Vol. 116 (2003): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Citrus

The costs and value loss associated

Thomas H. Spreen
University of Florida

Published 2003-12-01

Keywords

  • asset valuation,
  • citrus,
  • citrus canker

Abstract

The transmission of citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) from private residences to the commercial groves of southwest Florida in the mid-1990s lead to an intense citrus canker regulatory program of eradication. Citrus canker is a bacterial disease causing lesions on the leaves, stems, and fruit of all varieties of citrus trees. The citrus canker eradication program in Florida stipulates that any tree determined to be infected with the disease, as well as all trees within a 1900- foot radius, be removed. The economic costs to citrus growers in Florida associated with citrus canker discovery is estimated in two scenarios: production costs associated with the eradication of citrus groves due to a canker find and production costs associated with living with citrus canker. A hypothetical canker-free grove is modeled for comparison. Results indicate that the estimated economic loss to citrus growers in an endemic citrus canker situation, assuming an optimistic price scenario, exceeds the estimated economic loss to citrus growers under eradication for all varieties examined.