ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Ian prompted as a lot as $1.8 billion in damages to Florida agriculture final month, state agriculture officers mentioned.
The Category 4 storm prompted between $1.1 billion and $1.8 billion in losses to the state’s crops and agriculture infrastructure when it tore via the peninsula after touchdown in southwest Florida, in response to a preliminary estimate launched Monday by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The company’s estimate was in the identical vary as a University of Florida preliminary estimate launched final week that put Florida’s agriculture loss as excessive as $1.5 billion.
Crop injury ranged from $686 million to $1.2 billion. The largest losses got here from citrus which had damages between $416 million and $675 million, the Department of Agriculture report mentioned. The hurricane hit virtually in the beginning of the citrus rising season in Florida, which produces about 60% of all of the citrus consumed within the U.S.
Not solely did citrus growers lose fruit that was blown off bushes, however they now face the prospect of broken bushes from flooding. The loss might quantity to as a lot as 11% of citrus bushes, the report mentioned. Even earlier than the hurricane, Florida’s orange manufacturing was predicted to be down by virtually a 3rd this season due to the lethal citrus greening illness.
When it involves non-citrus vegatables and fruits, Florida misplaced an estimated $153.7 million to $230.5 million, or round 10% to fifteen% of crops, simply because the planting season was entering into full gear. Many fields misplaced plastic and drip-tape irrigation and different infrastructure, the report mentioned.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”