ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida agriculture losses from Hurricane Idalia are estimated at between $78 million and $371 million, with producers also suffering widespread damage to such infrastructure as irrigation rigs and fences, according to a preliminary report Thursday from the University of Florida. Predicted losses for livestock are pegged at between $30.1 million and $123.4 million, according to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences report. Four people in Florida were killed during the hurricane, according to medical examiner reports to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Also Thursday, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced an assistance program targeted at repair or replacement of existing irrigation systems. Florida agriculture and related industries such as processing accounted for more than $270 billion in sales revenue and supported some 2 million jobs in 2022, the University of Florida estimated.

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Persons: ”, Xiaohui Qiao, Christa Court, Wilton Simpson, Simpson Organizations: Hurricane, University of Florida, University of Florida's Institute of Food, Agricultural Sciences, Florida Department of Law, Resource Economics Department Locations: PETERSBURG, Fla, Florida, Bend, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Gulf of Mexico, Georgia