Florida receives funding for citrus research, protection

 Florida receives funding for citrus research, protection.
Florida receives funding for citrus research, protection.
New legislation concerning Agriculture -- the 2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill -- provides $2 million in funding for citrus research in the state of Florida.

This legislation eliminates all unnecessary projects and possibilities, which had been distracting the state by way of bureaucratic and regulatory processes, so that projects no longer face long and complicated delays.

“The funding in this bill will advance critical research to detect, manage and ultimately find a cure for citrus greening disease," Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) said. "This is an important step forward, but I will continue working to increase citrus disease funding and ensure that our tax dollars are spent wisely.”

Rooney also stated that citrus greening, a disease spread in nature, could cost his state 76,000 jobs and 200,000 acres of land -- all of which are devoted to farming oranges and making orange juice.

“Our bill saves taxpayer money by targeting funds to programs that work, while cutting inefficient, wasteful projects,” Rooney said. “We’ve also cut through red tape and reined in regulatory overreach onto farms in Florida and across the country.”

The discretionary funding of the bill totals $20.65 billion. And, although this funding amounts to $175 million less than the funding for the fiscal year of 2015, it does save taxpayers money by eliminating the projects that were not effective in treating citrus greening disease.