The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently announced the addition of a royalty reimbursement component to Cycle Eight, along with other updates.
GROWER ASSISTANCE
The royalty reimbursement provides growers with additional assistance to help offset the cost of planting eligible citrus trees and utilizing eligible biological delivery technologies that require a royalty payment.
This new opportunity expands on the royalty reimbursement offered in Cycle Seven and gives growers greater flexibility in selecting commercially available technologies for their operations.
Under the Cycle Eight Royalty Reimbursement:
- Growers may be reimbursed for the actual royalty cost paid, up to $6 per eligible tree.
- Eligibility has been expanded from Cycle Seven and may include any commercially available citrus tree or eligible biological delivery technology for which a royalty payment is required.
- Reimbursement will be based on documentation of the applicable royalty and proof of payment.
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has preliminarily indicated its intent to commit $2 million toward the Cycle Eight royalty reimbursement program. This proposed commitment remains subject to approval by the Florida Citrus Commission. In addition to the funding anticipated from FDOC, CRAFT has committed additional funding to support the program.
Applications remain open for Traditional New Plantings Cycle Eight, Existing Tree Therapies (ETT) Round Five and the ETT Extension Program Round Five. Details for those programs follow.
Traditional New Plantings Cycle Eight
- Participation payment of at least $35 per tree
- Growers may plant commercially available eligible citrus varieties.
- Six-year grower participation and annual production data reporting requirement
- Trees must be planted between Aug. 4, 2025, and June 30, 2028.
ETT Round Five
- Participation payment of $450 per treated acre
- Evaluation of approved therapeutic treatments for mature citrus trees
- Three-year evaluation period with annual treatment and harvest reporting
ETT Round Five Extension Program
- Participation payment of $200 per treated acre
- Available for trees previously enrolled in ETT Rounds One through Four
- One-year evaluation period with annual treatment and harvest reporting
- Treatments must be consistent with the treatment approved under the initial ETT agreement.
SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS
Applications for all Cycle Eight and ETT Round Five opportunities must be submitted by Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Growers are encouraged to review the program requirements and submit applications early. The addition of the royalty reimbursement component provides another opportunity for growers participating in Cycle Eight to reduce the cost of incorporating eligible, commercially available technologies into their operations.
Questions or requests for more information may be sent to CRAFT Program Manager Tamara Wood at tamara@craftfdn.org, Assistant Program Manager Tina Buice at tina@craftfdn.org or Scientific Coordinator Carisa Keller at carisa@craftfdn.org.
Source: Florida Citrus Mutual
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