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Freeze support for Florida's Farmers
Today I visited several farms and nurseries across Florida’s 21st District, and what I saw was devastating.
Recent freezing temperatures—dropping as low as 25° in parts of Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties—have hurt our local growers. We’re also facing a significant drought, and this combination has proven especially damaging. While some mature native plants were resilient enough to survive, younger trees, smaller specimens and tropical plants simply weren’t equipped to withstand these unfamiliar conditions. This freeze delivered catastrophic damage, with significant losses to nursery inventory and fruit production.
I’ve joined other members of Florida’s congressional delegation in calling on the Secretary of Agriculture to declare this freeze a federal disaster. That designation is critical to unlocking the resources our growers urgently need.
If you—or someone you know—has been affected, I’ll break down how you can request federal assistance:
How to File a Notice of Loss (NOL)
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Growers must file a Notice of Loss within 90 days of the disaster—or within 90 days of when the damage was first noticed.
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This includes submitting:
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Businesses should carefully document their losses, including:
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Type of trees or plants
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Age
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Number lost
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Location
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Photographs
Completed forms should be delivered to your local USDA/FSA office:
Fort Pierce Service Center
8400 Picos Rd, STE 203
Fort Pierce, FL 34945
Phone: 772-461-4546 Ext 2
Email: jenny.hoover@usda.gov
Royal Palm Beach Service Center
420 S State Road 7
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414
Phone: 561-792-2727 Ext. 5
Email: ada.rivera@usda.gov
Next Steps:
Once submitted, the USDA will conduct an Environmental Assessment and send a loss adjuster to inspect the damage. After inspection, businesses will receive a letter with the outcome of their application.
It’s important to remember to avoid any clearing or repair work until that letter is received.
I know this process can feel overwhelming. Please know my office is here to help. If you or your business has been affected, please reach out. We will continue fighting to secure the disaster declaration for Florida’s farmers.
I’ll keep fighting for our farmers, our nurseries, and the hardworking families who keep Florida growing.