The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)has reported this week that Florida citrus growers have overwhelmingly backed the continuation of a state order that funds research into disease.

Through a state-wide referendum, 1,166 participants, or 76 per cent of voters, said that they backed the continuation of research funding, according to the FDACS, while 363 growers, or 26 per cent, voted against the order.

For the referendum to pass, 51 per cent of the voting acreage representing 65 per cent of the voting grower entities were required to cast a 'yes' vote, which will see producers taxed by up to 3 cents per box of citrus.

'This was a tremendous decision by Florida citrus growers as we continue to battle devastating diseases such as greening,' said Michael Sparks, executive vice-president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. 'With a landslide approval of the state research order, it's clear growers understand the urgency of the situation and that research is the future of our US$9bn industry.'

'The new research structure gives us a real boost as we search for short term and long term greening solutions in the laboratory,' he added. 'This 'yes' vote is another sign of this great industry's resiliency and commitment to doing what it takes to persevere.'

Commonly referred to as the 'box tax', the order was first introduced in 1991, and has taken on added importance in recent years as growers have been forced to fight off the threat of citrus greening and canker.

Meanwhile, United States Department of Agriculture has released its December orange crop forecast for the 2009/10 season in Florida, reducing its earlier estimate by 1m boxes to 135m boxes.

The fall was solely down to a reduction in the Valencia crop, which is now pegged at 66m boxes, with stable volumes of early and mid-season varieties (69m boxes), grapefruit (19.8m boxes), tangerines (4.8m boxes) and tangelos (1m boxes).

'We have another quality Florida citrus crop this year,' said Mr Sparks. 'The industry is facing many challenges but once again Florida citrus growers show their resiliency with this crop.'