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Florida Focus Feb. 26, 2009
In This Edition:
Citrus disease research money on the way
On Feb. 24, the Florida Department of Citrus signed the initial round of contracts to start funding $10.8 million for citrus disease research projects. In all, 37 contracts were signed that will initiate funds for citrus research at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville.
“These contracts close the loop on the Florida Citrus Commission’s long-held commitment to provide necessary citrus disease research funding in a timely and accountable manner,” said Ken Keck, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, in an IFAS news release. “Over the past year, we have worked closely with the entire citrus industry to address this urgent need.”
Last year, the National Academy of Sciences and the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council reviewed more than 200 research project proposals. The groups recommended 83 projects for the funding. These funds will be used for 70 of the disease research projects, the release says. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will fund the remaining 13 contracts, representing $2.8 million.
Bob Norberg, deputy executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, said 54 percent of the funds will remain in Florida to fund 37 projects at the University of Florida. Throughout the research, scientists will be required to post quarterly progress reports at www.FCPRAC.com to ensure adequate progress and to provide access to industry stakeholders. The first of these progress reports should be available in June. Almost all of the research projects will take several years to complete. Status reports will be used by program management to justify continued funding in future years.
“Today’s distribution of research dollars is an important milestone to efficiently and effectively identify actionable steps to control and eliminate greening. Through this process, we will help to preserve the economic viability of the Florida citrus industry,” Keck said.
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Congressman Putnam targets Ag Commissioner job
Congressman Adam Putnam, who has represented the Twelfth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2001, has formally declared his candidacy for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
Several industry organizations have announced their support for Putnam, including the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Maitland, and Florida Citrus Mutual, Lakeland.
“I am not aware of any other time when the issues of the agriculture producer are more in line with the consumer,” Putnam said in a news release from his office. “Our job number one has to be to restore Floridians faith in their government, to hold the department to the highest ethical standards, to be transparent in our dealings so that taxpayers know where their dollars are being spent and that is our pledge for this department.”
He formally declared his candidacy at a rally in Bartow. Several agriculture industry leaders were in attendance, including former Representative Bert Harris, Jr., Dr. Martha Roberts, special assistant to the director for the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, Mike Stuart, president of FFVA, Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, and Patsy Nathe, 2008 Woman of the Year in Agriculture.
Putnam is a fifth generation Floridian born and raised in Bartow, Fla. The twelfth district includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola Counties; he was first elected in 2000 and reelected subsequently in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Putnam served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000, where he chaired the Committee on Agriculture from 1998 to 2000. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in food and resource economics. He lives in his hometown of Bartow with his wife Melissa and their four children.
Visit http://www.adamputnam.com/ to watch Congressman Putnam’s remarks.
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