<p> Both the House and Senate have approved $125 million in funding towards citrus greening research during their Farm Bill Conference Committee on Monday. Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary, will oversee the research program alongside industry stakeholders from Florida, California, and Texas, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “This funding is an investment in the future of one of Florida’s signature industries and gets us that much closer to a solution,” said Michael W. Sparks, Executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “I can’t thank the members of Florida’s Congressional delegation enough for their hard work on this issue.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Citrus greening, a bacterial disease vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid, attacks the vascular system of a tree and can kill it within two years, according to Florida Citrus Mutual. The funding from the research and the subsequent scientific research will provide invaluable assistance in the fight against this disease.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Sparks specifically thanked Senator Bill Nelson, Representatives Vern Buchanan, Dennis Ross, Tom Rooney, Steve Southerland, Daniel Webster, Mario Diaz-Balart, Kathy Castor, Patrick Murphy, Ted Yoho, Ander Crenshaw, and Bill Posey for their tireless effort on this legislation. He also praised Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam for his help on funding the initiative.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://flcitrusmutual.com/Default.aspx" target="_new"> Florida Citrus Mutual </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
