Florida Senate Proposes $200 Million Investment to Revitalize Citrus Industry
Legislative plan allocates funds for disease management, tree rehabilitation, and packinghouse upgrades.
The Florida Senate has introduced a budget proposal earmarking $200 million to support the state's citrus industry, which has faced significant challenges due to citrus greening disease and recent hurricanes.
Of the total allocation, $190 million is designated for large-scale field trials aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated grove management practices, therapeutic tools, and disease-resistant citrus varieties.
This initiative focuses on areas such as grove design, planting preparation, pest and disease management, and the rehabilitation of existing trees.
At least $125 million of this fund is specifically set aside for acquiring new citrus trees.
The remaining $10 million is intended to assist citrus packinghouses in upgrading equipment and adopting new technologies.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will oversee this cost-sharing program, providing 80% of the funding for eligible projects, with the packinghouses contributing the remaining 20%.
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation is mandated to hold quarterly meetings across various regions of the state, emphasizing areas with significant citrus production, to ensure statewide representation and address local industry concerns.
This proposed financial support comes in response to a notable decline in Florida's citrus production, attributed to factors such as citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and urban development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has projected a decrease in orange production from nearly 300 million boxes in 2004 to an estimated 12 million boxes in the current season.
The budget proposal reflects ongoing legislative efforts to bolster the citrus sector and mitigate the impact of persistent challenges facing growers.
Of the total allocation, $190 million is designated for large-scale field trials aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated grove management practices, therapeutic tools, and disease-resistant citrus varieties.
This initiative focuses on areas such as grove design, planting preparation, pest and disease management, and the rehabilitation of existing trees.
At least $125 million of this fund is specifically set aside for acquiring new citrus trees.
The remaining $10 million is intended to assist citrus packinghouses in upgrading equipment and adopting new technologies.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will oversee this cost-sharing program, providing 80% of the funding for eligible projects, with the packinghouses contributing the remaining 20%.
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation is mandated to hold quarterly meetings across various regions of the state, emphasizing areas with significant citrus production, to ensure statewide representation and address local industry concerns.
This proposed financial support comes in response to a notable decline in Florida's citrus production, attributed to factors such as citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and urban development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has projected a decrease in orange production from nearly 300 million boxes in 2004 to an estimated 12 million boxes in the current season.
The budget proposal reflects ongoing legislative efforts to bolster the citrus sector and mitigate the impact of persistent challenges facing growers.
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