More than 6 million citrus trees need to be removed and replanted to curve the damage caused by citrus greening in Florida. Through the federal Tree Assistance Program, Florida citrus growers now can get money to help get it done.

“It’s important for us to aggressively attack citrus greening. There has been serious concern of orchards being abandoned (in Florida) with owners who didn’t know what to do with them,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a conference call Sept. 17. “(What this program does) is provides them a chance to think and pencil out whether or not they can cost effectively and efficiently remove the diseased trees and replant. And if they do, over a period of time, hopefully recoup the cost.”

Though citrus is grown in other regions, only Florida citrus producers are eligible for this particular assistance program at this time, Vilsack said, simply because Florida citrus growers by far have the biggest problem with the disease and orchard abandonment. Over the next few years, 6 million citrus trees need to be replaced to make up the loss from the disease.

There is no cure for citrus greening. “But I think the industry is anxious for us to try any and all things to try and see what works … because they realize the seriousness and the risk,” Vilsack said.

Florida citrus growers will be eligible for up to 50 percent of the cost of the removal of diseased trees and site preparation, 65 percent of the cost of replanting and labor and 65 percent of the cost of seedlings. Losses must have occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2011.

Growers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office soon, before Sept. 30. Applications approved after Sept. 30 are subject to a payment reduction of 7.3 percent as required by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Growers can still apply after Oct. 1, but will be subject to the sequestration reduction.

No person or legal entity, except joint ventures or general partnerships, may receive more than $125,000 in assistance from the program. Individuals or entities with average gross income exceeding $900,000 are ineligible for payment. Vilsack estimated, even with the limitations, 4,500 to 5,000 Florida citrus growers could be eligible for the program.

Fears confirmed

For many years, citrus growers felt abandoned orchards gave refuge to the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that transmits the bacteria that causes the disease. A study three years ago by University of Florida researchers proved them right.

The study shows the insect survives in abandoned orchards and can fly to commercial orchards nearby and infect those orchards. Asian citrus psyllids pick up the greening bacterium by feeding on sap from infected trees and then transmit the pathogen while feeding on healthy trees.

“There was very much anecdotal evidence that these abandoned areas are harboring citrus psyllids,” says Lukasz Stelinski, a UF entomologist and one of the study’s authors. “It’s just one of those things that had to be confirmed.”

Citrus greening was discovered a decade ago in Florida, and is the No. 1 threat to the state’s $9 billion citrus industry. In the 2012-2013 growing season the U.S. citrus crop was worth $3.15 billion, down 15 percent from the previous year. The value of the Florida citrus crop was $1.53 billion in the 2012-2013 growing season. Florida accounts for about 60 percent of all U.S. citrus production.