MEXICO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Researchers at the University of Florida estimate that Florida’s cotton crop has been nearly decimated by Hurricane Michael’s rampage.
Researchers at the school’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences said Monday that about 90 percent of Florida’s cotton crop remained in the fields when Michael struck. They also estimate that about 40 percent of Florida’s peanut crop is lost.
The researchers say they haven’t yet calculated the value of Florida’s crop losses from the Category 4 hurricane, which crashed ashore last Wednesday. They say the hurricane potentially impacted 3.6 million acres of upland forest and 1 million acres of field crops in Florida.
Florida’s most famous crops, oranges and grapefruit, weren’t affected much by the storm since they are primarily grown in areas south of Orlando away from the storm’s track.
— The Associated Press