2024 Weather Disasters Devastated US Agriculture: Billions in Crop Losses

the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) reported catastrophic damage to US crops and rangeland in 2024, revealing the agricultural sector’s vulnerability to increasingly severe weather events. The report details staggering losses, underscoring the important economic and social impact on the nation’s food production.

Twenty-seven separate weather disasters, each exceeding $1 billion in damages, struck the US in 2024. This widespread destruction dealt a critical blow to the national economy. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Governance (NOAA) reported that 2024 ranked fourth in terms of total inflation-adjusted economic impact from these events, with an estimated $182.7 billion in losses across various industries—a substantial increase from the $92.9 billion reported in 2023.

The AFBF, tracking these losses since 2021, provides crucial data on the impact of natural disasters on domestic food production. However, methodological changes between 2023 and 2024 prevent direct year-to-year comparisons. The report notes, Weather-associated production risk is a part of life for farmers and ranchers, acknowledging the inherent risks farmers face. Yet, the scale of the 2024 disasters presented an unprecedented challenge.

The human cost was equally devastating. The report highlights the tragic loss of nearly 570 lives, a stark reminder of the long-term consequences these disasters will have on affected communities.

AFBF has calculated crop and rangeland damage estimates as 2021 to provide a window into the impacts of natural disasters on domestic food production. This Market Intel updates total crop loss estimates across major weather events for 2024. AFBF’s methodologies changed between 2023 and 2024 to cover more causes-of-loss types. Thus, totals between years are not directly comparable.The methodology for these calculations is described at the end of this article.

The AFBF’s analysis provides critical insights into the economic and social ramifications of these weather events. The data underscores the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness,mitigation strategies,and a reassessment of agricultural practices to enhance resilience in the face of climate change.

Further details on the AFBF’s methodology and specific crop and rangeland damage figures are expected in subsequent reports. This initial report serves as a critical warning of the significant challenges facing US agriculture and the broader economy.

2024 US Crop Losses Exceed $20 Billion

Updated estimates reveal that total crop and rangeland losses (including apiculture) in 2024 exceeded $20.3 billion, representing 11.1% of NOAA’s total economic impact from disasters. Risk Management Agency (RMA) programs covered $10.9 billion of these losses as of February 2024, leaving a substantial $9.4 billion uninsured.

While crop insurance covered over 53% of weather-related damages, the scale of losses highlights the need for improved risk management. Of the $158 billion in total RMA-insured crop value, 7% resulted in indemnity payments in 2024. Drought, excessive heat, and wildfires inflicted over $11 billion in crop losses. Excessive precipitation,flooding,and hurricanes contributed another $6.7 billion. Hailstorms caused $1.2 billion in damage,while freezes,cold,wet weather,and frost resulted in $854 million in losses. Tornadoes and excessive wind added another $291 million.

These AFBF figures represent a minimum baseline. They do not include infrastructure damage, livestock losses (besides apiculture), complete horticulture crop losses or timber losses associated with the selected causes of loss. The AFBF acknowledges the need for more extensive data. Local land-grant universities offer more detailed analyses; for example, the University of Georgia estimated a $5.58 billion agricultural economic impact from Hurricane Helene,and the University of florida estimated up to $643 million in agricultural production losses from Hurricane Milton.

Beyond major weather events, other factors contributed to crop losses. At least $43 million was lost to insects, $34 million to plant diseases, $24 million to wildlife, and $19 million (primarily in wheat) to mycotoxins. Insurance coverage limitations and reporting challenges hinder accurate assessment. If drought weakens a crop and makes it more susceptible to insect infestations or wildlife foraging,the primary reported cause of loss may be drought,leaving the actual damage from insects or wildlife unaccounted for in indemnity data.

The substantial uninsured losses highlight the urgent need for robust and adaptable risk management strategies within the U.S. agricultural sector.

Record-Breaking 2024 Disaster Losses Exceed $400 Billion

Global disaster losses in 2024 surpassed $400 billion, underscoring the escalating financial burden of natural catastrophes and the urgent need for strengthened risk mitigation and insurance strategies worldwide. This unprecedented scale highlights a critical juncture for the global insurance and reinsurance industries, necessitating a reassessment of risk models and preparedness measures.

The analysis revealed a significant increase in insured losses compared to previous years, reflecting the increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters and the growing concentration of insurable assets in high-risk areas. The economic consequences extend far beyond immediate damage, impacting long-term growth and progress in affected regions.

The report emphasized the importance of proactive measures to reduce vulnerability, including investing in resilient infrastructure, improving early warning systems, and promoting community-based disaster preparedness initiatives. The role of insurance and reinsurance in providing financial protection and facilitating post-disaster recovery is paramount.

The year 2024 shattered records with global disaster losses surpassing $400 billion.

The implications of these record-breaking losses are far-reaching. Governments, businesses, and individuals face the challenge of adapting to a future characterized by increased climate-related risks. The need for innovative solutions, including public-private partnerships and advanced risk-transfer mechanisms, is more critical than ever before.

The $400 billion-plus in disaster losses during 2024 serves as a stark reminder of the growing vulnerability of the global community to natural catastrophes. Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach encompassing improved risk management, enhanced insurance coverage, and a concerted global effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Billions in Losses: 2024’s Devastating Agricultural Impacts Across the US

2024 brought unprecedented agricultural devastation to the United States, with billions of dollars in losses stemming from extreme weather events. texas, Minnesota, and California suffered the most significant damage, highlighting the vulnerability of the nation’s food supply to climate change.

Texas suffered the most significant agricultural losses for the third consecutive year, with total damages exceeding $3.4 billion. Cotton farmers were hit hardest, facing $1.8 billion in losses. forage and rangeland damage added another $768 million.

Billions in US Crop Losses from Devastating 2024 Weather

The year 2024 delivered a devastating blow to American agriculture, resulting in over $26 billion in crop losses due to extreme weather. This staggering figure encompasses the combined impact of widespread drought, intense flooding, and powerful hurricanes, leaving a trail of financial hardship for farmers and raising serious concerns about national food security.

drought and extreme heat, including widespread drought, excessive heat and hot wind, ravaged Texas, leading to $257 million in wheat losses alone. Over 66% of the state’s total agricultural losses stemmed from these conditions, with the most severe impacts felt between June and September. This prolonged period of extreme weather severely stressed crops,resulting in significant yield reductions and widespread crop failure.

Minnesota experienced even greater losses, totaling $1.45 billion. Intense flooding in June,accounting for more than 80% of the state’s total losses, devastated corn and soybean crops. corn farmers suffered $678 million in losses, while soybean farmers faced $528 million. Forage losses added another $113 million to the state’s agricultural woes. The flooding damaged crops, disrupted planting and harvesting schedules, and caused significant infrastructure damage.

California also suffered a significant blow, reporting $1.4 billion in crop losses.Drought and heat caused over $660 million in damage, while flooding and excessive precipitation contributed another $500 million. The state’s fruit and nut industry was especially hard hit, with losses exceeding $860 million. This included $272 million in grapes, $204 million in pistachios, $94 million in almonds, and $66 million in mandarins and tangerines. California rice farmers also suffered, with losses totaling $176 million.

Losses by Crop Type: A National Perspective

Nationally, the losses were staggering. Corn losses topped the list at $3.85 billion, largely due to the Midwest flooding.Forage losses ranked second at $3.8 billion, primarily due to widespread drought in states like Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Soybeans followed with $3.2 billion in losses, mirroring the impact of the flooding that affected corn production.Cotton ranked fourth, with $2.5 billion in losses, primarily attributed to drought in Texas and Oklahoma and hurricane-related damage in the Southeast. Other grains, oilseeds, and miscellaneous crops also experienced significant, tho unspecified, losses.

Despite significant damage from flooding and hurricanes, drought and heat-related events proved to be the most devastating factors for American agriculture, resulting in over $11 billion in crop losses.

despite the widespread impact of flooding and hurricanes throughout 2024, drought and heat-related conditions — including excessive heat, prolonged sun exposure, hot wind and wildfires — accounted for the largest share of total crop losses, reaching over $11 billion. Of this amount,$5.3 billion (47%) was covered by RMA insurance policies, while $5.7 billion (53%) fell outside of coverage.

Forage and rangeland were the hardest hit, suffering a combined loss of $3.7 billion.Cotton production also took a significant blow, with losses reaching $1.7 billion. Soybeans followed closely behind, experiencing $1.5 billion in losses.

Record flooding in the Upper Midwest and devastating hurricanes in the Southeast resulted in an additional $6.7 billion in agricultural losses. Corn suffered the most significant losses, exceeding $2 billion, followed by soybeans at $1.5 billion, fruits and nuts at $707 million, and cotton at $621 million.While $4.3 billion (63%) of these losses were covered by Risk Management Agency (RMA) insurance policies, a substantial $2.5 billion (38%) remained uninsured.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which struck the Southeast in September and October, were particularly destructive. These storms claimed at least 251 lives and caused widespread destruction. The National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated the economic damage from Hurricane Helene at $78.7 billion and from Hurricane Milton at $34.3 billion. Including the economic toll of other hurricanes, the 2024 hurricane season inflicted over $124 billion in total losses—accounting for 68% of NOAA’s total 2024 weather disaster damages estimate.

American farmers faced over $26 billion in uncovered losses between 2022 and 2024. In 2022, producers suffered over $10.4 billion in uncovered losses. While the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act allocated $3.74 billion in aid, this only covered 36% of the total uncovered losses. The situation worsened in 2023 and 2024, with farmers facing $9.9 billion and $9.4 billion in uncovered losses respectively. The American Relief act of 2025 provided $21 billion in natural disaster aid to help cover these losses, but a significant gap remains.

The methodology used to calculate these losses leverages RMA crop insurance data to estimate total crop losses as if all acreage was fully insured at 100% coverage. This approach closely follows the methodology used by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.

The widespread and severe agricultural losses of 2024 underscore the urgent need for strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on the nation’s food security. These losses highlight the interconnectedness of regional weather patterns and their cascading effects on the national agricultural landscape.

2024’s devastating Weather Events: Billions in US Crop losses and the Path Forward

The year 2024 witnessed a confluence of extreme weather events that inflicted unprecedented damage on US agriculture, resulting in billions of dollars in losses. A perfect storm, as one expert described it, of powerful storms, record temperatures, and prolonged droughts crippled crops across the nation, highlighting the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to increasingly volatile conditions.

The scale of the devastation is staggering. Twenty-seven separate weather events each caused over $1 billion in damages. These weren’t isolated incidents; they compounded each other. Drought and extreme heat weakened crops, leaving them more susceptible to damage from hurricanes and flooding. The economic consequences are profound, demanding immediate attention and long-term solutions.

“the climate conditions in 2024 were a perfect storm—metaphorically speaking,” explained Dr. Foster. “We experienced a confluence of factors, including frequent and powerful storms, record-breaking temperatures, and prolonged drought conditions. These events didn’t just occur in isolation but compounded one another.”

Regional Impacts and Responses

The impacts varied regionally, depending on dominant crops and local weather patterns. Texas, grappling with drought and excessive heat, suffered over $3.4 billion in agricultural damages, with cotton and forage production particularly hard hit. Texas saw over $3.4 billion in agricultural damages. Cotton and forage faced substantial losses due to prolonged dryness, Dr. Foster noted.

Minnesota experienced devastating flooding, primarily in June, leading to over $1.45 billion in crop losses,mainly affecting corn and soybeans. California, with its diverse agricultural landscape, saw losses exceeding $1.4 billion due to a combination of drought, heat, and excessive precipitation, impacting its fruit and nut industries.

These challenges spurred region-specific adaptations. Texas farmers invested in drought-resistant crop varieties and improved irrigation systems. Minnesota focused on improved drainage systems and early warning mechanisms for flood management. In Texas, farmers began investing in drought-resistant crop varieties and improved irrigation systems. Minnesota focused on improved drainage systems and early warning mechanisms to manage flood risks effectively, Dr. Foster explained.

Addressing Inadequate Insurance and Future Preparedness

The inadequacy of insurance coverage in mitigating these losses underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness and risk management. Dr. Foster emphasized several key strategies: enhanced insurance models that adapt to a wider range of weather-related risks; strengthened federal programs and community-based initiatives to provide a safety net; adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices, including crop diversification and improved land management; and investments in resilient infrastructure, particularly in transportation and irrigation.

The disparities in insurance coverage highlight the need for a multifaceted approach to disaster preparedness and risk management. here are some key strategies: Enhanced Insurance Models; Community and Federal Support; adoption of Climate-Resilient Agricultural Practices; Infrastructure Improvements.

Dr. Foster

economic Implications and the Role of Government

The agricultural losses have far-reaching economic implications. Disrupted supply chains are likely to lead to increased food prices,impacting consumers nationwide. Rural communities, heavily reliant on agriculture, face exacerbated economic pressures. The US, previously a major agricultural exporter, may see its international trade relationships and trade balance negatively affected.

Dr. Foster stressed the crucial role of government intervention. This includes strengthening financial support mechanisms thru direct assistance and low-interest loans; investing in research and development of resilient crops and enduring farming practices; making long-term investments in resilient infrastructure; and implementing education and training programs to empower farmers in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation.

Government intervention is crucial in supporting farmers during such dire times. Here’s how effective policy can make a difference: Strengthening Financial Support Mechanisms; Investing in Research and Development; infrastructure Investments; Education and Training Programs.

Dr. Foster

The insights from Dr. Foster highlight the urgent need for a holistic approach to safeguarding US agriculture against the escalating impacts of climate change. Decisive action involving research, infrastructure development, and policy reform is critical to building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.