USDA issues natural disaster declaration for Florida counties to help with agriculture losses suffered during Hurricane Irma

Jacksonville, FL — With Hurricane Irma causing an estimated $2.5 billion in losses for Florida's agriculture industry, including more than $760 million in losses for citrus, we're seeing a push to help farmers.

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a natural disaster declaration for 19 primary Florida counties and 25 contiguous counties for losses that occurred between September 9 through September 12, 2017.

In our area, Baker, Clay, Putnam, and Columbia counties are all listed as contiguous counties. No Northeast Florida counties were considered to be primary natural disaster areas, under this declaration.

In response to the declaration, Governor Rick Scott released the following statement:

"Thank you to the USDA for taking action to aid in the recovery of Florida's iconic citrus industry. By making more federal help available, combined with our Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program, we are giving farmers a way to immediately address the losses they incurred during Hurricane Irma," says Scott.

Under this disaster declaration, farm operators in primary counties and contiguous counties are eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including FSA emergency loans.

Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of declaration to apply for emergency assistance.