USDA Announces Citrus Greening Research Grants

The Department of Agriculture announced $13.6 million in grants to combat citrus greening disease. The funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture comes in the form of four grants through the Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program in the 2014 Farm Bill.

As part of the funding, Clemson University will receive $4.7 million, while Regents of the University of California, Riverside, will receive $5.1 million. Iowa State University was granted $2.4 million, while the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Athens, Georgia, was granted $1.8 million.

According to USDA, citrus greening is currently the most devastating citrus disease worldwide. The disease was first detected in Florida in 2005 and has since affected all of Florida's citrus-producing areas leading to a 75 percent decline in Florida's $9 billion citrus industry.

Source  NAFB News