Risk Management Agency Program Announcement

CANKER PROTECTION STILL AVAILABLE

Contact: Eric Edgington (202) 690-2539
Eric.Edgington@rma.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Apr 7, 2000 - Ken Ackerman, Administrator of USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA), reminds citrus producers in 29 Florida counties that it isn"t too late to secure protection from Asiatic Citrus Canker (ACC) through the Florida Fruit Tree Pilot crop insurance program (PDF; 25Kb). The program allows the purchase price to be pro-rated if coverage starts after the start of the growing season.

"This pilot program allows citrus growers to insure the replacement value of their trees for ACC as well as other perils," Ackerman said. "The sales period is open year-round, and I strongly urge all producers to call a crop insurance agent to discuss their options. Those producers who purchase buy-up insurance can also take advantage of the estimated 25-percent premium discount available this year."

The ACC provision that insures the replacement value of the trees (though not the value of the fruit) was developed in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's Division of Plant Industry and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. While canker coverage is available in all 29 counties, a grove located within a county that has an established citrus canker quarantine zone must first be certified canker-free by Florida's Division of Plant Industry.

The crops insured will be all acreage of these citrus fruit tree types:

• Carambola Trees
• Grapefruit Trees
• Lemon Trees
• Lime Trees
• Orange Trees
• All Other Citrus Trees (Including Temple Oranges, Tangerines, Tangelos and Murcotts)

Covered counties: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia.

See related story: Seminoles Plan for Success.