Hailey Waldo
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Florida agricultural producers impacted by the winter 2026 freeze events are being asked to participate in a rapid damage assessment survey, led by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture (UF/IFAS). The goal of the study is to estimate agricultural loses across the state and provide critical data to support disaster response, recovery efforts and potential relief funding.
Survey responses will be combined with an existing statewide database of agricultural assets to estimate production losses resulting from freezing temperatures. The findings will help inform decision-making at the local, state and federal levels, including disaster declarations and emergency assistance programs.
Producers can access the survey through the QR code provided on the UF/IFAS flyer or their link go.ufl.edu/winter26freezeagimpacts. Assistance is also available through local UF/IFAS extension county offices, where producers may report impacts by phone, request a paper survey or arrange an in-person assessment when available.
Operations affected by more than one freeze event are encouraged to report all impacts. The survey allows producers to indicate multiple events and focus on the cumulative effects of freezing conditions throughout the year.
The survey asks for general location details, such as county and ZIP code, along with commodity-specific information, including total acreage, acreage affected and estimated production loses. Producers may also report damage to infrastructure, stores products and agricultural inputs. There is also an option to share additional comments and photos to better document losses.
This assessment is important because it provides valuable insights to industry groups, policymakers, government agencies and emergency management officials. Accurate reporting helps ensure that the full scope of agricultural damage is recognized and considered during disaster response and recovery planning.
Although other agencies may collect similar data, UF/IFAS encourages producers to complete this survey as well. Information gathered by different organizations if often shared and used for complementary purposes, strengthening overall disaster relief efforts.
For more information, visit go.ufl.edu/damage-assessment-faqs. To complete the survey, visit go.ufl.edu/winter26freezeagimpacts.