Florida Ag Commish Calls For Disaster Declaration

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam has called on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to designate parts of Florida as primary natural disaster areas once agricultural losses resulting from Tropical Storm Debby are quantified.

“The excessive rainfall, flooding, flash flooding, high winds, lightning and multiple tornadoes the storm inflicted caused extensive damage to both the quality and quantity of many of our crops, as well as to the grazing pastures so critical to our livestock producers,” said Putnam. “A disaster declaration will help Florida’s agricultural producers access much needed assistance.”

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is working closely with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to quantify agricultural losses and determine which of Florida’s counties meet the threshold for a primary Secretarial Disaster Declaration from USDA.

Commissioner Putnam has asked Gov. Rick Scott to expedite the disaster declaration request to Secretary Vilsack once the assessment is complete.
“It is my hope that given the amount of damage Florida agriculture producers sustained, the requested declaration be made as quickly as possible,” Putnam said.

Crop damage continues to mount in wake of Tropical Storm Debby.