I saw this on Gardenweb, Lets just see what happens!
Darren


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2006
DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS EMAIL.
DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO:
Liz Compton
mailto:comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850)488-3022

USDA DETERMINES CITRUS CANKER ERADICATION NOT FEASIBLE

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles
H. Bronson has received word from top U.S. Department of Agriculture officials that
they no longer believe that it is possible to eradicate citrus canker. USDA's position
was formally communicated in a letter from Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner. Officials
said based on USDA's scientific analysis of the potential spread of the disease
from the unprecedented 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, a new management plan must
be devised.

The USDA officials say the program needs to undertake a new approach that focuses
on maintaining bacteria levels low enough to sustain citrus production and protect
citrus groves that have not been infested with canker. In the meantime, USDA states
that it will no longer fund tree removal that is done with eradication as the goal.
The federal agency, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services, intends to develop a response plan with scientific, industry
and public input that will limit further tree removal and implement management practices
that will accomplish the goals of controlling and suppressing canker infestations.
"I am committed to working with our federal partner, the scientific community
and growers on steps to ensure the continued sustainability of this industry, so
critical to the economic well being of our state, as well as protecting the thousands
of residential trees that have not yet been impacted by citrus canker," Bronson
said. "I will make all resources available to determine where we go to secure
the future of the citrus industry."

The change comes after a review of scientific research that indicates Hurricane
Wilma may have spread the disease to the point where an estimated 168,000 to 220,000
aces of commercial citrus could be infected and exposed to canker. This is in addition
to the more than 80,000 acres of commercial citrus that was affected by the 2004
hurricanes. The USDA also indicates that growers have said they cannot survive
the loss of more than 25 percent of the state's citrus acreage and that federal
costs to implement the 1,900-foot tree removal would cost significantly more than
the annual $36 million federal appropriation as well as hundreds of millions of
dollars more in compensation payments to growers. The USDA has provided a significant
portion of the funding for the Citrus Canker Eradication Program and all of the
grower compensation since its inception in 1995.

"Unfortunately, everything the scientists predicted has come true," Bronson
said. "The legal delays and unprecedented hurricanes enabled the bacteria
to leapfrog significantly beyond the 1,900-foot cutting zone that science showed
was necessary to prevent spread under normal weather conditions."

In addition, Bronson pledged to continue his efforts to convince the Legislature
and USDA to provide compensation for homeowners and growers who have already had
trees removed. He will be requesting additional funding for homeowners during the
2006 legislative session and will be working with USDA to secure money for growers
who are currently on a waiting list for federal compensation dollars.

As a result of the USDA decision, the Florida Legislature will have to revisit the
laws that guide the Citrus Canker Eradication Program, notably the requirement that
the Department remove infected citrus trees and those exposed because they are located
within 1,900 feet.

Thanks Darren. Not good news but predictable. I am certainly no expert, but sadly I would be very much surprised if it doesn't spread to the rest of the country - particularly the citrus growing states. We have become such a mobile society that containing something like this would seem to me to be almost impossible.

Ned

It's pretty sad that I now have more opportunity to grow citrus at latitude 34 than I would have if still at latitude 26.

I have a friend in Ft. Lauderdale from a three generation (since 1919) South Florida nurserymen, farming, and citrus growing family who tells me the eradication efforts in the neighborhoods have been nothing short of slipshod. That decontamination between sites was a joke. That the inspectors were as likely vectors. He told me that about two years ago and again last year. He thought the efforts were doomed even then, even before the hurricanes. His personal assessment was that it was the now-typical South Florida cronyism in contracting and "anything will do" work ethic. Pretty sad.

Gonebananas, welcome to the forum. I am very glad you joined. Do you know if the decontamination crews, were trained Florida State Department of Ag. employees, that truly understood the dangers of the desease, or were they an army of lower paid workers that did not really have any stake in the outcome of the citrus industry? Just thrown together crews, sent out into the field? Sort of like being thrown to the wolves. - Millet

I had the distinct impression that they were contract crews but will ask the next chance I get.