Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned Citrus Grove Abatement Richard Gaskalla, Director Division of Plant Industry January 21, 2010

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned Citrus Grove Abatement Program Objective To mitigate the impact of citrus pests and diseases with emphasis on citrus canker, citrus greening, and related insects by identifying abandoned groves and working cooperatively with county tax assessor offices and property owners regarding abatement options and tax incentives.

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Problems Posed By Abandoned Citrus Groves Posed by the Asian Citrus Psyllid and other citrus pests and disease

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Psyllid Movement and Managed Groves

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned Citrus Grove Inventory FDACS-DPI maintains a database of abandoned groves within citrus- producing areas of Florida

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned Citrus Acres MB_CONDITIONMB_COUNTACRES AGS - Abandoned3,99065, AGS - Good Condition/Newly Plan9187, AGS - Marginal4074, AGS - Pushed2,61644, AGS - Understory Citrus4285, ,359127,

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Map of Hendry County with Abandoned Groves Highlighted in Red

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Scope of problem is wide and diverse Varying degrees of pest and disease risks Reasons for abandonment –Commercial groves no longer in production due to pest and disease incursions –Freeze damaged groves –Changes in land use –Planted pines with under-story citrus Abandoned Grove Issues

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned Grove Issues To address all categories/areas would require significant funding resources Risk-based approach might be more practical Incentives to participate are needed

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned grove issue brought to forefront by Citrus Greening Committee organized by Florida Citrus Mutual Meetings held specific to this issue Program Development

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Definition of Abandoned Groves No commercial fruit harvest during last two seasons No production care during pest two years, including pest and weed control Grove use transferred to other use (i.e., real estate, planted pines, etc.)

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Phase I (Completed) Collect information on abandoned grove locations statewide via CHRP surveys Reach out to the Florida Citrus Indusry via Florida Citrus Mutual and Regional Citrus Organizations to report abandoned grove locations Use regional CHRP officers as contact points for parties wanting information on abandoned grove abatement options

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Phase II (In Progress) CHRP staff contacting abandoned grove property owners to seek cooperation in eliminating abandoned groves

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Abandoned groves may be eliminated by complete tree removal or killing all citrus trees via EPA-approved herbicide treatment Achieving Ag Exempt Status

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Once abandoned grove pest threat is eliminated, the property owner is eligible for a CHRP abandoned grove compliance agreement Achieving Ag Exempt Status

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Achieving Ag Exempt Status As the CHRP qualifies as a successor program to the CCEP, parties under a CHRP compliance agreement are eligible for agricultural land classification. Reference Chapter (7), F.S.

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Ag Exemption via CHRP Ag Exemption via CHRP CHRP abandoned grove compliance agreements will be valid for a minimum of two years and may be extended in one-year increments based upon a written request justifying the need for additional time to complete land use transition

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Assistance to Tax Assessor Offices a)List of abandoned grove properties b)Maps of abandoned grove properties c)Verification of grove status (CHRP)

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner A Cooperative Effort Viewed as a cooperative program to identify and eliminate abandoned grove properties, reduce pest and disease incidence, and properly classify land use Land owners, Florida Citrus Mutual, FDACS/DPI, and county tax assessor offices

Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner Citrus Health Response Program Website: Helpline: Thank you!