Abstract
The Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council (FCPRAC) operates under the Florida Citrus Production Research Marketing Order which was approved in referendums in 1991, 1997, and 2004. This order allows growers to tax themselves up to 1 cent per box of fruit and direct those funds to help solve citrus production problems. Funds are awarded as competitive grants selected from proposals submitted each year to the 14 grower representatives of the FCPRAC. This year, the Florida Legislature and the Department of Citrus contributed to increase funds to $7.2 million, resulting in over 100 research projects being funded. The primary focus of recent research is citrus greening (sometimes called HLB). With the urgency in controlling this disease, FCPRAC is reorganizing to make it easier to cooperate with outside entities for managing and funding projects. One new cooperator is the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, who will help ensure scientific quality in funded research. This paper discusses recent developments in FCPRAC activities and how scientists and other stakeholders can participate in these programs. A new real-time web reporting system is also presented that allows scientists to provide ongoing information about their research programs.
