division of plant industry florida department of agriculture & consumer services – charles h....

Division of Plant IndustryFlorida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner

Abandoned Citrus Abandoned Citrus Grove AbatementGrove Abatement

Richard Gaskalla, DirectorDivision of Plant Industry

January 21, 2010


Abandoned Citrus Grove Abandoned Citrus Grove AbatementAbatement Program ObjectiveProgram 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.


Problems Posed By Abandoned Citrus Problems Posed By Abandoned Citrus GrovesGroves

Posed by the Asian Citrus Psyllid and other citrus pests and disease


Psyllid Movement and Managed Psyllid Movement and Managed GrovesGroves


Abandoned Citrus Grove Abandoned Citrus Grove InventoryInventory

• FDACS-DPI maintains a database of abandoned groves within citrus-producing areas of Florida


Abandoned Citrus AcresAbandoned Citrus Acres Abandoned MB Acres by Condition

AGS - Abandoned

AGS - GoodCondition/Newly Plan

AGS - Marginal

AGS - Pushed

AGS - Understory Citrus

MB_CONDITION MB_COUNT ACRES

AGS - Abandoned 3,990 65,857.0591

AGS - Good Condition/Newly Plan 918 7,142.1845

AGS - Marginal 407 4,728.7743

AGS - Pushed 2,616 44,191.1380

AGS - Understory Citrus 428 5,681.5601

8,359 127,600.7160


Map of Hendry CountyMap of Hendry County with Abandoned Groveswith Abandoned Groves

Highlighted in RedHighlighted in Red


• 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 IssuesAbandoned Grove Issues


Abandoned Grove IssuesAbandoned Grove Issues

• To address all categories/areas would require significant funding resources

• Risk-based approach might be more practical

• Incentives to participate are needed


• Abandoned grove issue brought to forefront by Citrus Greening Committee

organized by Florida Citrus Mutual

• Meetings held 2007 - 2009 specific to this issue

Program DevelopmentProgram Development


Definition of Abandoned Definition of Abandoned GrovesGroves

• 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.)


Phase I Phase I (Completed)(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


Phase II Phase II (In Progress)(In Progress)

• CHRP staff contacting abandoned grove property owners to seek cooperation in eliminating abandoned groves


• Abandoned groves may be eliminated by complete tree removal or killing all citrus trees via EPA-approved herbicide treatment

Achieving Ag Exempt StatusAchieving Ag Exempt Status


• Once abandoned grove pest threat is eliminated, the property owner is eligible for a CHRP abandoned grove compliance agreement




• 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 193.461(7), F.S.


Ag Exemption via CHRPAg 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


Assistance to Tax Assessor Assistance to Tax Assessor OfficesOffices

a) List of abandoned grove properties

b) Maps of abandoned grove properties

c) Verification of grove status (CHRP)


A Cooperative EffortA 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


Citrus Health Response Program Website:

www.fl-dpi.com

Helpline:

800-282-5153

Thank you!Thank you!

division of plant industry florida department of agriculture & consumer services – charles h....

Documents

citrus groves

areas of florida slide

citrus canker

florida citrus mutual

disease slide

database of abandoned

commissioner problems

red slide