The hurricane is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday
With Hurricane Milton making its way towards Florida, officials and farmers are doing what they can to support the state’s ag industry during and after the storm.
In an Oct. 9 update, Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted some of the steps the state ag department is taking.
These include:
- The ag department delivering 11 generators to commercial ag facilities to prevent food insecurity and disruptions to critical ag infrastructure,
- Suspending intrastate movement requirements for livestock movement, and
- Working with ports and fuel industry partners to ensure adequate fuel resources are available.
The Department of Environmental Protection is working to ensure Florida’s phosphate mines are taking all pre-storm precautions.
Nine phosphate mines are active in the state and help produce fertilizers.
And the Port of Tampa Bay hales around 25 percent of U.S. fertilizer exports.
Some horticulture producers are harvesting as much as they can before Milton arrives.
At Unity Grove Farm, for example, workers have only picked about half of the avocado crop.
“We can’t pick them all,” Frank Vega told CBS Miami.
Other industry groups are telling members to brace for the worst.
“With the continued eastward projection of Hurricane Milton's path, it is imperative that we are once again prepared for a significant impact to the Florida citrus industry,” Mathew Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, said in a letter.
Some members of Florida’s ag community, however, are preparing to stay through the storm.
Sara Weldon, who has a farm with cows, donkeys and chickens near Clermont, Fla., told her TikTok followers she’s not leaving her farm.
“We’re not evacuating, and please don’t ask me to,” she said in a video posted on Oct. 8. “Whatever you guys believe in, pray for the whole state, not just us.”
People from outside Florida are already beginning to collect donations and offer support for farmers and all Floridians.
Josh and Vanessa Small from Hassenegk Acres in Westport, Mass., are asking for donations to fill a trailer to send to Florida.
Specifically, they are asking for items like water, tarps, diapers, clothes and formula. A full list of requested items and how to donate is available on the farm’s Facebook page.
In Anderson, S.C., Split Creek Farm says it has two pastures available with permanent shelters, feeders and water.
Each space can accommodate between 20 and 30 animals, its Facebook page says.
And the Florida Farm Bureau has created a relief fund for farmers.
The fund will provide support for farm families across the state affected by the 2024 hurricane season.
People can follow Hurricane Milton’s path online.