The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) estimated Hurricane Milton citrus production losses are from $23.1 million to $55.2 million in Florida.
The UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) stated that significant fruit drop was reported, especially on varieties that were ready for harvest. Impacted fruit included early oranges, tangerines and tangelos. Some growers also reported broken branches and structural damage to trees, with some young citrus trees splitting. The damage compromises tree health and future productivity.
The report does not include production losses for agricultural operations that specialize in post-harvest processing, packing or distribution that might be impacted as a result of impacts to production agriculture operations.
Hurricane-force winds during Hurricane Milton impacted 14 counties in Florida, UF/IFAS EIAP reported. Those counties — most of which produce commercial citrus — were Brevard, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia. See a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service report on 2022–23 citrus production by county here.
An additional 43 counties in Florida experienced tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Milton.
The UF/IFAS EIAP report, Preliminary Assessment of Agricultural Losses and Damages Resulting from Hurricane Milton, noted that the hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key late on Oct. 9. Afterward, Milton rapidly weakened as it moved across the state into the Atlantic Ocean.
More than 5.7 million acres of Florida agricultural lands were affected by Hurricane Milton, of which more than 68% was grazing land, according to the report. The commodity groups that were most affected, in terms of overall acreage impacted, not including grazing land, were:
- Field and row crops (968,362 acres, including hay and sugarcane)
- Citrus (274,705 acres)
- Vegetables, melons and potatoes (201,444 acres)
A Citrus Industry article published soon after Hurricane Milton reported that the storm affected nearly the entire Florida Citrus Belt, but damage varied greatly depending on the specific area.
Source: UF/IFAS
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