Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on Friday asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make federal disaster assistance available to farmers ahead of a winter storm forecast to bring freezing temperatures and high winds across much of the state.
In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Simpson requested that USDA issue a disaster declaration for counties expected to be impacted by the storm, which forecasters have described as a “bomb cyclone.” Such a declaration would allow affected producers to access emergency loans and other recovery programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including assistance through the Farm Service Agency.
“Florida is a critical supplier of fresh produce to the eastern United States during the winter months. Timely assistance will be essential to help our farmers recover and continue meeting that demand,” the commissioner wrote.
Forecasts indicate sub-freezing temperatures could reach as far south as Collier and Broward counties, accompanied by sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 50 miles per hour. Those conditions pose a threat to Florida’s winter agricultural production, which is particularly vulnerable to cold snaps.
Simpson said the storm could damage a wide range of crops, including tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and citrus, as well as nurseries, apiaries and aquaculture operations.
Florida is a major supplier of fresh produce to the eastern United States during the winter months, and disruptions could affect both growers and supply chains beyond the state.
“Florida’s producers are taking every possible step to protect their operations, but the severity of this storm will result in losses that require swift federal support,” Simpson continued.
