Florida Launches Loan Program for Storm-Hit Farmers

Jan 29, 2025
By Farms.com

Interest-free Loans Aid Farmers in Rebuilding after Winter Storm

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, has introduced a new loan program aimed at aiding farmers, ranchers, and growers affected by the recent winter storm.

The Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program provides interest-free loans up to $500,000 to help producers rebuild.

"Delivering immediate support to agricultural producers impacted by the recent winter storm, like our nursery growers in North Florida who were hit especially hard, is a critical first step to get them back on their feet," said Commissioner Simpson.

This program will assist in restoring, repairing, or replacing damaged property and infrastructure, essential for the quick recovery of the agriculture sector.

Eligibility for the loans includes having sustained damage from the winter storm, with uses for the funds including repairing buildings, equipment, and removing debris. Producers are advised to document damage through photos and save all recovery-related receipts.

The program's introduction follows the allocation of $75 million by the Florida Legislature to support agricultural recovery efforts, highlighting the state's commitment to its agricultural community.

For more information on applying, producers can visit the program's official webpage or contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services directly.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.