The federal government will give the Florida Department of Agriculture $5.4 million through the federal Farm Bill to fight a range of diseases and invasive species.
The money will help combat Giant African Land Snails around Miami, the laurel wilt affecting Florida’s avocado production, and disease and pest threats to the state’s honeybees.
The citrus industry also faces a disease called “citrus greening.” The disease is spread by a tiny insect called a citrus psyllid. The Farm Bill money will help fund research to create trees that are resistant to the disease.
Spokesperson Erin Gillespie said diseases such as citrus greening have taken a toll on Florida’s agriculture.
“Citrus in particular is one of the bigger problems in the state right now. The amount of citrus that we used to produce has been cut in half over the last 10 years from what we used to produce in Florida,” she said. “It’s a huge impact so if we don’t turn it around it will only get worse.”
Gillespie said the money will ultimately help fund about two dozen programs.
