CITRUS TO BE A MAJOR SUBJECT THIS SESSION

With the decision by the federal government to pull back money on the citrus canker eradication programme, legislators promise to battle to increase state funding and changes in protection during the upcoming session.

Bill Rufty of the Lakeland Ledger notes that all four members of the Polk County legislative delegation either gain a significant amount of their livelihood from or have investments in the industry. The late citrus/cattle magnate Ben Hill Griffin, for whom the University of Florida's football stadium is named, has two grandsons currently serving in Tallahassee.

The battle against canker was seeing some progress in South Florida, but a circuit court injunction against the eradication effort combined with the effects of hurricanes spreading the disease further nilled the advantage. Thus, lawmakers are sincerely concerned about the continued viability of Florida's citrus industry. Members of the legislative delegation are meeting with citrus officials to determine what can/should be done to help.