Jeb Bush Signs Citrus Canker Bill

Newsday ^ | March 18, 2002 | BRENT KALLESTAD -- Associated Press Writer

[summer]

Bumping for index.

[Willie Green]

What's your take on this?

"The program wouldn't have been nearly as costly had the government done a better inspection job at its ports and airports and had it been aggressive when this canker outbreak was first found near Miami International Airport, LaVigne said. Had the government been aggressive right off, the cost would have been between $40 million and $50 million, he added.

"The current canker outbreak is believed to have come from Brazil, which is riddled with the disease."

Source

[nunya bidness]

SOURCE

Is the Cutting of Healthy Citrus Trees Necessary?

As citizens, we share the opinion of most South Floridians that the Citrus Canker Eradication Program is out of control. As scientists we are deeply concerned that scientific justification for this program is lacking. Scientific sources indicate that

(1) the Asian strain of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri is not devastating to citrus and

(2) that destruction of healthy citrus trees in attempt to stop the spread of this bacterium is ineffectual and unnecessary.

Consider, for example, the following:

1) Dr. Jack Whiteside, Citrus Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, writes 'One of the reasons given for continuing the canker scare is that no one has yet proven to the satisfaction of all concerned that canker would not be an economic problem in Florida. In reality, however, no one has yet provided any evidence that it could be a serious threat to the Florida citrus industry.' Whiteside explains that the disease of concern, canker A, is widely distributed in Argentina's citrus producing provinces, but is generally of minor importance. The Argentinean experience with canker A is of particular interest to the Florida citrus industry because of similarities in climate, production methods and commercial varieties grown. Whiteside further summarizes reasons why canker A. is likely to be even less troublesome in Florida than in Argentina. He also points out that previous history of canker in Florida suggests that the bacteria do not spread rapidly and cause heavy infection. These facts argue that the disease may in fact be largely self-eliminating. Whiteside concludes that "The economic threat of canker to the Florida citrus industry or other areas where the climatic conditions seem marginal or unfavorable for infection needs to be reexamined. Furthermore, there needs to be a more scientific, practical and realistic appraisal of the canker eradication efforts to consider if they are really needed and likely to achieve their stated goal of eradicating the pathogen." Citrus and Vegetable Magazine April 1988.

2) At an International Symposium on Citrus Canker held at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 1985, scientists pointed out that there may be other host plants for the Asian strain of Xanthomonas besides citrus. The symposium concluded that unless infected trees were restricted and weather conditions unfavorable for spread of citrus canker, eradication would be waste of money and effort. We understand that a Science Review Panel convened in March 1998 by the USDA reached a similar conclusion; our efforts to obtain the 8-10 page report of the 1998 meeting have been unsuccessful.

3) Dr. Heinz K. Wutscher holds a Ph.D. in Pomology (the science of fruit growing) from Cornell University and has 32 years in the field of citriculture working for the Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture. An affidavit sworn by Dr. Wutscher on August 21, 2000 states that it is his "professional, expert opinion that citrus canker caused by the Asian strain of Xanthomonas campestri pv citri cannot be eradicated by the methods now in use and that even if eradicated, it would be reintroduced quickly because of its world wide distribution. All of the major citrus growing areas with humid climates have citrus canker and co-exist with it without major problem." One does not need to be a plant pathologist to question the validity of destroying healthy citrus trees in attempt to eradicate the Asian strain of Xanthomonas. The current program is scientifically unjustified.

Professors, research scientists, and graduates from Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami:

Pamela Reid, Ph.D. Jack Fell, Ph.D. Rod Zika, Ph.D Peter Ortner, Ph.D. Greta Mackenzie, Ph.DH. Frederick Tappert, Ph.D.

.Samuel Snedaker, Ph.D .Barrie Taylor, Ph.D. Linda Farmer, Ph.D. Groschel-Becker Ph.D. Mitch Roffer, Ph.D. Terri Hood, Ph.D.

Peter Ortner, Ph.D. Greta Mackenzie, Ph.DH. Groschel-Becker Ph.D. Thomas Lee, Ph.D. Matthew Lynn, Ph.D. Arthur Myrberg, Ph.D.

[summer]

Oh, I just about to log off! Seriously. I'll have to read this tomorrow -- thanks for your posts though. :)

[Willie Green]

And since you seem to be knowledgeable about this canker stuff, what's your opinion about that secret search warrant the Feds served on the Ocean Spray grapefruit plant in Vero Beach? (See article at beginning of thread in previous link provided.)

Any chance this stuff is related?

The whole situation smells fishy to me!

[nunya bidness]

Whatever you do don't read this!

[willyone]

I think someone has figured out a way to get alot of money for Orange juice.

[Willie Green]

<tinfoil hat> Sounds to me as though somebody is deliberately infecting our trees so ALL the trees can be cut down. Profit can be made by: 1)Developing slaughtered orchards into residential communities; 2)Importing diseased fruit from Brazil & Mexico. </tinfoil hat>

[nunya bidness]

Luckily NAFTA has nothing to do with it. I think.

[Sungirl]

Summer..I can understand destroying infected trees.....but why destroy all the trees within those 7 or 8 block radius without waiting a certain amt of time to see if they too were infected?? GIve them a chance. Or...if they are going to take down non infected trees...why not replace them with the same kind of fruit bearing tress to show us that they are not doing it for the OJ companies and to show respect for peoples property. I have noticed how expensive fruit is in the stores....it's outrageous!! ..and this all adds up to deception to me.

[I still care]

Thanks summer. I guess I will just have to hope that my trees are ok. It would really break my heart to see anything happen to my beautiful trees. I live in Pasco, I don't know if they have found anything here yet.

[summer]

Re your post #30 -- It's because of the way this disease spreads. A tree within 1900 feet is a potential carrier of the disease. If healthy, it may become infected, and then you have to worry about OTHER trees 1900 MORE feet away. By cutting down the currently healthy tree within 1900 feet, you are helping to stop the spread of the disease, and in effect, making the diseased tree be quarantined -- because now, there are no other trees around that can act as carriers of the disease.

To show you what this means in real terms: they were about to cut down 80,000 trees in the year 2000 when this program stopped because of complaints and lawsuits. Yet, now, in 2002, in order to eradicate this disease -- because it has spread to healthy trees within 1900 feet, and then spread again -- they have to cut down more than 200,000 trees. In the two years of no action, things got much, much worse.

As for replacing a diseased tree with a healthy tree, I believe they did start doing that -- or, they were reimbursing people to replace the trees. I'm not sure. If I hear anything more, I'll let you know :)

[summer]

My pleasure. And, BTW, you can find out if your property is affected by checking out this web site.

[summer]

Willie, I have no idea what the FDA warrant you initially mentioned in your post #1 is about. Donald, do you know?

[summer]

Hi nunya, I finally read your link in post #23 I believe. Thanks for posting it. All I can say in response, since I am not a citrus canker expert, is that a whole lot of other experts disagree with your experts, as explained here.

[summer]

Re your post #22, source and this:

Perhaps some kind of Bush-brothers "grapefruit-gate" brewing?

(Purely wild speculation.)

Yes, I think this is purely wild speculation.

[adx]

It wouldn't surprise me if some homeowner who's got a tree about to be cut down decides to spread canker deliberately to commercial groves as retaliation for the state barging in.

[TheCPA]

How can government officials coming on to private property to kill citrus trees without a warrant not violate the fourth amendment against unlawful search and seizure and the fifth amendment provision agains the taking of private property without just compensation?

[monkeywrench]

"Sounds to me as though somebody is deliberately infecting our trees so ALL the trees can be cut down. Profit can be made by: 1)Developing slaughtered orchards into residential communities; 2)Importing diseased fruit from Brazil & Mexico. </tinfoil hat>"

In 10 years, they'll assure us, that they're 'only importing the citrus the American people won't grow.'

[nunya bidness]

Who does it benefit to cut down the trees?

Usually the simplest answers are the most accurate.