Florida citrus producers are looking for $117 million in federal funds to fight citrus canker.

Representatives of the industry are now lobbying Washington to secure the cash for the beleaguered industry.

Officials said around 400,000 trees in the key citrus-growing region of Indian River County are on the list to be destroyed.

Around 30 growers are not set to push for $75m in compensation for farmers who lost trees to the canker, and a further $42m to tackle the disease.

Canker has been found in 20 Florida counties after it was discovered in Miami-Dade County ten years ago. The disease causes blemishes on fruit and causes citrus to drop prematurely. The state destroys all trees within 1,900 feet of sick ones.

Officials said last summer's four hurricanes helped spread the disease.

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