Topic: Crops: Citrus

The Senate and House have different plans on spending for local water projects, springs restoration and petroleum site cleanups.

The House earmarked $13.7 million for citrus greening response, more than twice what the Senate included in its budget proposal. Rep. Ben Albritton, the lead negotiator for the House on agricultural spending, said he will fight diligently for the money while Senate leaders say they are looking for $1.7 million to give wildlands firefighters a pay raise.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam requested nearly $26 million in new spending on water programs and projects. The House provided $35.6 million -- more than Putnam requested -- and the Senate provided $8.4 million. "The Senate in my opinion came up short on several programs," said Rep. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula and chairman of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.

HB 703 by Rep. Jimmy Patronis targets two Martin County policies adopted last year. "Why should Tallahassee do a one-size-fits-all (solution) for what they were saying in 2011 was best left to local government?" asked Charles Pattison of 1000 Friends of Florida.

In his FY 2013-14 budget request, Gov. Rick Scott requests $30 million in new revenue for the Florida Forever land-buying program plus $40 million from the sale of nonconservation lands. Laurie Macdonald of the Florida Forever Coalition says money from land sales is a good source but also is uncertain. ... Related Research: Jan. 29, 2014 Florida DEP press release on Gov. Rick Scott's 2014-15 budget request.

This week the Board of Governors meets, the citrus industry holds its annual conference, the Bob Graham Center gives its citizen of the year award, there are meetings about coral reefs, and the Florida Democratic Party holds its Jefferson-Jackson Weekend.

Cat colonies and coal ash, fracking and fertilizer. The 2013 legislative session was surprisingly active on the environmental front with old battles being waged and new issues emerging. Some issues will still be fought out in the weeks ahead as groups seek vetoes of bills that were passed. But compromise reigned on other issues as old adversaries united in the end to advance legislation.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce says HB 999 is among the bills that will make Florida more competitive economically. But environmentalists still didn't like it after getting fertilizer and wetlands language removed. "It's still a collection of bad ideas," said Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida.

After a Saturday afternoon conference committee meeting, the Senate and House remain apart on conservation land-buying, Everglades cleanup and restoration and payments to farmers who agree to conserve their lands.

About one-fourth of Florida's citrus acreage has been lost since 1997, and Florida Citrus Mutual says the industry is in "big trouble."

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam tells the Economic Club of Florida that water is the biggest problem for agriculture and the state. "All of these water challenges are now everyone's problem -- it's not just a South Florida issue," he said. ... Related Research: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service 2011 Annual Report

Citrus greening, first detected in 2005, also has cost the state 6,611 jobs by cutting orange juice production, according to the study.

The Legislature's requirement that the executive director be confirmed by the Senate was viewed by some as a power play by Senate Budget Committee Chairman JD Alexander. Rep. Ben Albritton, a Florida Citrus Commission chairman, filed HB 1237, which deletes the 2011 law change and requires the director to serve at the pleasure of the commission.

The state helped the project at an Auburndale processing plant by granting Polk County $400,000 for road infrastructure serving the plant. Coca-Cola also is getting up to $180,000 in state and local tax rebates.