Florida orange growers, seeing no relief as they peer into their groves, have turned their heads toward Washington, hoping a $2.36 billion hurricane-relief package survives yet another bitter battle over the federal budget. Growers received more bad news on the home front Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture again lowered the projected 2017-18 Florida orange crop. The new USDA estimate put this season’s crop down 2 percent to 45 million boxes, 1 million boxes less than its January estimate and a 9 million-box decline from its initial October estimate of 54 million boxes. The one-month change came entirely off the late-season Valencia orange crop, which fell to 26 million boxes. The early and mid-season orange varieties, largely harvested by the end of January, remained at 19 million boxes. The USDA kept the projected 2017-18 grapefruit crop at 4.65 million boxes and the state’s tangerine and tangelo harvest at 860,000 boxes. The orange crop continues to suffer from the effects of the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening, which arose in the state in 2005, magnified by wind and flood damage from Hurricane Irma in September. The USDA shaved 4 million boxes off the early-mid orange harvest as the season progressed, but growers were hoping the late-season Valencias would fare better. That expectation appeared to be fading as several growers have told The Ledger before Thursday’s report that pre-harvest drop from their Valencia trees appeared to be accelerating as the fruit neared maturity. “We have been experiencing significant fruit drop in Valencia oranges,” said Monge Zekri, a University of Florida citrus agent based in LaBelle who covers the Southwest Florida area. “It is due to citrus greening, citrus canker and to flooding damage from Hurricane Irma. Fruit drop is expected to continue.” Southwest Florida experienced the worst of Irma’s damage because the massive storm made landfall in that area as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds up to 129 mph. Groves and other areas remained flooded for a week, leading to root damage and contributing to pre-harvest drop. “We’ve been hearing the Valencias look good this season, but the decrease in the number is not entirely surprising,” said Mike Sparks, chief executive of Florida Citrus Mutual in Bartow, the growers’ trade group. “We continue to feel the long-term effects of Hurricane Irma.” Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, agreed. “While this is certainly lower than initial estimates, it was not unexpected,” she said in a news statement. “We are still hopeful the remainder of the season holds stable.” Shepp and Sharp also agreed with the Florida citrus industry consensus that many growers need federal financial relief to survive into the 2018-19 season. “This production decline is exactly why we need a federal relief package to help us weather the storm and ultimately get back on the road to sustainability for the long term,” Sparks said. “Should disaster-recovery funding pass today, it would give growers the confidence they need to continue making investments to keep this season’s crop stable and produce more Florida citrus in the years to come,” Shepp added. Florida growers got close in December, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed an $81 billion disaster bill, including $2.6 billion for agricultural assistance and specifically $760 million to compensate Florida citrus growers for fruit losses. The Senate did not vote on the measure before adjourning for the holiday. Earlier this week, Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate approved a two-year federal budget that includes $90 billion for disaster relief. That includes $2.36 billion earmarked for agriculture with no specific amount for Florida citrus, said Andrew Meadows, a Citrus Mutual spokesman, late Thursday. “It’s expected there will be funding for citrus because of the damage,” he added. This time, however, many House members are balking at the Senate plan because it contains $131 billion in additional domestic spending over the two years. Citrus Mutual on Thursday was lobbying the Florida delegation and other House members to support the Senate measure. “The Disaster Aid Package accompanying the (Senate bill) provides essential relief/rebuild funding to get the Florida citrus industry back on its feet,” said a letter from Sparks addressed to individual House members. “This vote is critical. Growers and the communities and families that rely on citrus can’t wait. They need to know this funding is on the way right now. Livelihoods and a way of life are at stake.” Source - http://www.theledger.com