Damage Assessments, Recovery Begin In Wake Of Matthew

Approximately 1,100 acres of crops were impacted by the damaging winds and rainfall in the county, Wells reports. “We had more than 10 inches of rain in the Hastings area with very strong winds,” she says.  On average, St. Johns County farmers have reported 30% to 60% losses of their planted acreage, while several have experienced a 100% or total loss for the crops they had in the ground before the storm, Wells states. “The Asian vegetables in the area were hit really hard, and so were the snap beans,” she says. “Other crops lost include mustard greens, radishes, cabbage, cauliflower, squash, beets, and more. But, a few fields of cabbage and cauliflower look like they might bounce back. We will have to see in a week or so. And then, the crops that do make it, I am expecting worse than usual disease pressure.”  According to Wells, losses are estimated at least $1.6 million for Asian vegetables and snap beans alone. In addition, she notes structural damage to greenhouses and other farm structures resulted from the storm, and the soggy grounds have delayed planting of much of the area’s fall crops.  Scanning southward, Volusia County also took a wallop from Matthew’s wrath. As the coastal areas took a beating, the county’s diverse agriculture industry wasn’t spared either, says Sharon Fox Gamble, UF/IFAS Extension Agent, whose office is located in DeLand. “Citrus losses are estimated anywhere from 10% to 50% depending on location, tree, and fruit size,” she says. “The fern/cut foliage industry had extreme damage to the shade structures and, from what I understand, the saran cloth is unavailable. These crops easily sunburn and will be ruined if growers are not able to figure something out in a hurry. And of course, there are lots of trees on fences and several reports of barns missing roofs.”