News

Florida seeks disaster declaration

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has asked U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to declare his state a federal disaster area. In a letter to the Secretary, Crist says thirteen consecutive days of sustained temperatures below freezing for hours have caused significant damage in all of the state’s 67 counties.

The state’s agriculture commission has estimated that 30 percent of Florida’s crops may have been lost. The Governor says no sector of Florida agriculture has been spared noting damage to citrus, sugarcane, nursery crops, tropical fish, sweet corn, tomatoes, snap peas, strawberries, blueberries, peppers, avocadoes and mangos.