The CRAFT Existing Tree Therapies Program has been reopened and is accepting applications from Florida citrus growers.

The CRAFT Existing Tree Therapies Program “is designed to provide the industry with a better understanding of the best use patterns, combinations and timing of newly developed therapies for HLB,” according to a Florida Grower article. According to the article, the program focuses on four therapies: “gibberellic acid, 2,4-D, brassinosteroids and the direct systemic application of approved antimicrobials such as oxytetracycline.” See the details below.

Details of the Existing Tree Therapies Program

The article shared the following requirements and information concerning the Existing Tree Therapies Program:

  • “Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Aug. 31. Participants will be selected through a random lottery, administered by a third-party entity.”
  • “A control area of at least 10 untreated trees must be included in the application. This control may be contained within the treated block or in an adjacent similar block.”
  • “Participants will be required to submit related production records and yield data to the CRAFT-USDA data portal.”
  • “In exchange for their participation, growers will receive payments totaling $350 per acre over the course of their three-year agreement.”
  • “Those who previously applied for the Existing Tree Therapies Program and were not selected in the first lottery will automatically be reentered into the new lottery pool. If you do not wish to have your prior application considered for the new round, contact Program Manager Tamara Wood at tamara@craftfdn.org.”

Growers interested in participating can apply at www.craftfdn.org. The article added that additional rules and information can be obtained at the same website or by emailing Wood or Assistant Program Manager Tina Buice at tina@craftfdn.org.

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