Each year, the Legislative session is filled with high hopes that are met by 160 pairs of scrutinizing eyes in bid to make it to the final budget.
The 2024 State Legislative Session yielded some pretty big wins for Florida agriculture within the $117 billion budget.
Perhaps most notably, the budget includes $47 million in aid for the state’s struggling citrus industry. That funding is broken down by the following:
- $18 million for the CRAFT Program and the CRDF to research citrus treatments and therapies
- $9 million for Florida Department of Citrus marketing
- $8.3 million for the Citrus Health Response Program to help researchers develop new varieties, increase citrus production and advance technology
- $4 million for the Citrus Inspection Trust Fund to supplement grower assessments for citrus inspection
- $2.7 million for pest management through FDACS to suppress the Asian citrus psyllid
- $2 million for the Citrus Recovery Program to advance technologies that produce tolerance or resistance to citrus greening
- $2 million for the citrus budwood facility to expand the propagation of citrus greening-tolerant or resistant Citrus sinensis
- $1 million for the Citrus Nursery Automation Cost Share, which provides 80% cost-share funding to citrus tree nurseries for purchase of new equipment
Another major win that is getting plenty of attention is the $100 million set aside for the FDACS Rural and Family Lands Program, which helps protect important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent agricultural land conservation easements.
Look for more on these programs in coming editions of Central Florida Ag News. Thanks for reading, and God bless.