Hurricane

4 Natural Disasters in 13 Months Leave Florida Dairy Strong as Ever

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:00:01 GMT

As Hurricane Helene ripped through northern Florida in fall 2024, one farm in its path was Full Circle Dairy, home to the Watts family, 3,900 lactating cows and 50 employees.

The Category 4 hurricane, moving at over 120 miles per hour through several southeastern states, would deliver devastation throughout the region — something the dairy had been all too familiar with in recent months.

Helene came on the heels of Hurricane Idalia in August 2023, a tornado in May 2024 and Hurricane Debby in September 2024. Being the fourth disaster to hit the farm within 13 months, Helene found the Full Circle Dairy team as prepared as they could be, but it still left the worst damage.

(Full Circle Dairy)

“Hurricane Helene caused three-fourths of one of our freestall barns, which houses 800 cows, to collapse,” recalls Philip Watts, operations manager and fifth-generation dairy farmer. “We were in the middle of milking two groups in that barn. Thankfully, the gates were open and most of the cows were able to walk out of the barn when it started to collapse, reducing the number of animals in the barn.”

Throughout the storm, Watts says they maintained normal milking operations as long as they could. As soon as it became unsafe for employees, they paused to ride out the hurricane. Helene left significant damage to the commodity barn, too, meaning much of the extra feed they’d had delivered ahead of time was also lost.

From the previous storms, the farm had learned to prepare by securing any small items that could blow around and by adding extra sand to the plastic covering for the hay and straw to prevent feed from being ruined or blown away.

“Due to losing several fans from previous hurricane winds, we went through and zip-tied nearly 900 fans to prevent damage,” Watts says. “We were fortunate to have experienced Helene last in having learned ways to better prepare the farm.”

(Full Circle Dairy)

The days and weeks following the storm were challenging to say the least, but a positive mindset made all the difference.

“When the disaster hits, understand this is temporary and this will pass. Most likely, when you get past this, you will be stronger and better in the future,” Watts says.

Backup power kept milking equipment, water and barn fans operational, maintaining essential cow care despite power loss.

“We relocated heifers after the barn collapse and retrofitted a heifer freestall barn to house lactating and dry cows after the storm,” Watts says.

“The farm also received a tremendous amount of support from local agricultural groups offering to assist with storm cleanup,” he adds. “The Florida commissioner of agriculture, along with other local representatives, made a visit to the farm post-storm to assess damage.”

Beyond the Storm

Just weeks after the storm passed was a ribbon-cutting for a new RNG facility, a full-scale dairy manure to pipeline quality RNG operation expected to produce an average of 100,000 dekatherms annually. At full capacity, the emission reduction will be equivalent to powering 3,500 homes for a year.

(Full Circle Dairy)

“This project is another milestone into the sustainability practices that we implement at Full Circle Dairy,” Watts says. “Our use of technology on the farm is to gain efficiencies for our team members as well as our animals to prioritize their comfort and care.”

Watts’ parents, Greg and Cindy Watts, are the founders of Full Circle Dairy, and together it’s their goal to provide an opportunity for the next generation on the farm. Integral to the farm’s sustainability efforts is their approach to involving not only their own families but also the local community.

“We welcome school groups, FFA chapters, 4-H groups and more for scheduled tours throughout the year,” Watts says. “We also share our dairy farming story at numerous local community events.”

With the natural disasters moving further into the rearview, Watts says, “Over the next five to 10 years, we will continue to focus on progressive, sustainable and profitable practices.”

Their work in sustainability, resilience and innovation has truly come full circle, several times over.

Your Next Read:
Beef-on-Dairy Silver Linings in the Current Margin Equation

Florida’s Dairy Industry Struggles to Recover from Hurricane Helene

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:05:13 GMT

Hurricane Helene barreled through Florida last week, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Record-breaking winds wreaked havoc in the heart of Florida’s dairy industry, damaging farms, destroying barns and buildings, and mangling essential equipment. The United Dairy Farmers of Florida (UDFF) has made a preliminary estimate of damage to farm operations, which stands at a staggering $15 million and continues to rise.

Helene made landfall in Florida around 11 p.m. on September 26 as a formidable Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph. According to officials, it was the strongest hurricane on record to impact the Big Bend region. The storm tore through a major dairy-producing area comprising over 20 farms in Gilchrist, Suwannee, Lafayette, Madison and Jefferson counties. These five rural counties produce more than half of Florida’s milk supply, and the dairy industry is pivotal to their economies, Ray Hodge, executive director of UDFF shares.

Challenges Ahead
“This hurricane had the largest impact ever on this region’s dairy industry,” Hodge noted. “After the devastation caused by Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Debby earlier this season, recovery will be a long and arduous journey.”

One of the most pressing challenges post-hurricanes is power restoration. Farmers have been racing against time, scrambling to find enough generators to remain operational. The lack of electricity, along with essential housing and cooling systems, causes significant stress to the cows, resulting in an immediate 10 to 15% drop in milk production, an effect expected to persist for months. The first week’s milk sales revenue losses are estimated to reach $2.5 million.

Support and Recovery Initiatives
Assistance has been forthcoming from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Hodge mentioned that several farms received desperately needed generators from the state. Due to concentrated efforts on addressing the farms’ needs and the linemen’s hard work, most dairies have had power restored.

“Commissioner Wilton Simpson and his staff have been tireless in their support over the past few days, and they are dedicated to equipping us with the tools needed for mid- and long-term recovery,” Hodge says. “Senator Corey Simon and Representative Jason Shoaf, whose districts cover these areas, along with Senator Ben Albritton, have been actively engaging with farmers to devise recovery solutions.”

Simpson was among the officials surveying the damage and announced the launch of the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. This initiative offers farming operations affected by the hurricane access to funds necessary for rebuilding and repairing damaged farm buildings.

Future Concerns
Despite the support, Hodge emphasized concerns that damage on several farms might exceed what available funds or insurance can address. Moreover, many farms had previously received loans under the same program for Hurricane Idalia damages and are worried about their increasing debt burden.

“The program is immensely appreciated and will aid all farms, including dairy farms, in their road to recovery,” Hodge acknowledged.

As Florida’s dairy farms work to overcome the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, the resilience and determination of the farming community shines through. With support from state agencies and committed leaders, these farms are striving to rebuild stronger and more resilient than before.

Dairy Herd Management will continue to monitor severe weather in the Southeast and the impact on the dairy community.

Dairy Report: Dairy Suffers Damage from Hurricane Ian

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 19:43:21 GMT

It’s estimated Hurricane Ian tore through about four million acres of farmland in Florida. But it’s not just acres that have been impacted. One dairy farm lost 250 cows in the storm.

It happened at Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka City. The farm is home to 4,000 cows. Ian battered them with 100+ mph winds. Dakin says the animal death toll is likely to rise as many of the animals have developed respiratory problems and pneumonia due to their exposure to weather conditions during the storm.

Despite experiencing the hurricane firsthand, the dairy is committed to not only making sure their cows are well cared for, but also becoming a helping hub for their community. Courtney Dakin, the farm’s tour director, says they are taking in donations and helping to hand them out. She encourages anyone in need to reach out to them.

A New World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion

The World Dairy Expo has crowned a new supreme champion. Her name is Oakfield Solom Footloose-ET. Footloose is owned by Duckett Holsteins, Vierra Dairy and Tim & Sharyn Abbott of Rudolph, Wisconsin, and took home the Gregory Blaska Memorial Trophy. Her winning streak began with numerous wins in the International Holstein Show, topping the Five-Year-Old Cow Class and later named Senior Champion Female and Grand Champion Female. Taking the title of Reserve Supreme Champion of World Dairy Expo was the Grand Champion Female of the International Jersey Show, Rivendale VIP Eloise, owned by Vierra Dairy Farms of Hilmar, California.

Hurricane

4 Natural Disasters in 13 Months Leave Florida Dairy Strong as Ever

Beyond the Storm

Florida’s Dairy Industry Struggles to Recover from Hurricane Helene

Dairy Report: Dairy Suffers Damage from Hurricane Ian

A New World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion

For more Dairy Report coverage, watch: