Oct 22, 2024

UF/IFAS urges Florida farmers to report Hurricane Milton ag damages for disaster assistance

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is urging Fruit and vegetable growers and stakeholders to assess and report agricultural damages caused by Hurricane Milton.

Anna Mészáros, a Palm Beach County extension agent, shared guidelines for documenting losses and accessing disaster assistance programs.

UF/IFAS advises farmers to document damages with photos or drone footage, including date and time stamps, before cleanup begins. Additionally, growers should log all hours spent on recovery efforts. Farmers are encouraged to contact their insurance agents and file claims before making any non-emergency repairs.

Reporting losses to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is vital, even for those not enrolled in an FSA program. This data is used to determine eligibility for disaster declarations.

Growers are also encouraged to explore agricultural disaster assistance programs from agencies such as the FSA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

UF/IFAS is conducting a disaster assessment survey to estimate production losses statewide. Although this survey does not determine disaster assistance eligibility, the results will be shared with state and federal agencies to guide their decision-making. The survey can be completed at this link.