12/13/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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th Michael Ziegler 3375 12 Street, a 30-year Indian River County resident, has been involved in citrus consulting. He displayed a map that indicated where the infected plants exist in St. Lucie County or Indian River, and pointed out that the disease was not there a year ago. He spoke of the limitations to marketing produce in quarantined zones, and he considers our County to be in eminent peril. The Indian River Citrus League estimates our County will suffer an impact of $500,000,000 in one year. Mr. Ziegler talked about the manner in which South America handles citrus canker. They are permitted to harvest and market their citrus from impacted areas. We have a proclamation that mandates if the disease is found, it will be eradicated. He feels we have the opportunity to change the citrus eradication program. He recommended the Board hold a meeting requesting the attendance of Charles Bronson, the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Harold Browning, IFAS Director of Citrus Research and Education Center, Michael Hornyak, USDA Director of Citrus Canker Eradication Program, along with St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners to make a decision on exactly how they want the County to proceed. There was a brief discussion regarding the U.S. history of the eradication program. Chairman Lowther agreed it was important to hold a workshop and agreed to inviting Mr. Bronson. Commissioner Bowden asked for a Resolution be drafted immediately to set the meeting. Commissioner Wheeler felt St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners should also be invited and recommended the meeting be held in January. Discussion ensued regarding the South American market of citrus canker infected fruit, and Chairman Lowther mentioned inviting the USDA Director Michael Hornyak of the Citrus Canker Eradication Program, to their meeting. December 13, 2005 3