Hurricanes Cause Severe Damage to Florida Agriculture

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have devastated Florida's agricultural sector, causing extensive damage to crops and livestock. Helene, a Category 4 storm, struck on September 27, resulting in nearly $15 billion in agricultural losses, particularly affecting poultry, cotton, and peanuts. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Milton made landfall, compounding the damage with an estimated $7.4 billion impact on crops and livestock production. Florida's iconic orange groves were severely affected, with high winds causing defoliation and downed trees, leading to significant fruit loss before harvest. As recovery efforts begin, experts emphasize the difficulty of estimating actual losses due to ongoing assessments and the sheer scale of destruction. Communities are coming together to support recovery efforts, highlighting the resilience of affected regions.