Florida’s agriculture sector is set to receive a significant boost with the announcement of over $675 million in federal disaster relief funding. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins revealed the allocation, aimed at aiding recovery efforts following the destructive 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. Florida’s agricultural producers faced more than $3 billion in damages due to Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, and Milton.
The agreement between the USDA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) will provide $675,953,007 to assist farmers, ranchers, citrus growers, and timber operations in rebuilding efforts. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson expressed gratitude for the support: “I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Brooke Rollins, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for critical financial relief for our farmers, ranchers, and growers.”
Simpson emphasized the importance of this funding: “Florida’s producers have endured back-to-back devastating hurricane seasons, and this funding is a major victory that will help them rebuild, recover, and continue feeding our state and nation.” He highlighted food production as a matter of national security.
The relief program will target infrastructure damage, market loss compensation, citrus-specific impacts including projected economic loss, and timber damage. It will be available to eligible producers in designated disaster areas who are U.S. citizens or legal entities with ownership or risk in affected commodities.
Authorized by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025 (P.L. 118-158), FDACS will administer these funds following USDA approval of its detailed Work Plan. Additional information on eligibility and application procedures will be provided by FDACS as it becomes available.
This federal assistance complements approximately $150 million already allocated by Florida through FDACS’ Agricultural and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program and timber recovery program.
For further details about Commissioner Simpson and FDACS initiatives, visit their official website at FDACS.gov.
Information from this article can be found here.
