Kat Cammack seeks USDA disaster declaration following crop freezes throughout Florida
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to declare an emergency after a cold front froze Florida crops.
The Gainesville Republican led a bipartisan letter signed by every member of Florida’s congressional delegation to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asking for a federal disaster declaration after extreme cold hit the state.
“Florida farmers are facing a devastating crop crisis caused by freezing temperatures, all while being responsible for feeding 150 million Americans during the winter. A nation that cannot feed itself, cannot secure itself,” Cammack posted on X.
Cammack’s office toured blueberry farms in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District and found many crops appearing barren after the harsh cold. That’s not the only commodity impacted, with producers of watermelons, green beans, sugar cane and sweet corn also reporting damage to the Congresswoman’s office.
Her letter followed up on a request by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. The state official called for a disaster declaration for all counties impacted by freezing temperatures in late January and early February.
Cammack said the impact of the cold on Florida growers represented a national security risk.
“Agriculture is the second-largest economic sector in Florida’s economy, and this weather disaster struck during the production seasons for many of our state’s 300 commodities. These plummeting temperatures broke city and county records not seen in decades across the state,” the delegation letter reads.
“Already, the USDA has reported in its National Free On Board Review that central Florida will see a shortage of strawberry supply due to the extreme cold weather on February 2-3, 2026. More commodities, including avocados, bell peppers, sugar cane, broccoli, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, citrus, eggplant, green beans, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, apiaries, nurseries, and aquaculture, face threats of production loss that will last for months and in some cases even into future years.”
The letter was co-signed by both Florida’s U.S. Senators, Ashley Moody and Rick Scott, and by all 28 U.S. Representatives from Florida.
Lawmakers from across Florida said the support was needed quickly.
“Florida agriculture is facing a crisis after record-breaking freezes devastated crops across our state,” posted U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican and co-Chair of Florida’s congressional delegation.
The USDA has already visited parts of Gainesville affected by the storm, Cammack’s Office said.
Cammack, the only Florida lawmaker on the House Agriculture Committee, also traveled outside her district to Williston to assess damage at Amber Brooke Farms, and will see H&A Farms in Mount Dora and Whitaker Blueberries in Grand Island on Wednesday.