Florida freeze causes huge losses of south Florida corn and green beans
Florida freeze causes huge losses of south Florida corn and green beans
Temperatures that dropped to about 27 degrees Feb. 17 in Belle Glade, FL, and then to 30-31 degrees Feb. 19 caused losses to sweet corn and green beans that are expected to reach into the millions of dollars.
"Those temperature recordings do not take into consideration the wind-chill factor, which brought them down even lower," said Danny Raulerson, director of marketing and membership for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, who is also the manager of the Florida Sweet Corn Exchange. "Besides western Palm Beach County, a large corn loss was also reported from the Homestead [FL] area, where temperatures dropped even lower on Monday morning."
Mr. Raulerson said that as of Feb. 20, a total of about 3,500 acres in both areas were thought to be totally destroyed. Because plants often do not show the total damage suffered for at least a couple of days, the figure may rise even higher. He added that the corn was at different stages of growth. Total south Florida sweet corn acreage is about 25,000, with the majority in Palm Beach County.
The losses will be in the millions of dollars. Mr. Raulerson explained that the monetary loss depends on the market price for corn at the time when each particular block would have been harvested. Prices generally fluctuate from $7 to $10 a box.
"The only way to determine the dollar loss is to take the average of $7.20 a box times the 300 boxes per acre commonly yielded times the lost acreage," he said. "The precise figures won't be known for some time."
About 750 acres of green beans in Belle Glade were also destroyed, but there was no apparent damage to this crop in other areas of south Florida. Mr. Raulerson said that the average green bean yield is about 250 bushels per acre.
"We have also had some reports of squash in Homestead getting a little frost burn, but we are told that frost protection had been in place to help protect it," he said. "We don't expect large losses on this crop."
There is at least a little comforting news regarding the losses. Mr. Raulerson said that the corn was at different stages of growth and there is still time left in the season to replant the majority of the crop.
"We will see one- to two-week delays, but growers feel confident that they can make up some of that time," he said.
"Those temperature recordings do not take into consideration the wind-chill factor, which brought them down even lower," said Danny Raulerson, director of marketing and membership for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, who is also the manager of the Florida Sweet Corn Exchange. "Besides western Palm Beach County, a large corn loss was also reported from the Homestead [FL] area, where temperatures dropped even lower on Monday morning."
Mr. Raulerson said that as of Feb. 20, a total of about 3,500 acres in both areas were thought to be totally destroyed. Because plants often do not show the total damage suffered for at least a couple of days, the figure may rise even higher. He added that the corn was at different stages of growth. Total south Florida sweet corn acreage is about 25,000, with the majority in Palm Beach County.
The losses will be in the millions of dollars. Mr. Raulerson explained that the monetary loss depends on the market price for corn at the time when each particular block would have been harvested. Prices generally fluctuate from $7 to $10 a box.
"The only way to determine the dollar loss is to take the average of $7.20 a box times the 300 boxes per acre commonly yielded times the lost acreage," he said. "The precise figures won't be known for some time."
About 750 acres of green beans in Belle Glade were also destroyed, but there was no apparent damage to this crop in other areas of south Florida. Mr. Raulerson said that the average green bean yield is about 250 bushels per acre.
"We have also had some reports of squash in Homestead getting a little frost burn, but we are told that frost protection had been in place to help protect it," he said. "We don't expect large losses on this crop."
There is at least a little comforting news regarding the losses. Mr. Raulerson said that the corn was at different stages of growth and there is still time left in the season to replant the majority of the crop.
"We will see one- to two-week delays, but growers feel confident that they can make up some of that time," he said.
