abandned citrus grove abatement -- january 2010

Division of Plant Industry

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner

Abandoned Citrus Grove Abatement

Richard Gaskalla, Director


January 21, 2010



Abandoned Citrus Grove AbatementProgram 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 Groves

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



Psyllid Movement and Managed Groves



Abandoned Citrus Grove Inventory

• FDACS-DPI

maintains a

database of

abandoned

groves within

citrus-

producing

areas of

Florida



Abandoned Citrus AcresAbandoned 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 Countywith Abandoned Groves

Highlighted 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 Issues



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



• Abandoned grove

issue brought to

forefront by

Citrus Greening Committeeorganized by

Florida Citrus Mutual

• Meetings held

2007 - 2009

specific to this issue

Program Development



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.)



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



Phase II (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 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 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 Offices

a) List of abandoned grove properties

b) Maps of abandoned grove properties

c) Verification of grove status (CHRP)



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



Citrus Health Response Program Website:

www.fl-dpi.com

Helpline:

800-282-5153

Thank you!

abandned citrus grove abatement -- january 2010

Education

abandoned grove locations

citrus trees

citrus canker

citrus grovesposed

chrp chrp

database of abandoned

florida citrus indusry

regional citrus organizations