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Support for Hurricane-Related Market Disruptions

Eligible Hurricanes caused significant disruptions to on-farm and off-farm markets, including the loss of distribution channels, damage to facilities, and reduced access to domestic and foreign buyers. As a result, FDACS may issue payments to Eligible Producers who experienced market losses for agricultural crops and value-added products. These losses must have been caused by an Eligible Hurricane in an Eligible County, as determined by FDACS.

This Is For
  • Florida agricultural producers impacted by Eligible Hurricanes
  • Producers of the eligible specialty crops listed in this subpart
  • Operations with documented market disruptions due to hurricane damage
  • Producers who experienced a decline in shipments, loss of buyer contracts, or measurable revenue loss
  • Producers with certified 2024 acreage for the commodities claimed (see table below)

You Can Receive
  • Financial assistance for hurricane-related market disruptions for eligible commodities
  • Payments may cover:
    • Declines in units shipped in 2024 compared to 2022 or 2023
    • Loss of buyer contracts
    • Revenue losses of $1,000 or more per commodity
  • Payments issued per qualifying acre of eligible commodities
  • Payment amounts vary based on acreage, shipment loss, and market value calculations
  • *Actual payment amounts depend on documentation and program rules.

Eligible expenses will be calculated per qualifying acre for the commodities listed below:

Market Loss Eligible Commodities and Per Acre Reimbursement
Commodity Per Acre Reimbursement
Strawberries $2,939.11
Watermelons $132.52
Blueberries $1,668.45
Tomatoes $691.56
Snap Beans $173.90
Cucumbers $61.85
Bell Peppers $763.19
Sweet Corn $168.09

Allowable Uses of Funds

The purpose of the market loss grant program is to provide funding to aid in market loss caused by the 2023 and 2024 hurricanes. It provides financial assistance to Eligible Producers who experienced market losses due to the unavailability of on-farm and off-farm markets for eligible agricultural commodities.

Market loss payments may support producers who faced:

  • Loss of access to traditional buyers or distribution outlets
  • Loss of access to foreign markets
  • Reductions in units shipped compared to historical production
  • Commodity buyer contract cancellations due to hurricane impacts
  • Reduced marketability of otherwise marketable crops caused by Eligible Hurricanes

Eligibility Requirements

  1. The producer must meet the definition of an Eligible Producer under this program.
  2. The producer must have experienced, per eligible commodity, at least one of the following:
    1. A 2% decline in flats, bushels, or units shipped in 2024 compared to a 2022 or 2023 base year.
    2. Loss of a commodity buyer contract
    3. A market loss of at least $1,000 per eligible commodity, based on the crop's average market rate, for production that would have been sold if hurricane events had not disrupted market availability.
  3. Eligible commodities for market loss include:
    • Strawberries
    • Watermelons
    • Blueberries
    • Tomatoes
    • Snap beans
    • Cucumbers
    • Bell peppers
    • Sweet corn
  4. The producer is also required to maintain qualifying crop insurance that meets the linkage requirements described in the Agreement. These linkage requirements include maintaining the required crop insurance coverage for two reinsurance years. Proof of this coverage must be provided to participate in the program. Failure to provide proof of two years of crop insurance will result in the recoupment of any recovery funds issued under this part.

Additional Disclosures

Growers must provide certified acreage for eligible commodities grown in the 2024 calendar year only.

Payments will be issued for market losses that occurred during an Eligible Hurricane event in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.