The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast for Florida’s citrus harvest this season is a bit more optimistic than the past few months, but not by much.

The March citrus crop forecast for the Sunshine State projects there will be 11.6 million boxes of oranges harvested from Florida groves in the 2024-25 season, along with 1.2 million boxes of grapefruit. Both of those figures are up by only 100,000 boxes in each category compared to February’s forecast.

It may not seem like much. But the forecast at least puts a stop to plummeting projections for the growing season. Forecasts have fallen each month since Hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaged Florida in September and October, respectively. Citrus officials worried that growers would not recover much of the fruit that was lost due to those storms.

While the latest forecast shows an uptick in the forecast compared to February, it’s still not as high as January’s prognostication. In the first month of the year, the USDA projected that there would be 12 million boxes of oranges harvested by the end of the growing season and 1.2 million boxes of grapefruit would be produced.

This month’s forecast for the harvest of tangelos and tangerines remains the same, at 350,000 boxes.

Nevertheless, Florida citrus officials are encouraged that there was at least some increase in the forecasted harvest this month from the USDA.

“Today’s steady increase in the citrus crop estimate offers a glimmer of hope that production may be on the road to recovery. Despite setbacks from hurricanes and citrus greening, citrus growers and researchers are working hand-in-hand to leverage technologies and sustainable practices to rebuild Florida citrus production,” said Matt Joyner, CEO at Florida Citrus Mutual.

“It’s crucial that industry, academia and government continue working together to ensure the future is bright for Florida citrus. Florida’s citrus industry continues to receive an outpouring of support from state leaders, including Senate President Ben Albritton and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. With continued resources from the state and federal levels, Florida citrus growers can preserve Florida’s citrus legacy as the iconic symbol of our state, providing jobs and shaping our culture for more than a century.”

As the Legislative Session is ongoing, lawmakers in Tallahassee will consider citrus proposals fronted by Gov. Ron DeSantis. He proposed the Focus on Fiscal Responsibility Budget for 2025-26, which calls for more than $20 million for the Citrus Health Response Program and other citrus research. About $7 million of that money, if approved, would go to advertising and additional research through the Florida Department of Citrus to increase the production of trees and advance technologies that produce trees resistant to citrus greening.

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Lakeland City Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley has announced she will run for Mayor in November.

“Lakeland is an incredibly special place to raise a family and run a business,” Roberts McCarley said. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and continue to serve the community I love, because I know that together, we can meet the challenges of tomorrow and get real results that move us forward.”

That makes Roberts McCarley the first candidate to file in the 2025 city elections.

The native Lakeland resident has served on the Lakeland City Commission since 2019, representing District C Southwest.

She previously served as Executive Director of Polk Vision, a community planning effort. She also served as the state director for Best Buddies International.

Roberts McCarley also volunteers with the Bonnet Springs Park Board, Randy Roberts Foundation Founder, Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance Board, Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Sun N Fun Board, and Night to Shine. She is Vice President of the Ridge League of Cities.

Roberts McCarley founded the Randy Roberts Foundation, named for her late first husband, which has provided more than $300,000 in scholarships to more than 245 students, according to her LinkedIn page.

Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz announced last year that he will not seek another term, according to LkldNow. He has served as the city’s Mayor since 2018.

Roberts McCarley is one of six City Commissioners. She said her platform includes “keeping local government accountable and transparent, protecting taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars and supporting Lakeland’s first responders.”

Roberts McCarley’s seat is also up for re-election this year, as is the District D Southeast spot and an at-large Commission seat.

A General Election is scheduled for Nov. 4. A runoff, if necessary, is scheduled for Dec. 2. Elections are nonpartisan.

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Your cats, dogs and other pets may have some extra help during future vet visits.

Sen. Jennifer Bradley’s legislation (SB 652), which qualifies “veterinary professional associates,” moved forward in the Regulated Industries Committee and now has two stops before the floor.

Bradley noted that this bill simply extends the long-standing parameters that apply to human care to house pets.

“Almost 50 years ago back in 1976, we first recognized physicians’ assistants for humans, allowing PAs to practice under physician supervision. This bill brings the same model to veterinary care,” she said.

These associates must be trained, with master’s degrees from approved programs. And in most cases, they must be supervised.

They can give shots and submit the animal to anesthesia with the vet on hand, and can give medicine and get stool and blood samples unsupervised. However, they are barred from prescribing drugs or performing surgery except for spaying and neutering.

The supervising vet is liable if the associate commits an error.

If the bill becomes law, it takes effect in July.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund and Americans for Prosperity support this legislation.

Other advocates on hand noted that skyrocketing costs and lack of easy access to vets have led to some animals going without care and others being surrendered.

Reaction to the bill defied traditional partisan lines.

Sen. Jim Boyd — a Republican, like Bradley — objected to the bill, saying that vets he had talked to had raised concerns about assistants doing these surgeries.

However, Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo said he backs the legislation.

The bill seems to have a path in the House as well.

The companion bill from Republican Rep. Lauren Melo has its first hearing Wednesday in the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.

Both bills have two stops ahead.

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