The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an emergency plan on Thursday to fight against citrus greening disease, in order to save Florida's citrus crop.
According to the Associated Press, the "emergency response framework" is the department's way of responding to the citrus industry's request for "more urgency and better coordination." The plan will be to gather various groups willing to focus on research aimed to fighting the disease.
"We really need to be coordinating more effectively within the USDA and more importantly, with the citrus industry and state and local officials," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters.
The citrus greening bacteria, is reportedly threatening Florida's $9 billion citrus industry. The AP reported that 69 million of Florida's citrus trees are infected and this year's crops are expected to be the lowest in 24 years.
According to Vilsack, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has spent nearly $250 million on researching and tackling the disease.
The USDA will provide $1 million to support additional research projects. Up until now, the research has been funded by orange growers and Southern Gardens, which is owned by the privately held U.S. Sugar Corporation.
The greening disease causes trees to produce green and "bitter fruits by altering nutrient flow to the tree, eventually killing it." The research may also look into an insect's ability to spread huanglongbing or HLB to healthy trees.
According to the press release, the research will also help reduce duplication and speeding efforts. Along with "establishing priorities, allocating resources, and collecting and disseminating information." Some of the funding will also be to improve the industry's website, saveourcitrus.org, Vilsack said.
Mike Sparks, president and chief executive officer of Lakeland-based Florida Citrus Mutual, has praised the USDA for the efforts in trying to protect the citrus industry's culture.
"This announcement really addresses the urgency of the current problem of greening," Sparks said. "This new initiative announced by Secretary Vilsack could not have come at a better time."
However Sparks urged Vilsack and his team to approve a proposal that would lead to the best outcome and would drive $30 million annually to citrus research.
"Multi-agency coordination at the federal level is a key part to defeating the immense challenges posed by this disease," Sparks said. "At the same time, we also need the secretary and Congress to support the creation of a National Citrus Research Trust Fund as part of the Farm Bill."
The greening disease is not just a problem for Florida. California, who is the country's biggest supplier of fresh-market oranges, said they were thankful for the government's time and funding to help find a cure.
"Our objective is to make sure USDA looks at this situation with the urgency we think this deserves," said Joel Nelson, president of California Citrus Mutual in Exeter, Calif. "This is a very good move on their part."
