South Florida Farmers Brace for Incoming Cold Snap

South Florida's agricultural sector is on high alert as an unseasonable cold front threatens to bring freezing temperatures to the region.

 

Farmers across Miami-Dade County are racing against time to safeguard their crops from potential frost damage.

 

According to recent reports, temperatures are expected to dip into the low 30s over the weekend, posing a significant risk to sensitive crops such as beans, strawberries, and various vegetables.

 

Sam Accursio of Sam Accursio and Sons Farms expressed concern over the impending freeze.

 

"There's a potential we can lose these beans over the weekend, so we are harvesting as much as we can just in case the weather does come in, very cold, as predicted," he said.

 

Accursio highlighted the dual threat posed by both low temperatures and wind conditions.

 

"Some forecasts are coming in at 31 degrees with a slight wind, and if that wind should die, the ice will settle and the plants can't take it," he explained.

 

To combat the cold, farmers are employing various protective measures.

 

Accursio detailed their strategy: "What we do if the temperatures get too cold, we turn the engines on and pump water until the sun comes up, and melts any ice that should be there, and that forms an insulation over the plants and protects them from dying."

 

Other local farmers are also taking proactive steps.

 

In Homestead, John Alger, a veteran grower of snap beans and sweet corn, emphasized the importance of timely irrigation.

 

"As long as we get it wet before the freeze, we have a better chance of surviving," he noted.

 

Nurseries are not exempt from the challenges posed by the cold snap.

 

Patricia Kyle, owner of Galloway Farm Nursery in Southwest Miami-Dade, shared her approach: "They're talking about it being like 32 [degrees] here and we can do that. Make sure all of our plants are watered and covered."

 

Similarly, Lyz-Stephanie Durand of Flamingo Road Nursery stated, "We are doing everything possible to make sure the plants stay warm."

 

Experts advise that outdoor plants will need extra water during the cold snap.

 

As the community braces for the cold, the collective hope is that these mitigation efforts will preserve the region's vital crops and minimize economic impact.