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$20 million earmarked for citrus research

By Tom Burfield

(May 27, 3:36 p.m.) The Florida Department of Citrus, Lakeland, has committed a record $20 million for research into citrus greening and citrus canker, the Lakeland Ledger reported.

The funds represent one-third of the proposed $60.4 million budget and would be taken from funds usually allocated to marketing programs, which typically account for 80% of the department's budget.

The agency receives about 90% of its revenue from a tax on every box of citrus harvested in the state, the Ledger said.