By Clint Thompson
North Florida specialty crop producers are bracing for yet another hurricane. Just a couple of weeks removed from Hurricane Helene moving through the region, farmers in the area prepared for Hurricane Milton, expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday.
“You do get weary after these multiple storm events. When you take the three hurricanes in the last 13 months and then add in the May straight line wind storm that came through here, we’ve already had four events that have been more or less hurricane force types of winds,” said Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida.
“In terms of fall vegetables, snap beans, sweet corn; there are some fall vegetables in the area that have definitely been impacted and continue to be impacted if Milton comes up. That would include newly planted carrots. The carrot industry took a big hit from Helene and if this one comes up, will take another hit on the newly planted carrot acreage.
“There was a major hit to infrastructure from Helene. That includes poultry houses, hay barns, pivot irrigation systems; farm infrastructure in general. If we get strong winds again, all of those things will still likely be in harm’s way. I’m hoping we’re not going to be in the brunt of it this time.”