CRAFT Informational Meetings Draw Big Interest

With a record amount of funding from the Florida Legislature, the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation hosted a road show in early September that included stops in Fort Pierce, Lake Placid and Lake Alfred to provide information about grower programs. All three stops were well attended by growers interested in learning about the latest cycle of funding.

With more than $100 million available to support the new cycle, the program will offer grower incentives to plant and invest in therapies aimed at existing groves.

APPLY NOW
Steven Hall, CRAFT executive director, emphasized a few take-home messages:

1. The deadline to submit applications is Oct. 3.
2. Interest is very high, so don’t delay if you are interested in applying.

He said in the first 30 days of applications being open, $30 million in applications were already received.

“While this is a not a first come, first served program, these applications are coming in fast,” Hall said. “There is still some time before the deadline, but there could be a time where we are getting close to our funding capacity, so now is the time is get those applications to our team.”

Growers can apply to CRAFT programs here.

PROGRAM OPTIONS
CRAFT is currently offering the following programs:

Traditional New Plantings Program: This is the original CRAFT program that allows growers to evaluate recommended rootstock/scion combinations. The program offers a $35 per tree payment to plant commercially available trees by June 30, 2027. It requires a 6-year commitment to annually submit harvest data and comply with the grower participation agreement.

Fast-Track Nursery Stock Program: This program aims to help nurseries clear excess inventory to make room for new plants. This will offer a $40 per tree participation payment and will require a 6-year agreement to submit harvest data and comply with the grower participation agreement.

Emerging Varieties Program: This program will provide a $40 per tree payment to plant selected unreleased or recently released varieties on the CRAFT eligibility list. These varieties must be planted by June 30, 2027. This program requires an 8-year commitment to supply annual harvest data and comply with the grower participation agreement.

Existing Tree Therapies Program: This program is in its fourth cycle of funding and allows growers to evaluate novel commercially available treatments in existing, mature trees. The payment is $350 per treated acre. This program requires a 3-year commitment to submit harvest data and comply with the grower participation agreement.

“What we are doing here is a collaboration,” Hall said. “If you are part of the CRAFT program, you are participating in the world’s largest citrus research experiment. We are doing it in your groves in a scientific manner that should help benefit everyone in the HLB fight.”