Florida Orange Trees on the Decline

Florida orange grooves are on the decline as affected by Citrus Greening Disease as well as Florida hurricanes. Jane Sutton report on the effects it has on the tenders as production is slowed down and new trees are currently being planted.

Florida's orange production dropped 18 percent to 133.6 million 90-pound (41-kilogram) boxes in the 2009-10 season, from 162.5 million boxes a year earlier. It was the smallest crop since the 2006-07 season, when several hurricanes ripped through the central Florida groves.

 Many farmers are now selling their land, hoping to still keep their long saved amounts of profit and escape possible complete crop failure or even debt. Though this is very unlikely, the hurricane and citrus greening disease combo does not reassure anything but possibly more work and lower net profit. The main concern right now is the citrus disease. Although it does not spread very quickly, there is still a higher chance, in Florida, of the disease completely ruining a section of one's crop yield. This fear has run among the smaller companies that already gain less money compared to their more elite comrades and has forced them to sell their precious land.