavy rain and widespread flooding. And now, with Hurricane Milton hitting just two weeks after Helene, the University of Florida team says piecing it all together is complicated.

Christa Court, who leads UF’s Economic Impact Analysis Program, says they’re working carefully to avoid double-counting losses from these overlapping storms. The wide range in estimates highlights just how hard it is to put solid numbers on these disasters.

For now, farmers and researchers alike are left trying to make sense of the damage. You can find the preliminary report on the UF/IFAS website: https://fred.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/economic-impact-analysis-program/disaster-impact-analysis/hurricane-helene-damage-assessments/