Yesterday we talked about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While there was a lot of damage to agriculture and farms in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, there wasn’t a lot of effect on the industry nationwide. It looks like this time around, that will change.
Overnight, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida after days of forecasts and evacuations ahead of what was expected to be a very strong storm. The Florida agriculture industry made its preparations as best as it could. Farmers, like everyone else in the storm’s path, made the necessary preparations. What is different this time is that there may be a larger effect on the entire nation’s agriculture industry. Hurricane Milton had Mosaic’s Florida phosphate production squarely in its path. Craig Rhul is the Vice President of Crop Nutrients for GROWMARK, and he discusses the expected damage at the facilities.
While there’s no “good time” for hurricanes to happen, Rhul says that this is likely the worst time possible.
Josh Linville of StoneX says that when you talk about fertilizer production in the United States, you focus on Florida.
Linville adds that the facilities aren’t the biggest concern. It is the homes and livelihoods of employees that need to take precedence.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people affected by both hurricanes.
