The US department of agriculture has announced a further $100 million in citrus canker compensation for the state of Florida. Federal agriculture secretary Mike Johanns said the additional sum would further carry out the commitment made by his department to compensate commercial citrus growers for losses resulting from the citrus canker eradication programme.

“USDA is working to compensate Florida producers for losses resulting from the programme before it was revised,” said Johanns. “The hurricanes have forced a new approach and we are working closely with Florida agriculture officials and the industry to develop a citrus health programme that can sustain the state’s citrus industry while ensuring safe, high-quality fruit continues to be produced.”

Producer groups have welcomed the news. Doug Bournique, executive vice president of the Vero Beach-based Indian Citrus League, said he was pleased with the USDA decision. “This is great news and will really help our industry get through this troubling plant disease.”

Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 spread citrus canker so extensively that the department concluded last month that its existing canker eradication programme was no longer scientifically feasible.

Owners of trees destroyed before January 10, 2006 are eligible for compensation. A draft plan of the authorities’ new response to canker - Citrus Health Response Programme - should be available next month. Key to this programme is likely to be early pest detection.

USDA has so far provided $436m in compensation to growers.

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