Farmers and Growers Urged to Get Hurricane-Ready Across the Southeast

Hurricane season is once again upon us, and for farmers and growers across the Southeast, the call to prepare couldn’t be clearer. The University of Florida notes that this marks the 10th year in a row of an “above-average” Atlantic hurricane season, and storms in recent years have underscored just how disruptive they can be for agriculture.

Christa Court, who directs the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program, emphasizes the need for readiness: “It’s critical that our producers do everything they can to prepare for and mitigate risk before, during and after hurricane season.”

One of the most practical steps any producer can take is simply getting organized. That means compiling business records, insurance details, and photos of equipment and facilities as they exist today, then storing multiple copies in secure places. Don’t sit on your hands and wait, do what you can now. You’ll never regret being too prepared. Worst case, a storm doesn’t strike, and you’re ahead on recordkeeping.

With another season underway, vigilance, action, and preparation remain the best defenses for Southeastern agriculture.