Rare Winter Blast Keeps Florida Growers on Their Toes

It hasn’t been all that long since I was reporting on the devastation multiple hurricanes left behind for Florida’s agricultural sector. While weather extremes are nothing new for growers here in the Sunshine State, a recent rare winter storm and extended cold snap threw a curveball.

An Arctic airmass has been keeping a grip on most of the entire eastern half of the U.S. for the better part of January. With the cold air in place, a large swath of moisture approaching from the west over the Gulf of Mexico had the right conditions to fall as snow over parts of the Deep South. Portions of Texas, southern Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama received snowfall. Areas of North Florida – primarily in the Panhandle and along the I-10 corridor also experienced snow. Not just dusting, but actual accumulation. According to reports, Milton, FL, received the most at nearly 10 inches of snow during the storm. This smashed the previously held record there of 4 inches in 1954.

Further south into the Florida Peninsula the winter storm was a rain event. It was still below-average cold though.

Despite the challenging conditions, produce growers were still hard at work harvesting crops. This resiliency is part of what distinguishes Florida as the country’s king of winter produce.
Christina Morton, Director of Communications for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (FFVA), says thankfully, many of the state’s specialty crop growers were spared from freezing temperatures, as it missed most of Florida’s major growing regions for fruits and vegetables.

“For those growers in North Florida, the extent of any impact will not be known immediately and will vary greatly by crop and farm location,” Morton says. “We are watching the cold temperatures and wind chills forecast through the weekend that will stretch into South Florida. Growers are preparing the best they can for low temperatures the next several nights.”

Central Florida blueberry grower Ryan Atwood says temperatures north of the I-4 corridor have stayed just above freezing. However, the forecast is calling for a few more nights of cold that could even dip below that freezing threshold further south. “I suspect we will be running water and making ice on our bushes,” he says. “This should not be an issue unless we have a mechanical failure — which can and does happen.”

The prolonged cold snap – even if it’s not producing widespread freezes – still is presenting berry growers with a challenge. “The bigger issue has been the delay of flowering, most likely pushing our crop timing back a little,” Atwood adds. “It’s really too early to say with certainty.”

Doug Phillips, UF/IFAS Blueberry Extension Coordinator, says there are actions growers can and should take to protect their crops from the cold.

Here are 7 steps to prepare blueberry crops before a freeze event.

1. If using well water for overhead irrigation, inspect and clean the wellhead and make any necessary repairs.
2. Inspect and clean the well pump systems, including the pump motor, and make any necessary repairs.
3. If using surface water for overhead irrigation, inspect and clean the water inlet line from the surface water source and make any necessary repairs.
4. Inspect irrigation system for broken sprinkler heads and pipes, clean filters, and make any necessary repairs.
5. After inspecting, cleaning, and making any repairs, operate the overhead irrigation system to make sure it is working properly. Then drain the system and close or seal the drain plugs.
6. Make sure irrigation system fuel tanks are full.
7. Inspect weather station equipment to ensure it is working properly and make any necessary repairs or replacements of equipment

For more information about freeze protection, click here.