By Daniel Munch
American Farm Bureau Federation
Weather-associated production risk is a part of life for farmers and ranchers. Through heavy rain, hail, snow, winds, fire and drought, farming families prepare land, plant and harvest knowing their livelihoods are reliant on local weather conditions. In 2024, 27 weather disasters, each with damages exceeding $1 billion, struck the U.S. coast-to-coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2024 ranked fourth in terms of the total inflation-adjusted economic impact of these events, with industries across the economy experiencing an estimated $182.7 billion hit (compared to $92.9 billion in 2023). With nearly 570 lives lost, these disasters will haunt impacted communities for years to come.