Image by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
The agricultural production losses (.pdf) Florida experienced due to Hurricane Debby have an estimated value between $93.7 million and $263.2 million, according to a preliminary UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) report based on producer surveys. The Category 1 storm made landfall Aug. 5 near Steinhatchee, Florida, and affected more than 2.2 million acres of agricultural lands — 68% of it used for grazing.
Image by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
By comparison, Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm that impacted 3.5 million acres last year, caused agricultural production losses valued at $276 million.
“Hurricane Debby’s path through the state largely mirrored Hurricane Idalia’s; however. no two storms are alike,” said Christa Court, UF/IFAS EIAP director. “While Idalia brought more intense winds, Debby was a wetter storm with more agricultural lands experiencing flooding.”
Image by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
Learn more about the EIAP findings by reading the attached press release. The attached report is a preview. A finalized, ADA-accessible version will be posted on the EIAP’s Hurricane Debby page by mid-morning today.
For additional information, please contact me at rodriguezl@ufl.edu or 954-242-8439 or Megan Winslow at winslow@ufl.edu.