FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Administered by the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services
Bob Crawford, Commissioner


SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
July 1997 - June 1998

Introduction | Chairman's Message | Scientific Coordinator's Message | Funding Overview | Research Reports | 1998/99 FUNDED PROJECTS | FCPRAC HOME PAGE

Table of Contents

Page numbers are for published report. Research Reports 1998

Plant Improvement__Continuing Projects

Project No. 928-27 J.W. Grosser 48
Project No. 942-27 F.G. Gmitter, Jr. 49

1998-99 Citrus Research Proposals Funded 51 - 55

INTRODUCTION

Presented in this Sixth Annual Report is information about research conducted during Fiscal Year 1997-98 supported by the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council operating under the Florida Citrus Production Research Funding Order. This research support program was established under the Florida Marketing Act which enables Florida citrus growers to tax themselves for the purpose of providing funding to support needed research. Growers approved this marketing order by referendum in 1991 and subsequently re-approved it for continuation for another six years in 1998.

As set forth under the funding order, the Council has the responsibility for assessing citrus production research needs, working with investigators to develop projects to meet those needs, working through the Florida Department of Agriculture to release monetary support from the trust fund for the research and to monitor and report the progress made in each project funded by the order.


FINANCIAL SUMMARY for FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998
FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION RESEARCH MARKETING ORDER

*Administrative costs include Scientific Coordinator salary, Project Peer Review Team expenses, travel, postage and supplies. (3.6% of funds expended)

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

December 31, 1998

Dear Florida Citrus Grower:

The Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council (FCPRAC) has now completed its sixth year under the grower-approved Florida Citrus Production Research Funding Order. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Crawford appointed the 14-member Council to administer the program. The names and addresses of the Council can be found on the first page of this report.

The assessment to raise funds for citrus production research projects had remained at 1/2 cent per box since the inception of the program in 1992. The assessment was decreased to 3/10 cent per box for FY 1997-98 since a substantial reserve had been established. The rate has been increased to 4/10 cent per box for FY 1998-99. Administrative costs this year are under 3.6%, largely due to the support of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Their staff handles the trust fund at no cost and provides legal, technical and secretarial services. They also provide office facilities for the Council's sole employee - Scientific Coordinator Dr. Larry Jackson. Further savings are furnished Council efforts by both the University of Florida-IFAS and USDA-ARS because they have waived normal overhead costs on all our projects.

Collections for FY 1997-98 totalled $931,930. Funding for research projects was $1,129,232, somewhat less that the $1,181,149 awarded last year. Funding has been provided this year for 13 entomology projects for $258,814, 10 plant pathology projects for $363,354, 14 management/physiology projects for $372,064 and 3 plant improvement/other projects for $135,000. These 40 projects were selected from a total of 84 preproposal submissions. The preproposals were narrowed down to 44 full proposals before the final 40 were chosen.

Elsewhere in this report are figures that show our tax dollars are still enhancing (and not replacing) dollars directed to citrus research. We must remain vigilant to this issue to insure that your funds are put to their best use.

During the first six years of existence, the FCPRAC has directed over $6,400,000 in funding directly into 218 new and continued Florida citrus production research projects. Much of this research would not have been possible were it not for this program.

Your Council remains committed to meeting the major citrus production research needs for the Florida citrus growers. We welcome your input and will strive to improve the process through your suggestions.

H. James Simpson, Jr.
FCPRAC Chairman

A Message from the FCPRAC Scientific Coordinator

December 31, 1998



Florida citrus growers have been investing in production technology for six years through the Florida Citrus Production Research Marketing Order. To date, the box tax has funded over $6,000,000 worth of research that otherwise might not have been possible due to limited funds. The program has been quite successful and when the marketing order was voted upon again for continuance, fully three quarters of the growers who voted asked for the opportunity to tax themselves so that the program could continue for another six years. (This is a tax which automatically "sunsets" every six years and must be re-approved in a referendum to continue. Too bad more taxes don't work that way!)

Because of the marketing order and the tax collected through it, research is now emerging more rapidly and scientists are working on problems of the highest priority for Florida's citrus growers. In most cases, the funds provided through this program are only a fraction of the total research expenditure since the respective research agencies are paying investigator salaries and furnishing facilities for their work. Other grants are also often used to complement the research. Be sure to note the funding from other sources that is provided in each investigator's report. It will soon become apparent that your tax dollars are leveraged significantly.

This annual report lists last year's efforts for researchers funded with your box tax dollars through the end of June, 1998. We hope you will find time to study the report and find the information to be of value.

The Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council works diligently to fund research which is of greatest importance to the industry. Your tax dollars are invested in those projects which will hopefully provide the biggest "bang for the buck" through maximum payoffs for each dollar invested. As always, your Council and I stand ready to hear your suggestions for improvement and ideas on how to make our efforts more productive.

Larry K. Jackson
Scientific Coordinator





FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION FUNDING OVERVIEW

The Council views the monies invested through this program to be contributed by growers to enhance the existing research effort. In order to assure growers that their tax monies are in fact enhancing programs, the Council monitors overall citrus production research expenditures in relation to our funding. This section provides a summary of information received from IFAS and USDA-ARS regarding their research expenditures. The Council has not verified this information, and because we have not established firm definitions of each aspect of the research, we may see some adjustments in the future. Most of this information has not been presented in this form before. The Council can only provide this information because of the candid disclosures of the research institutions. We appreciate their openness and cooperation.

RESEARCH REPORTS || 1998-99 FUNDED PROJECTS