Hurricane Debby caused an estimated $93.7 million to $263.2 million in agricultural losses across Florida, with the damage primarily from heavy rainfall and flooding, affecting crops, livestock, and infrastructure, according to a preliminary report from UF/IFAS.

Hurricane Debby caused an estimated $93.7 million to $263.2 million in agricultural losses across Florida, according to a preliminary report released on Thursday the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS EIAP).

The storm, which made landfall near Steinhatchee on Aug. 5, damaged more than 2.2 million acres of farmland, hitting livestock, crops, and aquaculture particularly hard. Damage to animal products, including beef, dairy, and poultry, is estimated between $41.1 million and $98.5 million. Field and row crops, including sugarcane and hay, sustained losses of $19.3 million to $53.1 million, while greenhouse and nursery operations reported damages ranging from $15 million to $53.6 million, mostly from structural damage and loss of irrigation systems.

Unlike previous storms, such as Hurricane Idalia in 2023, which caused $276 million in agricultural losses primarily from wind, the report states that Debby’s impact came from heavy rainfall and flooding. More than 48,000 acres experienced severe flooding, while more than 1.2 million acres saw moderate conditions. Rainfall in parts of northern and southwest Florida exceeded 15 inches, inundating grazing lands and damaging crops.

The report draws comparisons between Debby and Idalia, illustrating the varying ways hurricanes affect Florida’s agriculture. While Idalia’s damage was driven by wind, Debby’s economic toll resulted from extensive flooding.

“Hurricane Debby’s path through the state largely mirrored Hurricane Idalia’s; however. no two storms are alike,” said Christa Court, UF/IFAS EIAP director. “While Idalia brought more intense winds, Debby was a wetter storm with more agricultural lands experiencing flooding.”

In addition to production losses, the report notes that more than 55.8 million square feet of agricultural infrastructure were at risk, with 1.2 million square feet directly affected by high-intensity flooding.

The final report, expected by the end of 2024, will refine the loss estimates as more data becomes available.