Support needed for fight against citrus greening disease

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) was joined by a bipartisan group of 22 representatives in a letter this week calling on the chairmen and chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations to support the Huanglongbing Multiagency Coordination Group (HLB-MAC) in their FY 2016 Appropriations Bill.

HLB-MAC would ensure that federal, state and industry funds are allocated to projects with the highest likelihood of developing a cure for huanglongbing (HLB), which is sometimes known as citrus greening disease. To date, HLB-MAC is the only dedicated funding source for the development of the short-term solutions that have so far provided immediate relief to the citrus industry.

Florida has battled HLB for many years. The disease has also spread to Texas and parts of California in recent years. HLB is fatal to citrus trees, resulting in the destruction of the production, appearance and economic value of the citrus industry.

“Florida has been battling HLB for many years, and recent crop reports indicate citrus greening has been the primary cause of a 30 percent decrease in citrus production over the past 11 years,” the letter said. “Worse, the USDA’s most recent economic estimates predict that the upcoming 2016 season’s yield will be its lowest in 50 years, at approximately 80 million boxes. To put this precipitous drop in perspective, total citrus production in 2013 was 156 million boxes. That’s nearly a 50 percent reduction in Florida’s citrus production in just the past two years alone.” 

The citrus industry in Florida, Texas and California totals more than $11 billion in economic activity but is threatened by HLB, for which there is currently no cure.

“The 2014 Farm Bill realized the necessary role of the USDA in finding a cure for citrus greening disease and authorized investments in both short and long-term research programs, which were fully funded in the agriculture appropriations bills that followed,” the letter said. “We are requesting your support for this limited, yet extremely crucial funding to be included in the FY16 Agriculture Appropriations bill.”