Freeze Report Update 4, Jan.7

Following is a preliminary freeze update as reported by our AG-ER response teams around the state. We will continuously update you on events and/or measures as they occur. (Updated 2:50pm)

West Central FL - Another hard freeze occurred last night with temperatures dipping once again to a low of 24-25 degrees for a prolonged period of time. Strawberry growers began to turn the sprinklers on their crops between 8:30-9:00 p.m., last night. At 6:00 a.m. temps remained between 25-27 degrees in the Plant City/Dover area and were not expected to go above 32 degrees until 9:00 a.m. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach the upper 50's to low 60's; with no freeze warnings tonight. The freezing temperatures are expected to return over the weekend with possibly the coldest temperatures still to come. It will take several days after the ice melts on the strawberry plants to determine the extent of damage.(Cindy Suszko, Regional Agricultural Market Supervisor)

Homestead/Florida City - Temperatures dropped to the mid to high 30’s. Corn, snap beans, squash and zucchini faired good. Overhead irrigation is being used by avocado growers. Overall, crops look good. (Paul Cardwell, Sr. Mgr, FL City Farmers Mrkt.)

St Lucie County - Temperatures dropped to freezing in the early evening, rebounded as some cloud cover moved into the area and then began a slow fall to 28 degrees at sunrise. We did hit 26 degrees in the western portion of the county and that temperature held for some time. Durations below freezing were not nearly as long as Tuesday night and citrus growers in St. Lucie and Indian River Counties reported no icing in fruit. However, increased moisture and light winds resulted in a heavy frost that will probably result in some minor leaf loss. Evaluating 2 vegetable fields, those tomatoes and peppers that had not been harvested were all lost. This represented around 20 acres of tomatoes and 25 acres of peppers.

Field Grown Nurseries - All Coconut Palms looked severely burned as did 70% of the Queen Palms evaluated, this represented 25 acres of each variety. It is still too early to estimate what the % of damage to the ornamental industry in St. Lucie County will be. Often times especially with field grown material weather related problems are not personified until the follow spring when new growth comes on. (Tim Gaver, Extension Agent II, Citrus & Ed Skvarch, Commercial Horticulture Educator St. Lucie County IFAS)

Collier/Hendry/Lee - Around Labelle/Immokalee temperatures dropped to freezing by midnight and rebounded as some cloud cover moved into the area. Then a slow fall began to a low 29/30 degrees at sunrise of Jan 6, accompanied by a hard frost.

Crop damage was significant but variable from site to site. Many tomatoes, peppers, eggplants had tops frozen some severely in other places only a few leaves were frosted. Tender crops like corn, beans, squash were destroyed in some places. Again damage was variable reflecting microclimates. In some instances a portion of a field was frozen and other parts spared. Many growers covered crops and these faired well.

In addition to freeze damage, the past 8 - 10 days of temps below 45 degrees have knocked bloom off surviving plants and this will be reflected in reduced yield. Also anticipate that fruit quality will be compromised down the road. Also expect to see increased problems with diseases as growers have held water up for an extended period of time damaging roots. Frost damaged foliage will also be more susceptible to disease.

Cane also suffered significant damage. Some 4 -5 month old cane was frozen to the ground. This sort of damage will result in significant yield reduction in next years crop.

Pastures were injured which may result in livestock owner having to supplement feed in coming weeks.

Last night cloud cover moderated temps and only light patchy frost was seen.

Temps in Glades and Charlotte County were colder and crop damage greater with most vegetable destroyed if not covered.(Gene McAvoy, Director, Hendry & Regional, IFAS)

Citrus - Some groves got down in the 20's, and many are already reporting frozen fruit.
There will be some damage.
(Andrew Meadows, Florida Citrus Mutual)

Strawberries - Same story different day. Last night was about the same: 26-27 in many places. Damage is still minimal, winds were reasonable, etc. With some respite in temperatures today & tomorrow there will be some harvesting, and we're bracing for the next front this weekend. Many sleepless nights for growers, but so far the plants appear ok. (Ted Campbell, Florida Strawberry Growers Association)

Seafood

Lee County – Due to the drought and cold weather Shrimp production is very low and about a third of the fleet is tied up. (John Williams, Executive Director, Southern Shrimp Alliance)
Manatee County - The weather is impacting the fish and harvest. Many are dying in the water due to the temperatures being so low for so long. Species mainly affected: sandbrim, jack crevalle and sheepshead. (Karen Bell A.P. Bell, wholesale/retail)
Franklin County - Freeze has not affected production.(Grady Leavins, Leavins Seafood)
Escambia County - Nothing new to report, boats are still not fishing.(Frank Patti, Joe Pattis)

Aquaculture
Hillsborough County - Twenty five tropical fish ponds, 10 covered and 15 uncovered. The covered ponds seem fine. Some losses in uncovered and expectation to lose all the stock in the 15 uncovered by the end of the next six days of freezing temperatures. (James Fricks, Riverbend Aquatics, Ruskin)
Tropical fish farmers struggle to keep temperatures in their ponds above the critical temperature of about 60 degrees. Almost impossible for three nights straight, the fish started dying yesterday. Many lethargic survivors have been plucked off by birds. It's going to be a bad year. (Art Rawlins, Rawlins Tropical fish farm, Lithia & President Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association)
Dade County - Not quite as cold last night low of 38 degrees on the side of his building, 43 at 8:30am. Still pumping warm water and everything is still OK. (Angels Hatchery, Paul Radice, Homestead)
Monroe County - Unable to go offshore to harvest wild tropicals. They are hard to find in cold weather. Lost approximately $2,000.00 fish in his holding tanks. He has a problem finding good kerosene for heaters in his location. Has to travel to central Florida to find it. (Ken Nedimyer, Sea Life, Inc., Tavernier)
Levy County - No change in report. Clams in the field should be buried and not experience any negative impacts….again, clam harvesting in Cedar Key is up, as areas up north are inaccessible due to ice. (Leslie Sturmer, University of Florida Extension Office, Cedar Key)
Indian River County - Clams are hearty animals. The crop in the field, raceways and upwellers are doing fine. They’re hoping for the same, even with the forecasted colder temperatures over the upcoming weekend. (Ed Mangano, Aquagem Farms, Sebastian)