Bracing for Fallout: Second Hurricane hits Florida just as producers clean up from Ian

early morning flooded road from hurricane ian_Photo by pelow media_AdobeStock_537370206.jpg

A flooded road after Hurricane Ian.

Producers in Florida are once again bracing for fallout from another hurricane.

Hurricane Nicole made landfall overnight near Vero Beach and is now working its way up the East Coast as a tropical storm. Right now, winds are blowing at 60 miles per hour and Meteorologist Tim Ross says it should be a fast-moving storm that will travel all the way up to New England.

Heavy rain is expected along Nicole’s path, but given its speed, Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the sugar cane harvest should be safe.

“We still see some critically low river levels in the Mississippi Basin. Especially from the mid-Mississippi Valley, southward river levels have risen a few feet, generally one to three feet from the record lows that we saw back in October. But we’ve got a ways to go before w can turn this around in terms of rising river levels.”

This week’s USDA numbers showed 58 percent of U.S. topsoil moisture conditions is short to very short.

Related Stories
Citrus production depends heavily on reliable irrigation, making water shortages a critical issue for South Texas growers moving forward.
After devastating wildfires swept through Nebraska, Sen. Deb Fischer is championing a bill to expedite the relief process for farmers and ranchers. She joins us with updates on recovery efforts, conditions on the ground, and how the ag community has stepped up to help.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins surveys Nebraska wildfire damage as cattle losses, tight supplies, rising imports, and beef industry investigations impact U.S. markets. Roger McEowen outlines legal and tax considerations for ranchers recovering from wildfire damage.
Spring Weather Creates Uneven Early Season Field Conditions
Nebraska Cattle Rancher Joe Van Newkirk shares his firsthand insight on devastating wildfires in the Sandhills, discusses challenges facing ranchers, long-term calf health concerns, and the recovery efforts underway.
Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association President Craig Uden shares the latest on Nebraska wildfire conditions, discusses challenges facing producers, and outlines relief efforts underway.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show continues through Saturday, wrapping up another successful year of celebrating agriculture in the Commonwealth.
Shaun Haney joined us to discuss Canada’s new trade agreement with China, the potential impact on farmers and exporters, and what it could mean for U.S.–Canada trade relations going forward.
National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses corn supply pressures, market fundamentals, policy considerations, and producer outlook for the year ahead.
The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.