(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) - The Florida Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the scientifically based 1,900-foot canker eradication law Thursday. The law and the science state that if a tree is infected, it must be removed, along with exposed trees within 1,900 feet of the infected tree.
The court ruled in a 6-0 decision that the 2002 law protects individuals' property rights by compensating them for their lost trees. Under the law, the state Department of Agriculture can, without the owner's permission, remove all citrus trees within 1,900 feet of any canker-infected tree.
Epidemiological studies conducted in both commercial and residential citrus in Florida and South America over the last 10 years have strongly reinforced the concept that removal of citrus exposed to citrus canker inoculum from infected trees is an essential component of any successful eradication program. The state contends that unless citrus trees within the 1,900-foot radius are removed, the disease will continue to spread and threaten the state's $9 billion citrus industry.
"We are pleased that our citrus growers will have a chance of having this devastating disease eradicated," said Carl Loop Jr., Florida Farm Bureau president. "Already 2.1 million trees have been lost due to canker, and now, with the state's efforts, hopefully we can get this disease under control."
Canker is a bacteria that causes unsightly brown blemishes on fruit and can cause it to drop prematurely from trees. It does not harm humans but weakens trees. Citrus canker is one of the most destructive bacterial diseases impacting citrus. There is no known chemical compound that will destroy the bacteria within the plant tissue. In order to eradicate the disease, infected and exposed trees must be cut down and disposed.
The outbreak of the disease began in 1995 with a single tree near Miami International Airport. Spread by wind and rain, it has blanketed most of central and South Florida.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general-interest agricultural association with more than 151,000 member-families statewide. There are Farm Bureaus representing 64 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital foundation of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic importance. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government. More information is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.
Florida Farm Bureau Federation