TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster declaration that supports Florida’s agricultural producers impacted by the recent historic freeze events:
“I appreciate President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for always putting America’s farmers first, and for quickly issuing this official disaster declaration. Beyond the desperately needed federal support and financing that this declaration will now make available, it is also an acknowledgement of the incredible hardship and loss that Florida’s growers experienced from the historic freezes.
“This was one of the most damaging freeze events in Florida agriculture’s history, with our preliminary estimates totaling over $3 billion in agricultural losses. Florida agriculture now needs equally historic support. A strong and vibrant domestic food supply is critical to our national security and sovereignty, and Florida’s farmers feed America, especially during the winter. I look forward to working with the USDA to connect our impacted producers with these newly released recovery resources, and any additional federal support that becomes available in the future.
“I am also grateful to all the FDACS staff, agricultural producers, and UF/IFAS for their hard work to get the loss data to the USDA in record time. We are proud to be partners in the effort to get relief to our farmers as quickly as possible.”
Important Dates
On Jan. 30, ahead of the forecasted winter storm, Commissioner Wilton Simpson sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requesting swift access to federal assistance and programs for Florida’s agricultural producers.
On Feb. 10, the full Florida congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins supporting Commissioner Simpson’s request for a USDA Disaster Declaration as a result of the freezes.
On Feb. 20, Commissioner Simpson announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ preliminary estimates of losses to Florida agriculture from the recent freezes, including more than $3 billion in total estimated losses across the state’s diverse agricultural sectors.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.