Expected Annual Agricultural Losses by County
Largely driven by drought, California farms are facing the largest agricultural losses due to natural hazards
Source: Trace One analysis of FEMA data | Image Credit: Trace One
Natural disasters impacting agriculture vary significantly across U.S. regions due to differing climates and geographic vulnerabilities. Drought is a persistent challenge on the West Coast, particularly in California, as well as the Southwest and parts of the Southern Plains, where water scarcity hampers crop yields and livestock production. Hurricanes have the most severe impact in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, where states like Florida and North Carolina frequently experience storm surges and high winds that devastate crops and infrastructure. Inland flooding is most problematic in parts of the Midwest, while hailstorms are most damaging in Nebraska and North Dakota, where hail can severely damage crops and livestock operations.
Taken together, California leads the nation in agricultural losses due to natural hazards, with farms in the state incurring an estimated $1.2 billion in losses annually. This figure dwarfs losses in other states, with drought being the most significant hazard affecting California’s vast agricultural sector. On a per-farm basis, California reports an average loss of $18,522—the highest of any state—reflecting its reliance on high-value crops such as fruits, nuts, and vegetables, which are particularly vulnerable to water shortages.
By comparison, Texas, which ranks second, faces an expected annual loss of $627 million, with droughts again being the primary driver. Iowa ($373 million), Nebraska ($351 million), and Florida ($294 million) round out the top five, each suffering from a combination of droughts, hail, and hurricanes, though with lower total and per-farm losses than California.
At the county level, California continues to dominate the rankings, with Fresno County reporting the largest expected losses at $244 million annually. Drought is the principal hazard here, impacting high-value crops like almonds, grapes, and pistachios. Other California counties, such as San Joaquin, Monterey, Merced, and Stanislaus, also rank highly, with annual losses ranging from $76 million to $89 million. These counties experience some of the highest losses per farm, with those in Monterey County and Fresno County losing an estimated $83,667 and $55,157 each year, respectively.
For more information, refer to the methodology section. For complete results, see Where Natural Disasters Are Having the Biggest Impact on the Nation's Food Supply on Trace One.
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