Hurricane Helene Losses and H5N1 in Dairy Workers
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**Ag production losses Florida experienced from Hurricane Helene have now been estimated between $40.3 million and $162.2 million, according to the University of Florida’s Economic Impact Analysis Program.
www.morningagclips.com reports September’s category 4 storm brought tropical storm-force winds to 55 of Florida’s 67 counties, and hurricane conditions to eight others.
Helene affected more than 6 million acres of Florida ag land that collectively produces an estimated $8.7 billion in ag products each year.
www.morningagclips.com/helene-fla-ag-production-losses-top-40m-uf-economists-est/
**A new study recently showed some dairy workers had signs of H5N1 infection even when they didn’t report feeling sick.
As a result, federal health officials called for more testing of employees on farms affected by bird flu.
The University of Texas Medical Branch says farmworkers in close contact with infected animals should be tested and offered treatment, even if they show no H5N1 symptoms.
**President-Elect Donald Trump’s threat of mass deportations risks hurting the domestic agriculture sector already struggling with labor shortages.
Many Ag leaders are saying Trump’s plan should be approached carefully.
Bloomberg reports farming would be one of the biggest US sectors hit should the incoming administration move forward with kicking potentially millions of undocumented immigrants out of the country.
The USDA has says roughly 40% of hired crop farmworkers lack legal immigration status.
