Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott responded Monday to a lawsuit brought by homeowners whose healthy citrus trees were torn down by the state, saying his veto of reimbursements to homeowners was “consistent with his constitutional authority.” The homeowners have asked the Florida Supreme Court to undo Scott’s veto of more than $37 million. The Republican-controlled Legislature agreed […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2017

Florida orange production went up a bit and grapefruit production leveled off, according to the latest forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The Florida Department of Citrus announced the estimates Friday. “The June report projects the state’s orange crop to increase by 500,000 boxes to 68.5 million for the 2016-17 season,” its press […]

Jim RosicaOctober 12, 2016

The federal government is forecasting a 14 percent decrease in Florida orange production next year and a drop in grapefruit of 11.5 percent. The National Agriculture Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its report Wednesday. In another sign of the citrus greening epidemic facing the industry, the service foresees yields of only 70 million boxes of […]

Anne LindbergMay 9, 2016

A six-county agency has taken the first step to trying a different approach to help needy Tampa Bay neighborhoods. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council unanimously voted Monday to have staff members discuss strategies with a representative of the Rutgers University Business School and its Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. It is unclear […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 3, 2016

The Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar Corp. has unveiled a new website, highlighting the work it does to protect the environment in the South Florida lands it plies to satisfy the nation’s sweet tooth. The new site, found at www.USSugar.com, outlines the company’s sugarcane and citrus operations and tells the story of its ongoing efforts to combine innovation […]

Associated PressNovember 23, 2015

One of Florida’s most iconic landmarks has been restored. The giant orange has weathered many of the ups and downs of the state’s citrus industry. The orange came to Lake County in 1971 when the industry was booming and more than 130,000 acres were dedicated to citrus farming. Many roadside citrus stands at the time […]

Associated PressNovember 19, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court is asking for more judges. The high court on Thursday formally asked the state Legislature for 24 new judgeships across the state. The court is asking for one new circuit judgeship in the central Florida judicial circuit covering Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. The justices say the 5th Judicial […]

Ryan RaySeptember 15, 2015

An Oriental Fruit Fly infestation in Miami-Dade County has risen to the level of an agricultural emergency, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam Putnam declared Tuesday. “The Oriental Fruit Fly is one of the world’s most destructive pests and poses a significant threat to Florida’s $123 billion agriculture industry and the two million jobs it supports,” […]

Bruce RitchieApril 9, 2015

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says Florida’s citrus industry still is threatened by disease despite a federal forecast that shows the industry holding almost steady. Florida agriculture faces a threat from citrus greening, a bacterial disease that is spread primarily by Asian insects called citrus psyllids. Acreage planted with citrus declined from 845,250 acres in 1998 […]

Associated PressApril 1, 2015

Federal authorities are sending more money to help fight the citrus greening disease that is threatening Florida’s citrus industry. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday said his agency was offering $23 million for further research on greening. He made the announcement during a visit to an Orlando market that sells a wide range of […]

Tag: citrus
Image via Meg Weinberger.

Rick Scott says citrus veto is constitutionally valid

Latest forecast: Oranges up, grapefruit steady

Citrus production forecast remains in freefall

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council may take on poverty as a regional issue

U.S. Sugar rolls out sweet new website

Landmark of Florida citrus industry restored

Florida Supreme Court seeks 24 more judgeships statewide

South Florida deemed “agricultural state of emergency” area because of fruit flies

Adam Putnam says citrus still threatened despite improved forecast

USDA sending more money to fight citrus greening