BARTOW, Fla. — Farmers across the state are still dealing with crop damage and property due to Hurricane Milton.

As a result, FEMA is setting up farm recovery centers across the state to aid in the recovery, including opening one in Polk County on Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • FEMA opened a Farm Recovery Event for farmers who had damaged properties from the hurricanes

  • Aqua Organics Farm in Polk City lost fish and greenhouses due to Hurricane Milton

  • The owners attended the FEMA event to learn about resources to help them restore their property

“Even if it’s a loan, a grant or specific support and identifying specific assistance, it will be great for them to jumpstart their recovery,” said FEMA representative Karixia Ortiz.

One of the farms that suffered a lot of losses is Aqua Organics and its owners Michael Musoke and his wife Miriam Shapiro.

Life on the aquaponics farm should be thriving right about now, but after back-to-back hurricanes, much more work needs to be done.

Days after the storm, they took pictures that showed dead fish collapsed sheds and greenhouses.

They even created a GoFundMe to help with some of the immediate needs to help get back up and running, but without the greenhouses, production can’t continue.

The two turned to FEMA’s new farmers recovery center for assistance, which allowed them to learn about grants they can apply for.

Musoke says it’s been a process, but he’s hoping it pays off in the end. 

 “After Milton, I started getting on the phone and making phone calls myself and it was kind of chaotic to get to the right person or ask the right question,” he said. “I was either getting sent to call centers in Idaho, so this is really nice to get to talk to someone in person.”

Since their aquaponics garden is down, they’ve had to supplement their vegetables in their ground garden.

Shapiro says it’s helped them salvage the crops that did survive.

“Once we started kind of uncovering things, it’s kind of given us the juice again to get started again, as well as the community who keeps trying to support us,” she said.

It’s a setback during a busy season, but they’re staying positive.

“Because of this, it’s definitely heartbreaking,” said Musoke. “But I really do believe in the process and so we’re going to get some help and build it better.”

The next centers will be held in Hendry, Lee and Madison counties at the following locations:

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