From too dry to too wet: Florida farmers face a new set of challenges
Robbie Jones
Just a few months ago, many Florida farmers and ranchers were looking at the sky and hoping for rain. Much of the state experienced drought conditions through the spring and into June. Pastures struggled to grow, ponds dropped to low levels, and many producers relied heavily on irrigation to keep crops alive.
Today, the situation looks much different. Frequent rainfall during June and July has turned many fields green again and helped replenish soil moisture. Yet while the rain has brought relief, it has also created new problems. In Florida agriculture, the challenge is often not just too little rain or too much rain. The real challenge is dealing with rapid swings between the two.
The drought had already left its mark before summer rainarrived. Dry conditions slowed pasture growth and reduced available forage for livestock. Some hay producers harvested lower yields than normal, while row crop growers watched young plants struggle under moisture stress. Irrigation systems ran longer hours, increasing fuel and operating costs. In some areas, pond levels fell significantly, raising concerns about water supplies for livestock and crops.
When the rain finally arrived, many producers welcomed them with open arms. Soil moisture improved quickly, and drought-stressed pastures responded with new growth. Irrigation demands dropped, helping farmers save both water and money. Ponds and small water bodies began to refill, providing much-needed relief after months of dry weather.
Even so, the recent rainfall does not mean the drought is completely over. Drought is not erased overnight. Some areas of Florida still have long-term rainfall deficits, and deeper soil moisture levels may take longer to recover. Rainfall has also varied greatly across the state, with some communities receiving much more precipitation than others.
As often happens in Florida, the return of rain has brought a different set of concerns. Warm temperatures, frequent rainfall, and high humidity create ideal conditions for many plant diseases. Fungal and bacterial pathogens thrive when leaves remain wet for long periods. As a result, growers across the state are paying closer attention to disease pressure in crops.
Peanut producers, for example, often see increased concerns about leaf spot diseases during wet and humid periods. Corn growers may need to monitor fields for diseases such as southern rust. Vegetable producers can face problems with fruit rots, leaf spots, and bacterial infections when rainfall is frequent. Even crops that survived the drought may now face yield losses if diseases become severe.
The same weather conditions that favor crop diseases can also affect livestock operations. High humidity makes it harder for animals to cool themselves, increasing the risk of heat stress. Cattle and other livestock may become less productive when temperatures and humidity remain high for extended periods. Wet conditions can also lead to muddy feeding and watering areas, creating management challenges for producers.
Rainfall has also encouraged the rapid growth of weeds. Many weed species thrive after periods of abundant moisture and compete with crops for nutrients, sunlight, and space. Insect populations may increase as well, requiring farmers to scout fields more frequently and make timely management decisions.
For many producers, one of the greatest frustrations has been managing two weather extremes within the same growing season. Earlier in the year, they were focused on drought management, irrigation scheduling, and conserving available moisture. Now they are monitoring diseases, watching for pest outbreaks, and trying to work around wet field conditions.
Timing is another important factor. Rain is beneficial, but it cannot always undo damage that has already occurred. Some crops experienced drought stress during critical growth stages earlier in the season. Even with improved moisture conditions now, yield potential may not fully recover. In other cases, wet soil can delay field operations, making it difficult to spray, fertilize, or harvest crops when needed.
These conditions highlight the importance of staying flexible in Florida agriculture. Farmers and ranchers are accustomed to dealing with unpredictable weather, but rapid shifts between dry and wet conditions require careful planning and quick decision-making. Regular scouting, strong disease management programs, and good water management practices have becomeeven more important during years like this one.
As Florida moves through the remainder of the summer and hurricane season, weather will continue to shape agricultural production. Additional rainfall could further improve drought recovery in some areas, but it could also increase disease and flooding concerns in others.
This year’s growing season is a reminder that agriculture rarely faces just one challenge at a time. Florida farmers entered the summer praying for rain. They received it, but now they must manage the consequences that come with abundant moisture, heat, and humidity. Their experience illustrates an important lesson: in Florida agriculture, success often depends on adapting to whatever weather comes next.
