Oct. 30 was the deadline for Florida citrus growers to apply for Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation Cycle Eight, Existing Tree Therapy (ETT) Round Five and ETT Round Five Extensions. The foundation provided the following information about what happens now:
APPLICATION APPROVAL
CRAFT staff will finalize reviewing all submitted applications for eligibility and accuracy. The results of the application review will be presented to the CRAFT board of directors Nov. 11, at which time the board will begin considering applications for approval. Not all applications will necessarily be approved at the November meeting. The board will determine how to proceed with approvals based on the applications received and available program funding.
Even if applications are approved at the November meeting, contracts will not be issued immediately.
With more than 2,500 applications already received, there is an incredible amount of work involved in preparing, reviewing, executing and distributing individual participation agreements. Each agreement represents a commitment between CRAFT and a participating grower, and it’s important to get the details right.
CONTRACT DISTRIBUTION
Once contracts are distributed, they will include important information about the next steps in the process, including:
- Deadlines for returning signed participation agreements
- Requirements and deadlines for nursery contracts and tree deposits, where applicable
- Payment schedules and requirements
- Production and treatment reporting obligations
- Other program-specific requirements and deadlines
CRAFT is doing everything it can to move the process along efficiently while making sure everything is handled correctly. It will communicate with applicants as decisions are made and agreements are ready.
SURVEY PARTICIPATION
CRAFT is also continuing to ask current program participants to take a few minutes to complete its grower feedback survey. It wants to hear what growers are actually seeing in their groves, what they’ve learned through their projects and how CRAFT participation has benefited their operations. This survey does not replace growers’ required production reporting or other quantitative project data. Take the survey here.
Source: Florida Citrus Mutual
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