Florida Farmers Hit Hard by Historic Freeze as USDA Unlocks Disaster Aid
Florida’s agriculture industry is getting federal help after historic winter freezes caused billions in damage across the state.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a USDA disaster declaration supporting Florida producers impacted by the freezes. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson thanked federal leaders for acting quickly, saying the declaration recognizes the scale of the losses farmers faced.
Simpson said, “This was one of the most damaging freeze events in Florida agriculture’s history, with our preliminary estimates totaling over $3 billion in agricultural losses.”
The request for federal assistance began January 30, when Simpson sent a letter to the USDA ahead of a forecasted winter storm asking for quick access to federal programs for agricultural producers. Support for the request grew on February 10, when the entire Florida congressional delegation also urged the USDA to issue a disaster declaration.
State officials later estimated more than $3 billion in losses across Florida’s agricultural sectors.
Simpson says the state will now work with federal partners to connect affected farmers with recovery resources.
