Florida's Hurricane Ian Losses Total Over $1 Billion

Florida's Department of Ag issued preliminary loss figures from Hurricane Ian. Losses to Florida ag and infrastructure total between $1.18 billion and $1.89 billion, according to the preliminary assessment. 

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Ag Services (UF/IFAS) last week said that the preliminary losses for Ian were around $1.56 billion, while the government update issued this week takes into account citrus tree replacement, animal infrastructure damage and forestry.

Hurricane Ian Disaster Aid

Florida Commissioner of Ag Nikki Fried said the preliminary assessment is a "first step" in trying to get federal disaster aid for affected producers, noting the state would continue working with industry partners to "gain further insight into the depth and breadth of Ian's damage."

Detailed figures from the state on Hurricane Ian include:

• $676 million for citrus, including fruit loss (up to $304 million) and tree loss ($371 million).
• Storm is likely to have destroyed 8% to 11% of Florida citrus trees, which would be more than 6.1 million trees. 
• Other fruit and vegetable losses are pegged at up to $231 million, a loss of about 10% to 15%, while losses for row crops were put at about $160 million with horticultural crops seeing losses of around $297 million. 
• Losses for animal agriculture are seen at around $492 million which includes damage to things like barns, fences, equipment and roads besides losses of livestock and damage to forage production areas. 

Loss Estimates for Hurricane Ian

USDA said earlier this month their estimates of U.S. citrus production were completed before Hurricane Ian arrived and the Florida citrus production figures released Oct. 12 did not reflect potential damage from the storm and that the next update on citrus production will come Dec. 9.

They also noted that the “full impact of the storm may not be reflected until future reports.”

More on Hurricane Ian:

Mosaic Shares Recovery Details After Hurricane Ian
Florida Producers Scramble to Reach Cattle After Hurricane Ian