WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and members of the Florida Congressional Delegation for the signing of a Secretarial Natural Disaster Declaration coveringFlorida counties impacted by recent freezes, frost, and high winds that resulted in extensive agricultural losses.

The signing of the Disaster Declaration begins the federal process to deliver relief, through emergency loans and programs to affected Florida farmers. Preliminary estimates put out by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimate $3.17 billion in statewide agricultural losses.

In addition to Secretary Rollins and Congressman Donalds, members of the Florida Congressional Delegation in attendance included Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Jimmy Patronis (R-FL), and Randy Fine (R-FL). Congressman Donalds released the following statement:

"This winter, our state faced devastating freezes, frost, and high winds that caused $3.17 billion in agricultural losses. Floridians need relief now. I’m proud to have joined Secretary Brooke Rollins for the signing of the Disaster Declaration that will deliver much-needed emergency loans and programs to our farmers and ranchers."

This Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

For a list of each triggering disaster included in the Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation and impacted areas covered see below:

Triggering Disaster #1

Impacted Area: Florida 

Triggering Disaster: Freeze and frost that occurred 1/23/26 – 2/5/26

Application Deadline: 11/4/26

Primary Counties Eligible: 

• Florida: Dixie, Gilchrist, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Jefferson, Leon, Levy, Madison, Martin, Okeechobee, and Putnam.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Florida: Alachua, Bradford, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Flagler, Gadsden, Hamilton, Hardee, Indian River, Lafayette, Lee, Liberty, Marion, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Suwannee, Taylor, Volusia, and Wakulla.

Triggering Disaster #2

Impacted Area: Florida

Triggering Disaster: Freeze, frost, and high winds that occurred 1/23/26 – 2/5/26

Application Deadline: 11/4/26

Primary Counties Eligible: 

• Florida: Alachua, Bradford, Charlotte, and Collier.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Florida: Baker, Broward, Clay, Columbia, DeSoto, Gilchrist, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Levy, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Putnam, Sarasota and Union.

Triggering Disaster #3

Impacted Area: Florida

Triggering Disaster: Freeze, frost, and high winds that occurred 1/23/26 – 2/5/26

Application Deadline: 11/4/26

Primary Counties Eligible: 

• Florida: Broward, Palm Beach and Sumter.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Florida: Citrus, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Pasco and Polk.

Triggering Disaster #4

Impacted Area: Florida

Triggering Disaster: Freeze that occurred 1/23/26 – 2/5/26

Application Deadline: 11/4/26

Primary County Eligible: 

• Florida: Taylor.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Florida: Dixie, Jefferson, Lafayette and Madison.

Triggering Disaster #5

Impacted Area: Florida

Triggering Disaster: Freeze, frost and ice that occurred 1/23/26 – 2/5/26

Application Deadline: 11/4/26

Primary Counties Eligible: 

• Florida: Citrus, Hernando, Indian River, Jackson, Pasco and St. Lucie.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

• Florida: Bay, Brevard, Calhoun, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Holmes, Levy, Liberty, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter and Washington.

More:

• On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local  USDA Service Center.

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