Florida's agricultural sector is grappling with the aftermath of a historic winter freeze that has inflicted over $3 billion in damages. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) reports that sugarcane and citrus crops have been particularly hard-hit, with the freeze reaching as far south as Lake Okeechobee, marking it as one of the most devastating events in the state's agricultural history. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is advocating for substantial support for farmers, ranchers, and growers, who are crucial to Florida's food supply. The cold front, which occurred from late January to early February, brought record low temperatures and prolonged freezing conditions during the peak of the winter growing season, causing widespread crop damage.