Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRAFT) Program Cycle III

Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRAFT) Program Cycle III

Report Date: 02/23/2023
Project: 21-004C   Year: 2022
Category: Horticultural & Management
Author: Tamara Wood
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

The contract executed between CRAFT and CRDF was effective September, 2021, however work began on Cycle III projects beginning in July 2021 and deliverables executed during that period will be reported herein. CRAFT PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PROCESS: The CRAFT Technical Working Group, USDA/ARS and CRAFT staff were all involved with preparing the CRAFT application content for the Cycle III online application experience. The application period was open to Florida citrus growers from July-October, 2021. CRAFT received 84 applications representing  more than 3,300 acres, including 2,470 acres for solid set plantings and 878 acres for reset plantings. The geographic distribution represented 10 counties throughout Florida’s citrus producing regions in.Based upon the contractual requirement stating 50 percent of the funding be allocated to small growers (less than 2,500 acres) and 50 percent be allocated to large growers, applications have been sorted into their respective categories. There were a total of 72 applications within the small grower category accounting for 2,399 acres and 12 applications within the large grower category accounting for 949 acres. PROJECT SELECTION & DEVELOPMENT:The Technical Working Group reviewed all projects submitted, worked with growers to establish proposed experimental designs, and evaluatied the relative value of each project. Based upon the projects presented, applications were organized within subgroups of similar projects (for purposes of replication) and assigned a group leader to help develop  the project design. The groups are as follows:1.         Rootstock/Scion2.         Soil/Tree Fertility3.         Pest Management4.         Biostimulants5.         ResetsAs of June 30, 2022 a total of 48 projects had been approved by the Board of Directors and contracted for inclusion in Cycle III. Small growers represented 25 of the projects totaling 773 acres and utilizing $2,500,750 of funding, while large growers represented 23 projects totaling 1,045 acres and utilizing $2,499,300 of funding. Remaining applications were placed on a waitlist in case of future funding availability due to withdrawal of contracted projects. Cycle III projects are now pending planting. Following completion of planting, pre-audits of each project are used to confirm the planting of trees and compliance with contract to date. Growers are expected to report production data in real time or at least quarterly in to the USDA-CRAFT Data Portal. The data portal will include a separate entry point for data/ measurements from third party partners such as FDACS and Aerobotics.  Data entered by participants and third parties for each project will be visible initially by the growers for their individual projects, and at a later date, on public dashboards developed by CRAFT and USDA-ARS.   In addition to execution of contracts, CRAFT staff continued communications and outreach efforts including, articles in multiple industry and general publications; updating of the CRAFT website (craftfdn.org); public meetings of the Technical Working Group and Board of Directors; and more. A full list of communications efforts is available upon request.  


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