Speakers have included U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney whose district includes a wide swath of Florida’s citrus growing areas.  Rooney updated growers on the status of the 2012 Farm Bill which is being debated in the Senate. Funding for research into diseases affecting specialty crops like citrus is included in the present Farm Bill that expires in September.  Rooney and other members of the Florida delegation are working to maintain that funding going forward. 

“Certainly, it’s in the interests of the citrus industry to be included again this year,” Rooney said.   “You know there’s going to be cuts across the board everybody is going to be a little bit uncomfortable but if we can get through the dynamics of the Senate vs. the House then we can possibly see something happen this year with the farm bill would be great.”

The estimated half-trillion-dollar farm bill would be spent over five years with about 80 percent earmarked for food stamps.  Cuts to the omnibus bill equal about $23 billion over ten years.  Lawmakers are wading through some 200 amendments.