Farmers could receive tax breaks on equipment damaged by Hurricane Irma and on fuel, under a proposal by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican who is running for agriculture commissioner next year. With the agriculture industry facing $2.5 billion in projected losses from Irma, Caldwell rolled out the proposal this week to offer cuts in Florida’s tangible personal …
Tropical Storm Nate Causes Crop Quality Coincerns
Soggy cotton and waterlogged peanuts have farmers concerned about crop quality in the wake of Tropical Storm Nate, which brought 35 mph winds and torrential rain to parts of Alabama last week. It’s too early to accurately calculate yield loss from the storm, though farmers like Dallas County’s Wendy Yeager say damage was less than anticipated. “I expected it to …
Florida Senate Agriculture Committee Meets to Discuss Hurricane Damage
The Florida Senate Agriculture Committee held a meeting this morning in Tallahassee to discuss damage from Hurricane Irma. Led by chairwoman Denise Grimsley, the committee listened to growers, and industry leaders from different agriculture sectors, as they explained the damage on their own farms and farms across the state. The meeting featured two sets of panels of fruit and vegetable …
Commissioner Putnam Releases Estimate on Hurricane Irma Damage
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, has released an initial estimate on agriculture damage from Hurricane Irma. The estimate will serve as a baseline as policymakers create a disaster relief package for those impacted by the storm. Although these estimates are not final, they are a starting point. The document includes estimates on crop loss and cost of damages. Right now, …
Senate Ag Committee to Hold Meeting about Hurricane Damage
Florida’s Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a meeting Thursday morning in Tallahassee to discuss agricultural damage from Hurricane Irma. Irma tore through the heart of Florida agriculture, leaving many growers to deal with devastation on their farms. Due to the immense amount of damage caused by Irma, it is expected to play a key role in the 2018 legislative session. …
Hurricane Nate Delays Peanut Harvest
Hurricane Nate’s arrival this past weekend has delayed peanut harvest across the Southeast. Tyron Spearman has more on that, along with information about an issue affecting the peanut crop in parts of Florida. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to Enhance Brahman GeneticsMay 15, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Irma’s Rainfall Helps Georgia Peanut Growers
By Jaci Schreckengost While some crops like pecans and cotton suffered serious losses from Hurricane Irma, the additional rainfall actually brought benefits to many Georgia peanut growers. Tim Brenneman, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Georgia, says the 4 to 6 inches of rainfall received from Hurricane Irma were particularly beneficial to the later-planted dryland peanuts that …
Agri View: Hurricane Crop Losses
Everett Griner talks about hurricane season and the crop losses suffered from the last two hurricanes in today’s Agri View. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to Enhance Brahman GeneticsMay 15, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to …
CME Analysis Warns of La Niña Risks
An analysis by CME Groups says the La Niña weather phenomenon may be coming back for real this time, after a head fake last year. La Niña is associated with cooler, wetter conditions along the U.S.-Canadian border, warmer, drier conditions in much of the southern United States, and impacts weather patterns worldwide. CME Group Senior Economist Erik Norland says past …
Irma Storm Damage?
Federal Program Provides Help Release from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service If your area suffers damage from a natural disaster, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help. The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) relieves imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windÂstorms and hurricanes. Aid may include financial and technical assistance to remove debris from …