Senate earmarks $200M for citrus research, far more than House

The Senate just released spreadsheets for its 2026-27 budget proposal, and they reveal several wedge issues that may intensify cross-rotunda budget negotiation.

One major divide: citrus research spending.

Budgeters in the upper chamber are seeking a $204.5 million earmark to continue field trials, acquire trees and implement new technologies benefiting the Sunshine State’s citrus industry — up from more than $100 million set aside in the current budget.

Of the newly proposed sum, $150 million would be nonrecurring, with another $4.5 million coming from state trust fund sources.

Another $4.4 million would go to the Citrus Health Response Program, a non-research expenditure.

The House budget for the next fiscal year, meanwhile, contemplates spending just $4 million on citrus research and $2.95 million on the Citrus Health Response Program.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Office proffered a plan splitting $19 million between citrus research and health response.

Florida dramatically increased citrus research appropriations beginning in Fiscal Year 2021-22, largely driven by efforts to combat citrus greening disease and revive the state’s citrus production.

The FY 2025-26 appropriation alone included more than $104 million specifically for large-scale citrus research field trials on grove management, treatments, pest and disease control, and post-planting care.

The Senate this year is also looking to spend $39.5 million on funding the Florida Department of Citrus, including $5 million on advertising and $2 million on a citrus recovery program; $10 million on citrus nursery and packaging infrastructure; and $1 million on the Citrus County Fair Association.

The House plan includes no such appropriations.

Florida’s citrus industry provides a more than $6.9 billion economic impact and employs tens of thousands of residents, according to Senate President Ben Albritton, who vowed at the end of last year’s protracted and contentious budgeting process that “citrus is not going down on (his) watch.”

“We’re on the edge of something special,” he said. “Florida citrus is making a comeback, one tree at a time.”