Preparing for Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments Following Recent Winter Freeze Events - UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economi

Preparing for Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments Following Recent Winter Freeze Events - UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department
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Preparing for Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments Following Recent Winter Freeze Events
Florida has experienced several low-temperature and freeze events between late December 2025 and early February 2026.
For the most up to date information about the forecast and freeze warnings in your area, visit the
National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center website
, for additional information on current weather conditions in Florida and available tools related to cold protection, visit the
UF/IFAS Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) website
, and visit
Extension Disaster Education Network Resource Dashboard
to learn more about how to prepare your family, home, landscape, and agricultural operation throughout these events. Your local news and weather stations should also be monitored for updates on the latest conditions specific to your local area.
Whenever a severe weather event is ongoing or expected, it is important to also have a plan in mind for what steps you will take after the severe weather has passed, including assessing and reporting the impacts on your agricultural operation.
This assessment and reporting process is important not only for filing insurance claims on covered assets but also for informing decision-making processes related to disaster declaration, response, and relief at the local, state, and federal levels.
This blog was adapted from UF/IFAS EDIS Article
FE1147
the Frequently Asked Questions about UF/IFAS Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments.
5 Steps to Take for Assessment & Reporting*
Once it is safe to do so and immediate needs are met, Florida’s agricultural producers are encouraged to complete the following steps related to assessing and reporting agricultural losses and damages of the recent winter freeze events:
Document all losses and damages from the freeze event(s). Take photos or drone images before cleanup occurs with date, time, and location stamps enabled.  Keep a work log of all hours that you or your employees spend on preparation, mitigation, cleanup, and repairs.
Contact your insurance agent about filing claims for any damages or losses covered by insurance. File a claim before any non-emergency cleanup or repairs are made.
Report farm damages or crop/livestock losses to the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Farm Service Agency (FSA)
, even if you are not currently enrolled in an FSA program. Information reported to the USDA FSA is used to determine eligibility for agricultural disaster declarations.
Investigate agricultural disaster assistance programs that might be available. It is critical to be aware that, in the aftermath of many disaster events, bad actors may attempt to take advantage of vulnerable populations during the recovery process. Remain vigilant against fraudulent assistance programs or businesses. For legitimate assistance programs, please contact agencies such as:
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
Your water management district
Take the
UF/IFAS EIAP Disaster Assessment Survey
. This survey is used to estimate the state- and later county-level production losses for agricultural operations in Florida and results are communicated to state and federal agencies to inform their decision-making processes. This survey is not formally used for disaster designations or disaster assistance eligibility, so it is critical to make sure you also are reporting losses and damages to the USDA-FSA (see step 3).
The UF/IFAS EIAP Disaster Assessment Survey
After a significant disaster event, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) works to provide timely, credible estimates of agricultural losses.
Led by Christa Court, UF/IFAS associate professor of food and resource economics, the EIAP prepares these estimates using a combination of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and surveys to estimate agriculture-related losses; however, accurate estimations are impossible without the valuable producer input gathered through the UF/IFAS EIAP Disaster Assessment Survey.
What is the survey for?
As a statewide organization, UF/IFAS conducts rapid assessment of agricultural losses and damages in the affected regions of Florida after a significant disaster event. While the assessment is not a formal component of a specific government agency’s decision process, the results of the UF/IFAS assessment are shared with administrators at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Economic Development Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as with state-level industry associations.
Results of this survey are not used to identify individual farms for assistance, but there is an opportunity within the survey to request a contact from a representative of Florida Cooperative Extension.
How do producers access the survey and what does it ask for?
To report agricultural impacts of the low-temperature and freeze events, producers can access the confidential UF/IFAS EIAP survey at
go.ufl.edu/Winter26FreezeAgImpacts2026
or by contacting their
local UF/IFAS Extension county office
to report by phone, receive a paper copy, or request an in-person assessment, where these services are available.
The disaster assessment survey requests information including the type of respondent, whether the record is a first-hand observation or second-hand information, and the location of the farm, ranch or operation. After selecting a commodity group for the operation, the respondent is asked for relevant, commodity-specific information on acreage in production, number of animals, and details on production losses and damages. The final questions of the survey ask respondents to briefly describe any other types of damages or losses or provide general comments about the operation’s disaster experiences, and if they would like to upload photos recording the reported damage.
What if my operation was impacted by multiple freeze events this year?
Within the survey, you will be able to indicate that the agricultural operation has been impacted by multiple freeze events. We are interested in receiving information about the cumulative impacts of all freeze events that have impacted the operation in 2026.
Producers can also contact their
local UF/IFAS Extension county office
to report impacts by phone, receive a paper copy, or request an in-person assessment, where these services are available.
What happens to the data?
The information entered in the survey is downloaded and prepped for analysis by investigators from the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program, which resides within the Department of Food and Resource Economics at the University of Florida. All data for individual farm businesses and survey respondents are maintained confidentially, and only group totals or averages will be disclosed, as per the terms of the survey protocol approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board (IRB).
How does this effort benefit producers and the agricultural industry in Florida?
This assessment informs decision-making at the local, state and federal levels related to disaster declaration, response and recovery. More specifically, survey responses and subsequent analyses provide data and insights to industry associations, government agencies, policy makers, and emergency management personnel. Responses are used for managing emergency planning exercises, emergency response specific to agriculture and natural resource systems, and strategies for adjustment or development of policy tools associated with resilience at the local, state, and national levels. More generally, the assessment results improve public understanding of the economic importance of agriculture in our state and how this sector is impacted by disaster events.
By participating in the survey, you will also help UF/IFAS EIAP with two longer-term goals: 1) develop disaster-specific databases that allow for accurate and defensible rapid assessment without the need for surveys, and 2) to harmonize and standardize the data collection process across state and federal agencies and industry associations to relieve producers from redundant reporting in the aftermath of disaster events.
While we will always hope for the best, following these steps ensures that should the worst occur, a comprehensive understanding of the extent of the damages can be gathered to inform effective disaster assistance for impacted agricultural producers.
Additional Resources
Para más información en español:
Preguntas frecuentes sobre la evaluación de UF/IFAS acerca de daños y pérdidas agrícolas
For more resources about all stages of Disaster Preparation, Response and Recovery, visit the following sources:
UF/IFAS Disaster Preparation & Recovery
Florida Extension Disaster Education Network
Florida Cattlemen’s Association Disaster Resources & Relief
Florida Sea Grant Disaster Resources & Recovery
For more information about UF/IFAS EIAP Involvement in Agricultural Disaster Assessment in Florida:
Assessment of Agricultural Losses Resulting from Hurricane Milton
Assessment of Agricultural Losses Resulting from Hurricane Helene
Assessment of Agricultural Losses Resulting from Hurricane Debby
How Hurricanes Affect Florida Agriculture: Assessing Short-Term Economic Impacts (Podcast Episode)
Hurricane Heroes: Christa Court – News (ufl.edu)
FE1147/FE1147: Disaster Assistance for Agriculture in Florida following Hurricane Idalia (ufl.edu)
Frequently Asked Questions about UF/IFAS Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments
This blog was adapted from UF/IFAS EDIS Article
FE1147
the Frequently Asked Questions about UF/IFAS Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments.
* This publication is designed to provide accurate, current information at time of publication. However, since the appropriation bills, regulations, and agency information on which it is based are subject to constant revision, portions of this publication could become outdated at any time. Programs available might differ for future freeze events, hurricanes, or other natural disasters. Also, the publication might not cover all possible programs. This publication is distributed with the understanding that the authors are not engaged in rendering legal advice or opinions, and the information contained herein should not be regarded, or relied upon, as a substitute for legal advice or opinion. For these reasons, use of these materials by any person constitutes an agreement to hold harmless the authors, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the University of Florida for any liability claims, damages, or expenses that may be incurred by any person as a result of reference to or reliance on the information contained in this publication.
by
Alena Poulin and Christa Court
Posted: February 3, 2026
Category:
Agriculture
Crops
Disaster Preparation
Farm Management
UF/IFAS Extension
UF/IFAS Extension
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Author Profile
Alena Poulin
Alena is the communications specialist for the Food and Resource Economics Department at UF.
Christa Court
Dr. Christa Court is an Assistant Professor in the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department and Director of the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP).
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