This annual report summarizes the activities of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 

during fiscal year 2008-2009. The report is organized according to the Department’s major functions, which 

include supporting Florida agriculture, promoting Florida agricultural products, ensuring a safe and wholesome 

food supply, preserving the natural environment, and safeguarding consumers.

With over 3,000 employees organized under 18 divisions and offices, the Department is the largest and most 

diverse state agriculture agency in the country. Our responsibilities are so varied and extensive that it is difficult 

to imagine any Floridian whose life is not touched by the work we do.

Support services offered to agriculture by the Department include collecting statistics on production, administering 

animal health programs, testing feed, seed, and fertilizers, and conducting plant protection, inspection, and certification programs.

The Department also supports the agricultural industry by promoting its products through campaigns that raise 

public awareness and increase sales. The Department’s award-winning “Fresh from Florida” campaign continues 

to promote Florida agricultural products across the country and around the world. In addition, the Department 

operates 13 wholesale farmers’ markets right here in Florida that support agricultural commerce.

The Department ensures the safety and wholesomeness of Florida’s food supply through rigorous inspection and 

testing programs. Our Division of Food Safety monitors food from farm gate through distribution and processing 

to retail point of sale. Department personnel regularly inspect everything from packinghouses to grocery stores, 

and our labs perform thousands of sophisticated analyses of food samples each year. We test fruits and vegetables 

for pesticide residues, dietary supplements for dangerous ephedrine alkaloids, and milk for contamination with 

residues of antibiotics. To prevent the spread of food-borne illness, the Department has the authority to halt the 

sale of any product considered hazardous to the public.

The Department is dedicated to creating a sustainable future for agriculture and for all Floridians by protecting the 

state’s natural resources. We manage pesticides to avoid groundwater contamination and protect federally listed 

endangered species. We work to control tropical soda apple, pink hibiscus mealybug, redbay ambrosia beetle, and 

other invasive exotic plants and animals that threaten agriculture and natural ecosystems. Collaborating with growers throughout Florida and with scientists at the University of Florida and other agencies, the Department develops 

pollution-preventing farming methods known as Best Management Practices. 

The Department is Florida’s lead agency for consumer protection. Our Division of Consumer Services has responsibility for regulating various business industries operating in Florida, and it conducts investigations of unfair and 

deceptive trade practices. In addition, the division functions as the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s liaison 

in Florida regarding product recalls, inspections, and investigations. Consumer education is the division’s main 

focus. Each year, division personnel distribute thousands of educational brochures, speak on consumer issues at 

community meetings, and handle the nearly quarter million calls and emails that come to our Consumer Assistance 

Call Center.

Supporting and promoting agriculture, preserving the environment, assuring the safety of food, and protecting consumers – these are the Department’s vital functions. And as we work each day to carry them out, we are continually 

looking for ways to increase our efficiency and effectiveness, especially now during these difficult financial times. 

This annual report details our efforts in 2008-2009. 

Introduction
In February 2009, in the midst of so much dire economic news, the USDA released a new report showing 

solid gains for Florida agriculture. According to the 

report, the number of Florida farms and the value of 

Florida agricultural products sold rose substantially 

from 2002 to 2007. Agriculture remains one of Florida’s most important economic engines, generating an 

estimated $100 billion overall economic impact and 

contributing $2.98 billion in indirect taxes to local, 

county, and state governments. 

The USDA report came at a time when we all really 

needed some positive economic news. And I’m glad 

that my message to you now can be encouraging too. 

Money may have been tight, but fiscal year 2008-2009 

was an eventful and productive year for our Department. We were active on a wide range of issues, including control of exotic and invasive species, wildfire 

prevention, food safety, and consumer protection. 

We promoted Florida agricultural products here at 

home and as far away as Seoul and Bangkok. 

A strong agriculture industry depends on a healthy 

environment, and protecting the state’s natural resources is part of the Department’s mission. This 

year, despite budget constraints, we were able to 

launch a number of new conservation initiatives. Our Division of Forestry started a pilot cost-share program 

to help forest landowners treat infestations of cogongrass, a noxious weed that degrades wildlife habitat and 

threatens forest productivity. We also established a statewide program to trap the emerald ash borer, a destructive beetle that kills ash trees, important components of our urban and wildland canopy. In August 2008 

recent land purchases in Seminole County – over 9,000 acres – were designated as a new state forest.

Many parts of the state suffered drought conditions during much of the year. In the spring of 2009, Florida 

experienced twice the wildfire activity that it did the previous spring. To protect wildlands and private property, our Division of Forestry launched an aggressive fire-prevention campaign. Federal stimulus funds allowed 

the division to expand its efforts, which included not only public education but prescribed burning, mowing, 

and other activities to reduce hazardous fuel loads.

We protect the environment and we protect Floridians. During this fiscal year our Division of Consumer 

Services worked to educate the public about email scams and identity theft. We conducted sweeps of pawnshops to make sure they were properly licensed and brought law suits against companies for violating Florida’s 

“Do Not Call” law. We teamed with other state agencies to investigate complaints about Chinese drywall 

containing potentially toxic compounds, and we assisted the FDA when salmonella outbreaks in peppers led to 

two national recalls. 

Letter from the Commissioner

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009
Letter from the Commissioner

We also worked to make Florida the first state to prohibit the production and sale of adulterated honey – 

honey cut with corn syrup or contaminated with insecticides and antibiotics. These new regulations protect 

consumers and will be a boon to Florida’s struggling beekeepers whose pure, wholesome products had been 

forced to compete against a flood of cheap, adulterated honey from overseas.

This past year we continued to make progress in our Farm to Fuel Initiative. In July 2008 we hosted our third 

annual Farm to Fuel Summit, which attracted hundreds of stakeholders interested in renewable energy. We 

also continued to administer grants awarded under the Farm to Fuel Grant Program, with many of the projects 

making significant progress. In addition, we continued to remain active in the national 25x’25 initiative to advance the vision of promoting the production of renewable energy while reducing our dependence on foreign 

oil.

We at the Department are proud of the work we do to support and promote Florida agriculture – because a 

strong agriculture industry means a more prosperous Florida. The Department is statutorily mandated to 

provide professional marketing services to Florida’s agricultural community through its Division of Marketing and Development. This year our staff promoted Florida products at numerous trade events and conducted 

trade missions to India, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, Korea, and China. 

The 2008-2009 fiscal year was a busy and challenging one at the Florida Department of Agriculture and 

Consumer Services. I’ve only just touched the surface here. This annual report will provide you with more 

information about our many programs, activities, and services.

Sincerely,

Charles H. Bronson,

Comissioner of Agriculture

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009
Table of Contents

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Statistical Reporting..............................................................................................................................................................................8

Fruit and Vegetable Inspection............................................................................................................................................................ 9

Agricultural Dealer’s Licenses............................................................................................................................................................ 9

State Farmers’ Markets........................................................................................................................................................................9

Livestock and Domestic Animals.....................................................................................................................................................10

Animal Disease Control ....................................................................................................................................................................11

Poultry ...................................................................................................................................................................................................13

Cattle .....................................................................................................................................................................................................15

Small Ruminants (Sheep and Goats)...............................................................................................................................................16

Equine ....................................................................................................................................................................................................17

Swine......................................................................................................................................................................................................19

Cervidae................................................................................................................................................................................................20

Companion Animal and Small Animal Programs..........................................................................................................................21

Emergency Management....................................................................................................................................................................22

Diagnostic Laboratories....................................................................................................................................................................24

Kissimmee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.....................................................................................................................25

Live Oak Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory ........................................................................................................................26

Feed, Seed and Fertilizer ...................................................................................................................................................................26

Feed Program.......................................................................................................................................................................................26

Seed Program.......................................................................................................................................................................................27

Fertilizer Program...............................................................................................................................................................................28

Office of Agricultural Water Policy .................................................................................................................................................29

Agricultural Law Enforcement .........................................................................................................................................................31

Bureau of Uniform Services .............................................................................................................................................................32

Bureau of Investigative Services.......................................................................................................................................................33

Bureau of Administrative Services...................................................................................................................................................35

Plant Protection, Inspection and Certification .............................................................................................................................37

Pest Eradication and Control ...........................................................................................................................................................38

Citrus Budwood Registration ..........................................................................................................................................................39

Methods Development and Biological Control ...........................................................................................................................41

Rearing Programs for Biological Control Agents ......................................................................................................................41

Plant and Apiary Inspection ..............................................................................................................................................................46

Plant Inspection ...................................................................................................................................................................................46

Apiary Inspection................................................................................................................................................................................48

Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology ............................................................................................................................51

Entomology ..........................................................................................................................................................................................51

Nematology..........................................................................................................................................................................................53

Plant Pathology....................................................................................................................................................................................55

Domestic Security and Emergency ................................................................................................................................................66

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign..................................................................................................................................67

Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing ...............................................................................................................................................72

Bureau of Education and Communication ....................................................................................................................................76

Food Distribution ...............................................................................................................................................................................79
Table of Contents

ENSURING A SAFE, WHOLESOME FOOD SUPPLY

Division of Food Safety......................................................................................................................................................................80

Food and Meat Inspection.................................................................................................................................................................80

Chemical Residue Laboratories.......................................................................................................................................................85

Food Laboratories..............................................................................................................................................................................86

Division of Dairy Industry.................................................................................................................................................................90

Division of Aquaculture .....................................................................................................................................................................91

CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Division of Agricultural Environmental Services..........................................................................................................................95

Scientific Evaluation Section .............................................................................................................................................................95

Ground Water Protection.................................................................................................................................................................95

Surface Water Protection ................................................................................................................................................................96

Endangered Species Protection Program .....................................................................................................................................97

Miscellaneous.......................................................................................................................................................................................97

Pesticide Registration Section..........................................................................................................................................................98

Pesticide Laboratory Section .........................................................................................................................................................100

Commissioner’s Agricultural Environmental Leadership Awards...........................................................................................104

Division of Forestry..........................................................................................................................................................................105

Forestry Programs............................................................................................................................................................................105

Wildfires..............................................................................................................................................................................................105

Forest Protection .............................................................................................................................................................................105

Land Acquisition ................................................................................................................................................................................107

Natural Resource Management.....................................................................................................................................................108

Andrews Tree Nursery ....................................................................................................................................................................108

Technical Assistance..........................................................................................................................................................................108

Forest Health .....................................................................................................................................................................................109

Forest Inventory and Utilization....................................................................................................................................................107

Field Operations Hydrology...........................................................................................................................................................110

Forest Resource Planning and Support Services Information Technology...........................................................................111

Planning ...............................................................................................................................................................................................111

Construction......................................................................................................................................................................................112

Equipment ..........................................................................................................................................................................................112

Safety....................................................................................................................................................................................................113

Florida Center for Wildfire and Forest Resource Management Training...............................................................................113

SAFEGUARDING FLORIDA’S CONSUMERS

Division of Consumer Services.....................................................................................................................................................114

Consumer Assistance Call Center................................................................................................................................................114

Consumer Complaints.....................................................................................................................................................................115

Motor Vehicle “Lemon Law”...........................................................................................................................................................115

Regulated Programs..........................................................................................................................................................................116

Investigations......................................................................................................................................................................................117

Consumer Education........................................................................................................................................................................117

Division of Standards.......................................................................................................................................................................118

Petroleum Inspection .......................................................................................................................................................................118

Weights and Measures.....................................................................................................................................................................119

Fair Rides Inspection........................................................................................................................................................................120
Table of Contents

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Inspection ...........................................................................................................................................121

Division of Licensing.........................................................................................................................................................................123

ENSURING EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

Training and Development..............................................................................................................................................................126

Minority Businesses..........................................................................................................................................................................127

Agriculture Management Information Center (AGMIC).........................................................................................................127

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)......................................................................................................................................128

Office of Inspector General ...........................................................................................................................................................128

Auditing Section ................................................................................................................................................................................128

Investigation Section.........................................................................................................................................................................129
8 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Statistical Reporting

Reliable information is essential to making production, 

marketing, and policy decisions for the agricultural 

community. The Florida Department of Agriculture and 

Consumer Services shares in a cooperative federal-state 

program responsible for collecting and disseminating 

Florida agricultural statistics. Information on the state’s 

major commodities is gathered through onsite producer 

surveys, voluntary mail questionnaires, and telephone 

and personal interviews. Statistics compiled from these 

data are available in over 200 reports issued annually.

This year as part of its public awareness efforts, the 

Florida Agricultural Statistics Service staffed an informational booth at industry trade shows for citrus, cattle, 

and nursery producers. The booth allowed the service to 

promote its role in the industry and increase the visibility of its reports. Results of the 2007 Census of Agriculture were released February 4, 2009.

Citrus

An initial citrus production forecast is issued in October 

and modified monthly through the citrus season based 

on fruit size measurements and observations on drop 

rate. These forecasts are based exclusively on objective 

data obtained directly by field personnel, including an 

extensive limb-count survey conducted from July to 

September to estimate fruit set per tree. Florida’s citrus 

growers produced an estimated 162.1 million boxes of 

all oranges and 21.7 million boxes of grapefruit in the 

2008-2009 season.

Cash receipts for all citrus crops sold in 2008 totaled 

$1.62 billion compared to $1.68 billion in the 2007 

season. Citrus accounted for 20.4 percent of all cash 

receipts in 2008.

Vegetables

Florida growers harvested fresh market vegetables from 

225,900 acres in 2008. Cash receipts for all vegetables 

amounted to $1.96 billion, which amounted to 24.5 

percent of all cash receipts in 2008. Tomatoes, peppers, 

snap beans, sweet corn, and cucumbers accounted for 

the largest amount of sales among vegetable crops. 

Greenhouse and Nursery Production

The total value of Florida greenhouse and nursery production exceeds $1.93 billion. The foliage and floriculture industry contributed $922 million, down from 

$968 million in 2007.

Berries and Melons

Strawberry production for 2008 was down from the 

year before, resulting in cash receipts of $249.4 million 

compared to $261.9 million in 2007. Lower prices for 

watermelons were offset by higher acreage and yield 

resulting in a slight increase in their total crop value to 

$140.4 million in 2008.

Field Crops

Potato prices in 2008 were below the previous year, 

resulting in lower cash receipts of $129.7 million to 

growers. Sugarcane production was down from the previous year, with total cash receipts decreasing to $442.2 

million in 2008. Cash receipts for peanuts increased 

to $88.3 million, due to increased production in 2008. 

Decreases in the prices for cotton and cottonseed produced cash receipts of $42.1 million in 2008, compared 

to $42.2 million in 2007.

Other Fruits and Nuts

Receipts for other fruits and nuts, such as avocados, 

blueberries, pecans, and miscellaneous fruit and nuts, at 

$84.3 million, were up from $80.6 million in 2007. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 9

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Dairy

Higher milk prices in 2008 resulted in increased cash 

receipts of $464.2 million compared to $459.2 million 

in 2007. The annual average farm gate price for milk in 

Florida was $22.60 per cwt in 2008, up from $21.90 in 

2007.

Cattle and Calves

The total number of cattle and calves on January 1, 2008 

was 1,700,000 head, down 10,000 from 2007. Lower 

prices resulted in cash receipts of $405.1 million compared to $449.1 million in 2007.

Poultry and Eggs

Egg sales in 2008 totaled $234.5 million, up from 

$186.5 million in 2007 due to higher egg prices. Broiler 

prices were up in 2008 but sales decreased to $169.4 

million from $179.7 million in 2007.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture contributed an estimated $62 million to 

total cash receipts. Tropical fish and aquatic plants accounted for the majority of the sales in this category.

Honey

Florida was fourth in the nation in honey production in 

2008 (behind North Dakota, South Dakota, and California) with 11.9 million pounds valued at $15.4 million. 

There were an estimated 150,000 colonies in the state 

in 2008 with an average honey yield of 79 pounds per 

colony, eight pounds per colony more than in 2007.

Fruit and Vegetable Inspection

The Division of Fruit and Vegetables serves as a third 

party to provide on-request inspections for the purpose of certifying the quality and condition of produce 

shipped in and out of the state to national and international markets. The Department’s services, provided in 

cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

Agricultural Marketing Service, enhance the marketability of fruit and vegetables produced and imported into 

Florida. Committed to meeting the needs of Florida’s 

fruit and vegetable industries through fiscally responsible quality assurance and technical assistance services, 

the division constantly strives to find innovative and 

cost-effective methods of inspection. 

Agricultural Dealer’s Licenses

The Department continued to assist Florida producers in 

reducing their financial risk through its administration 

of Florida’s Agricultural License and Bond Law. This 

law ensures that Florida producers of agricultural products covered by the license and bond provisions receive 

proper accounting and payment for their products. 

During fiscal year 2008-2009 the Department issued 

5,665 licenses and collected $1,032,667 in license fees 

and delinquent penalties. The Department received 

205 claims against agricultural dealers. Claims against 

dealers in agricultural products must be filed within six 

months from the date of sale and total a minimum of 

$500. There were 186 claims settled in the past year 

resulting in the recovery of $1,338,447 on behalf of 

Florida agricultural producers.

The Department closely monitors dealers to make sure 

they maintain adequate bonds to protect Florida growers. Department associates conducted 784 compliance 

audits of dealer’s records during the year. These audits 

are designed to ensure that bond amounts are maintained, to determine whether unlicensed dealers were exempt from license and bond requirements, to determine 

if prospective licensees were conducting business in a 

manner requiring licensure, and to document violations 

of Department enforcement actions.

The Department opened 199 new enforcement cases, 

closed 176 cases, and collected $160,180 in administrative fines during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Enforcement 

actions resulted in an additional $2,166,173 of bond 

protection for Florida growers.

State Farmers’ Markets

The Bureau of State Farmers’ Markets manages four major program initiatives: State Farmers’Markets; Community Farmers’ Markets; Women, Infants, and Children/

Farmers’ Markets; Nutritional Program (WIC/FMNP); 

and County Fair Permitting.

State Farmers’ Markets tenants and clients marketed 

$521 million in wholesale value of produce, dairy, frozen seafood, and value-added products during fiscal year 

2008-2009. The bureau operated 13 wholesale farmers’ 

markets during the fiscal year. These markets offer a mix 
10 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

of wholesale and retail produce and attendant services 

such as produce refrigeration, truck weigh scales, farm 

supply, restaurants, and produce brokerage sales as well 

as produce and freight shipping companies. At year’s 

end the available space for market tenants was 79 percent leased for a total of more than 1.6 million square 

feet of warehouse, office, and parking space.

Hurricane repair projects on the affected state market sites have made major strides in the recovery from 

the devastating storms of 2004 and 2005. Of the sites 

damaged by the storms of 2004, the repairs at Sanford, 

Fort Myers, and Wauchula have been completed. The 

Sanford hurricane reconstruction project expenses were 

$675,000, the Fort Myers hurricane reconstruction 

expenses were $5.9 million, and the hurricane reconstruction expenses in Wauchula were $3.7 million. The 

Fort Pierce State Farmers’ Market site reconstruction 

projects continue with a guaranteed maximum cost of 

$19,483,862 and are expected to be completed by August 2008 at an estimated total cost of $18 million. The 

Immokalee State Farmers’ Market hurricane reconstruction has an anticipated total project cost of $9 million 

to $10 million and is currently being formally appealed 

with FEMA.

More than 230 farmers operating at over 20 community 

retail markets participated in the Women, Infants, and 

Children/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC/

FMNP) this year. By promoting the consumption of 

fresh fruits and vegetables to WIC mothers and children, 

this program encourages a healthy diet while boosting 

farmers’ sales at participating locations. The program 

was offered in 16 counties and provided over 30,000 

WIC recipients with information about proper nutrition 

and the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables in their 

daily diets.

The County Fair Permitting Section issued permits for 

52 fairs. Approximately $200,000 was distributed to 

these fairs and other public organizations as agricultural 

premium and awards reimbursements. These awards encourage participation by Florida’s youth in agricultural 

programs.

The popularity of retail farmers’ markets continues to 

grow in Florida. There are more than 100 retail markets 

promoted on the Department’s web site.

Livestock and 

Domestic Animals

The Division of Animal Industry enforces state animal 

health regulations to prevent, control, and eradicate 

infectious or communicable diseases of livestock and 

domestic animals. The division also works to protect 

the state from animal pests and diseases that threaten 

economic and public health. Through the efforts of the 

Bureau of Animal Disease Control and Bureau of Diagnostic Laboratories, the division:

– Monitors livestock and poultry on farms and ranches 

and at animal concentration points for disease status 

and carries out intensive animal disease investigations 

utilizing state-of-the-art laboratory testing for the diagnosis of domestic diseases, as well as emerging and 

potential foreign animal diseases.

– Works with producers and other cooperators to control animal diseases to ensure the health of the animal 

industries and to ensure safe and wholesome animal 

food products.

– Regulates, administers, and enforces laws relating to 

animal health to prevent the introduction of diseased 

animals into Florida and to prevent the spread of diseases within the state.

– Monitors companion animal health issues, provides 

consumer protection assistance, and supports rule and 

legislation development to ensure the overall health of 

small animal populations and industries in Florida.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 11

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

– Provides information to livestock and poultry producers, private practitioners, and the public about regulatory 

requirements and Best Management Practices through 

news releases, brochures, the Internet, and personal 

visits.

– Develops, implements, and tests emergency response 

plans in the event of foreign animal diseases and other 

natural or manmade disasters affecting animals and animal food production.

Emergency management is also a responsibility of the 

division. Eighteen Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 

were established in the Florida Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Each ESF is headed by a lead 

or primary agency or organization, which was selected 

based on its authorities, resources, and capabilities in 

that functional area. The Division of Animal Industry is 

the primary lead responder for ESF-17, which was organized to ensure rapid response to animal and agricultural needs in a disaster or emergency scenario.

Animal Disease Control

The Department, through the Division of Animal Industry, is responsible for administering the state’s animal 

disease prevention, control, and eradication programs. 

In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

the Florida Department of Health, and the Florida Fish 

and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department has moved beyond traditional perceptions of animal disease control and eradication by addressing public 

health and wildlife issues and major economic impacts 

by developing new programs. The re-emergence of brucellosis and tuberculosis and intermittent outbreaks of 

Vesicular Stomatitis and pathogenic Avian Influenza in 

other states emphasize the necessity of having a strong, 

active animal disease monitoring program in place with 

an open line of communication with public officials. 

The division also monitors health concerns in a wide 

variety of exotic animal collections. Concerns regarding 

exotic and non-traditional species of animals may be 

initiated by the facility, other agencies, or other interested parties, in addition to the division’s routine monitoring practices. Primates and elephants are monitored 

and sometimes quarantined for tuberculosis, and birds 

and other exotic animals have been occasionally affected 

with foreign or zoonotic diseases.

Rather than perceiving disease control and eradication 

programs as bureaucratic obstacles, the public is demanding that more be done to protect the nation’s animal-origin food supply and companion livestock. These 

needs – as perceived by the producer, the consumer, and 

associated animal industries – will influence the overall 

acceptability and effectiveness of future disease control 

and eradication programs.

The Department’s program activities take into consideration the changing face of animal industries in Florida 

and throughout the United States. Numerous species 

previously considered exotic or wildlife have straddled 

or crossed the line between wildlife and agriculture. 

Government and industry are faced with challenging 

learning curves in veterinary medicine and disease-risk 

analysis for unfamiliar species, with few or no precedents. The Department recognizes the need to include 

these emerging animal industries with traditional livestock industries so they can coordinate and respond to a 

greater range of issues.

Animal Identification and Traceability

The threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak or other 

animal health event in the United States is real. Unfortunately, the timing and severity of an outbreak are 

impossible to predict. The division has worked with 

the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a 

USDA information system designed to enable producers and animal health officials to respond quickly and 

effectively to animal health events in the United States. 

The foundation of the system is a database of premises 

where livestock, poultry, and equine are held. The NAIS 

program is a voluntary state-federal-industry partnership 

that will help to protect livestock, poultry, and equine 

owners and reduce hardships caused by an animal disease outbreak or other animal health event.

The individual animal identification component is intended to identify all agricultural animals as they come 

into contact with, or are intermingled with, animals 

other than herd mates from their premises of origin. 

The USDA long-term goal is to establish a system that 

can identify all animals that have had direct contact with 

a foreign animal disease or domestic disease of concern 

within 48 hours of discovery. Further development of 

a nationwide animal identification and tracking system 
12 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

will help secure the health of the national herd and ensure consumer confidence.

The NAIS is being implemented by the Division of Animal Industry on a voluntary basis. Since 2004 Florida 

has entered into cooperative agreements with the USDA 

to implement a premises identification system and work 

with producers and industry groups on pilot animal 

identification projects. Division personnel continue to 

work with producers and industry leaders to develop 

practical approaches to meet the animal health and animal movement challenges of today’s global marketplace.

As of June 30, 2008, a total of 7,791 Florida premises 

were registered. These premises include all species of 

livestock and each of Florida’s USDA-approved livestock 

auction markets. Florida was the first major cattleproducing state to have 100 percent registration of its 

livestock markets. It is estimated that more than 85 

percent of Florida’s total cattle inventory is now housed 

on registered premises. Across all species, the premises 

which have been registered represent the core of the 

commercial livestock industry. The inclusion of additional premises will increase the effectiveness of disaster 

response capabilities. The Division of Animal Industry 

continues to share information with and receive input 

from industry leaders representing all included species.

Pilot projects continue to test the utility of electronic animal identification for tracking and ranch management. 

Participating producers view the feedback of performance and health-related information as an increasingly 

valuable ranch management and marketing tool. 

Several of Florida’s major ranches have electronically 

identified each animal in their producing herds as well 

as each calf crop. Individual electronic identification of 

the brood cows provides for enhanced management and 

recordkeeping. Individual identification of the calves 

allows the return of production data for management 

decisions and also allows the calves to be marketed as 

source-verified. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has utilized electronic identification and has been a leader in 

its efforts in this program.

The equine segment of the NAIS has included education and outreach, premises registration, and individual 

horse identification using microchips. The equine 

microchipping project received positive feedback from 

the equine community as a rapid, reliable form of individual identification for horses. This technology can 

also be used to monitor movement through the state’s 

Agricultural Interdiction Stations.

The Florida Equine Passport Card program has continued to grow with over 626 cards being issued during this 

fiscal year. Twelve states now accept the Florida Equine 

Interstate Passport Card, which extends the duration of 

the Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) 

from the standard 30-day period to six months, for interstate movement to equine events. The negative Equine 

Infectious Anemia (EIA) Verification Card has also been 

received well by the horse owners as an alternative to the 

paper Coggins form used for intrastate movement. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 717 EIA verification cards were 

issued. One of the requirements to receive either card is 

a completed NAIS premises registration application. 

Animal Movement

The monitoring of the movement of livestock and 

poultry into Florida by the Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is the Department’s first line of defense 

against the inadvertent importation of animal diseases. 

When diseases threaten livestock and poultry in other 

parts of the country, the Department may enact additional regulations for animals being imported into 

Florida, often requiring prior notification, permission, 

and permitting from the Department before shipments 

are allowed into Florida through the Agricultural Interdiction Stations.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 13

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Health Certificates

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the division processed 

39,427 certificates representing more than 661,077 

animals moving into or out of Florida. Beef and dairy 

cattle were the most numerous animals shipped, while 

horses accounted for the highest number of shipments 

moving through Florida. Other species accounting for 

much of the animal movement into and out of Florida 

were swine, goats, sheep, and exotic species. This number does not include the numerous poultry or small animal movements. All livestock transported into Florida 

are subject to certificate verification by Agricultural Law 

Enforcement officers.

Carcass Hauler Permits

The purpose of the Carcass Hauler Permits program is to 

prevent, control, or eradicate diseases that may be transmissible to other animals or humans. During fiscal year 

2008-2009, 494 permits were issued. By June 30 of each 

year, individuals or businesses are required to apply for 

and receive a permit to haul any dead, dying, disabled, 

or diseased animal, any product of an animal that died 

other than by slaughter, or any inedible animal product 

not meant for human consumption.

Livestock Haulers Permits

The purpose of the Livestock Haulers Permits program is 

to protect owners of animals and legitimate businesses 

that haul livestock by improving control over livestock 

thefts and other illicit livestock operations. During fiscal year 2008-2009, the division issued 1,852 livestock 

hauler permits/tags. These permits/tags are required for 

each vehicle hauling or transporting livestock for hire on 

Florida’s public roads or highways. 

Marks and Brands Program

Livestock brand registration was centralized at the state 

level in 1945. The change from county- by-county registration was instituted to prevent duplication of brands 

by different owners, especially as commerce and trade 

increased among different parts of the state.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the division issued 225 new 

brand certificates, transferred 31 brands, and renewed 

853 certificates. Currently, the total number of brands 

registered in Florida is 5,403. Branding of livestock in 

Florida is not required, but, if done, owners must register their brands with the state. 

Poultry

Several important diseases can have a disastrous impact 

on the poultry industry if allowed into the state. In an 

effort to carry out its mission of surveillance, prevention, 

and control, the division conducts inspections of poultry premises, live bird markets, small animal sale markets, botanicas, fairs and exhibitions, imported birds, 

and backyard flocks in accordance with state rules and 

regulations and USDA’s National Poultry Improvement 

Plan (NPIP). Through these programs, information on 

disease control and biosecurity on the farm has been 

distributed throughout the state in an effort to inform 

the public about their role in controlling these diseases.

Avian Influenza

Due to the recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI) 

H5N1 in other countries and in response to increased 

public concerns, AI surveillance has become a major 

focus for the Department and the Division of Animal 

Industry. An Avian Influenza State Response and Containment Plan was developed and a Poultry Emergency 

Disease Committee was established. Members on the 

committee consist of state, federal and industry representatives. In cooperation with the USDA, the expanded 

Avian Influenza surveillance program now includes 

sample collection and inspections at botanicas, live bird 

markets, animal sale markets, fairs/exhibitions, backyard 

flocks, upland game birds, sick bird investigations, and 

commercial flocks. 
14 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Globally, there are many different strains of AI virus 

causing a variety of clinical illnesses in poultry. Viruses 

can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, 

geese, and guinea fowl, as well as a wide variety of other 

birds. Migratory birds, especially waterfowl, have been 

shown to act as a natural reservoir for the less-infectious 

strains of the disease. AI viruses can be classified into 

low pathogenicity (LPAI) and high pathogenicity (HPAI) 

based on the severity of the illness they cause. HPAI is 

the highly transmissible and lethal form of the disease 

that spreads rapidly once established. Because some 

LPAI viruses can mutate into HPAI viruses, surveillance 

for both is extremely important. Although Florida 

has not detected HPAI and the United States has not 

detected the Asian strain of H5N1, Florida has greatly 

increased its scrutiny and testing of birds in all facets of 

the industry for the presence of this deadly strain. 

Department-authorized agents tested 132 small animal 

sale markets, botanicas, and live markets for AI, resulting in 4,184 birds tested. Over 689 commercial poultry 

premises were tested and 10,946 samples were submitted for AI in accordance with the NPIP AI monitoring 

program.

Pullorum Disease Program Work

Fowl Typhoid (FT) and Pullorum Diseases (PD), affecting chickens and turkeys primarily, are caused by Salmonella gallinarum and Salmonella pullorum, respectively. 

Clinical signs in chicks and poults include anorexia, 

diarrhea, dehydration, weakness and high mortality. In 

mature birds, FT and PD signs are decreased egg production, decreased fertility and hatchability, and anorexia 

and high mortality rates. If allowed to spread, these 

diseases can have damaging effects on the poultry industry. In conjunction with the USDA’s National Poultry 

Improvement Plan (NPIP) program, the state tests birds 

for Pullorum Typhoid (PT) and other deadly contagious 

poultry diseases. 

A total of 307 NPIP program flock inspections were 

conducted during fiscal year 2008-2009. At these NPIP 

premises, there were 6,836 birds tested for PT and 3,174 

birds tested for AI during this fiscal year. Departmentauthorized agents continue to inspect and test for PT 

and AI on poultry coming into fairs for exhibition. During 2008-2009, the Department inspected 9,174 birds 

at 57 fairs. Authorized agents tested 3,823 of the birds 

exhibited at the fairs for PT and 794 for AI.

Other Poultry Program Work

Monitoring and surveillance activities for Mycoplasma 

gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) and AI on 

commercial poultry breeding flocks were also continued. 

During fiscal year 2008-2009, 148 flocks were tested and 

7,243 samples were submitted to the division’s diagnostic laboratories for MG and MS testing.

The division continues to conduct quarterly hatchery 

inspections at commercial egg, meat, and turkey premises in accordance with the NPIP; seven inspections were 

performed and 252 samples were submitted to the state 

diagnostic laboratories. The division also investigates 

all sick bird and unusual dead bird reports and (when 

possible) takes samples for testing for Avian Influenza 

and Pullorum Typhoid. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 

the Department conducted 60 sick bird investigations 

representing 369 birds being tested for AI. Department 

inspectors also conducted routine inspections of dead 

bird disposal methods at commercial poultry farms. 

During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, 357 such inspections 

were conducted.

The Poultry Best Management Practices (BMPs) Quality 

Assurance Program in the Suwannee River Water Management Area was implemented in 2001. Currently, 199 

poultry farms are enrolled in the program and inspected 

by division staff.

The division maintains a poultry database for permitting all poultry and eggs imported into the state or 

transshipped through Florida to other countries. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 1,593 import permits and 

1,297 transshipment permits were issued, representing 

22,428,015 live birds and 29,491,713 dozen hatching eggs.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 15

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Cattle

During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, 394,386 cattle were 

inspected at livestock markets.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a contagious, costly disease of ruminant 

animals that also affects humans. Although brucellosis 

can attack other animals, its main threat is to cattle, 

bison, and swine. The disease is also known as contagious abortion or Bang’s disease. In humans it is known 

as undulant fever because of the severe intermittent fever 

accompanying human infection, or Malta fever because 

it was first recognized as a human disease on the island 

of Malta. The disease is caused by a group of bacteria 

known scientifically as the genus Brucella. Three species of Brucella cause the most concern: B. abortus, 

principally affecting cattle and bison; B. suis, principally 

affecting swine and reindeer but also cattle and bison; 

and B. melitensis, principally affecting goats but not present in the United States. In cattle and bison the disease 

currently localizes in the reproductive organs and/or the 

udder. Bacteria are shed in milk or via the aborted fetus, 

afterbirth, or other reproductive tract discharges.

There were 273 herds representing a total of 53,962 

cattle tested in the field for brucellosis during the fiscal year, with no reactors. An additional 169,569 cattle 

were tested at slaughter with 10 positive tests. None of 

the animals tested positive for B. abortus, and the state 

maintains the classification of Class Free. At livestock 

markets 663 cattle were tested, with none found to be 

infected. During the same period 67,254 cattle were 

vaccinated against brucellosis.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease of both animals and humans. It is caused by three specific types of 

bacteria that are part of the Mycobacterium group: Mycobacterium bovis, M. avium, and M. tuberculosis. Bovine TB, 

caused by M. bovis, can be transmitted from livestock 

to humans and other animals. No other TB organism 

has as great a host range as bovine TB, which can infect 

all warm-blooded vertebrates. M. avium can affect all 

species of birds, as well as hogs and cattle. M. tuberculosis

primarily affects humans but can also be transmitted to 

hogs, cattle, and dogs.

Last year in Florida, 78 herds were tested for tuberculosis. Within these herds 874 head of cattle were tested 

and no cattle were found to be infected. Surveillance 

sampling of tuberculosis-like lesions in slaughter cows 

yielded no positive animals. 

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), or 

prion diseases, are rare forms of progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals 

and are caused by agents that produce changes in the 

brain. TSE typically have incubation periods ranging 

from months to years before symptoms become apparent. No conventional serologic test can identify TSEinfected animals, and so TSE are usually identified from 

the brain tissue of dead animals. There is no vaccine or 

cure for these diseases, and once symptoms appear, TSE 

are invariably fatal.

The TSE family of diseases includes: Bovine Spongiform 

Encephalopathy (BSE); scrapie, which affects sheep 

and goats; Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy (TME); 

Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy (FSE); Chronic 

Wasting Disease (CWD) of deer and elk; and in humans, 

kuru, both classic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease 

(CJD and vCJD), Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, and fatal familial insomnia. TSE have also been 

reported in captive exotic ruminants, and in exotic and 

domestic cats. The agent isolated from several of these 

cases is indistinguishable from BSE in cattle, suggesting 

the occurrence of TSE in these species resulted from BSEcontaminated feed.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 

(Mad Cow Disease)

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), widely 

referred to as “mad cow disease,” was first diagnosed in 

1986 in Great Britain. BSE was discovered in Canada 
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in 2003, in Washington State in 2004, in Texas in 2005, 

and in Alabama in 2006. The BSE-infected cow from 

Washington State was later found to have originated 

from a Canadian herd. These isolated cases generated 

a rapid response from state and USDA officials, and resulted in new control, testing, and surveillance programs 

designed to rule out and prevent further cases in U.S. 

herds. The Department continues to work with federal 

and state partners to conduct surveillance and to prevent 

the introduction of BSE from foreign sources. Federal 

funding for enhanced surveillance ended in December 

2006 with future testing limited to suspect cases. 

Johne’s Disease

Johne’s disease is a contagious, chronic, and usually 

fatal infection that affects primarily the small intestine 

of ruminants. All ruminants are susceptible to Johne’s 

disease. Johne’s disease is caused by Mycobacterium 

paratuberculosis, a hardy bacterium related to the agents 

of leprosy and tuberculosis. The disease is worldwide 

in distribution. Signs of Johne’s disease include weight 

loss and diarrhea with a normal appetite. Several weeks 

after the onset of diarrhea, a soft swelling may occur 

under the jaw (bottle jaw). Bottle jaw, or intermandibular edema, is due to protein loss from the bloodstream 

into the digestive tract. Signs are rarely evident until two 

or more years after the initial infection, which usually 

occurs shortly after birth. Animals are most susceptible 

to the infection in the first year of life.

As of June 30, 2009, the Florida Voluntary Johne’s Program had 97 dairy and beef operations enrolled. For 

fiscal year 2008-2009, the Live Oak Diagnostic Laboratory conducted 22,638 tests. 

As of December 31, 2008, federal funding for the Johne’s 

Program ended. The Johne’s Dairy Demonstration 

Project has also been discontinued due to lack of funding. Johne’s testing has been steadily decreasing following elimination of federal funding. Division personnel 

will continue to work with producers in developing and 

implementing herd plans to control this disease.

Small Ruminants (Sheep and Goats)

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department inspected 

10,842 small ruminants at livestock markets and 33,133 

sheep and goats at small animal sale markets. Division 

staff also inspected 18,690 goats and sheep on farms or 

assembly points.

Tuberculosis 

Tuberculosis (TB) in goats and sheep, though considered 

a rare occurrence, is caused by one or more of the three 

types of Mycobacterium: M. bovis, M. avium, and M. 

tuberculosis. M. bovis infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans, while M. avian is the species 

that causes most of the infections in sheep. The bacterium can be transmitted to humans via milk, so dairy 

herds should be tested. Thirty-six sheep and 420 goats 

were tested for tuberculosis and all were found to be 

negative. There are 12 certified tuberculosis-free goat 

herds in Florida.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is more common in goats than in sheep, and 

is caused by Brucella melitensis in other parts of the 

world. The sign most often associated with brucellosis 

in goats is abortion, but not all animals that abort have 

brucellosis and not all brucellosis-infected animals will 

abort. The organism can be transmitted via blood, vagi-
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 17

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nal discharge, milk, aborted fetuses, and placenta. The 

danger of human infection and economic losses makes 

this another important disease to control and eradicate. 

Fifty-one sheep and 981 goats were tested for brucellosis 

and all were found to be negative. There are 11 certified 

brucellosis-free goat herds in Florida.

Scrapie 

Scrapie is one of a number of diseases of ruminants 

classified as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE). Scrapie affects the central nervous system 

of sheep and goats, but clinical signs may not appear 

until the animal is five years of age or older. The USDA’s 

Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program provides 

participating producers with the opportunity to protect 

their sheep from scrapie and enhance the animals’ marketability by having them certified scrapie-free. Florida 

now has 24 flocks/herds participating in this program, 

and three certified flocks/herds. Under USDA-APHIS 

rules and regulations, and the Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules, all sheep and goats in Florida 

are required to have an official USDA-APHIS-approved 

tamper-resistant individual animal identification tag. 

Four hundred and eighty-nine premises obtained scrapie 

tags under this program for fiscal year 2008-2009. 

Equine

Contagious Equine Metritis

Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious reproductive disease that can affect all equids and 

is caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis. The 

infection can result in short-term infertility in mares that 

is sometimes associated with a vaginal discharge and, 

rarely, abortion. Mares can become inapparent carriers of the bacterium in their reproductive tracts and can 

shed the organism into the environment and transmit it 

through subsequent breeding. Stallions do not develop 

clinical signs but can carry the organism on their genitalia for years and spread the disease by breeding susceptible mares.

Currently, there are at least 25 countries and territories 

where CEM is considered endemic, including a number 

of the member states of the European Union. CEM is a 

serious venereal disease because it is highly contagious. 

There is no vaccine against CEM, but there are ways to 

detect infected horses and to rid infected stallions and 

mares of the bacterium via treatment and testing protocols.

CEM is considered an exotic disease in the United States, 

which means it is not found in the native horse population; however, there is currently an outbreak of CEM in 

the United States. The CEM organism was detected in a 

domestic stallion during routine testing in Kentucky, in 

December 2008. During the subsequent investigation 

960 horses in the United States were determined to have 

been exposed, and 27 horses tested positive for the CEM 

bacterium. In Florida, Division of Animal Industry staff 

traced and tested 30 exposed mares and eight exposed 

stallions. No Florida horses were found to be positive 

during the investigation.

Florida utilized 28 Approved CEM Quarantine Facilities 

to handle the CEM importation requirements for horses 

entering the United States. During fiscal year 2008-

2009, 183 imported stallions and mares were processed 

through these facilities. There were no positive horses 

detected.

Equine Infectious Anemia

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), also known as “swamp 

fever,” is an incurable blood-borne disease that affects 

only members of the equine species. It is transmitted 

primarily by large biting flies but may also be transmitted by contaminated needles and surgical instruments 
18 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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and through breeding. Once an animal is infected, 

it remains infected for the rest of its life. While some 

horses die from acute infections, most remain as seemingly symptomless carriers. However, infected animals 

are still capable of transmitting the disease and pose a 

threat to healthy animals. There is currently no vaccine 

or effective treatment for this disease.

EIA is a disease of worldwide significance. In some 

foreign countries the disease incidence may be as high as 

50 percent or more. In the United States it has occurred 

in nearly every state; however, 90 percent of the cases 

occur in what is known as the “hot zone,” those states 

bordering the South Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, 

and the Mississippi River Basin, including Oklahoma 

and Texas. Disease risk in these areas is higher because 

environmental conditions are more favorable for prolonged insect vector seasons.

Florida’s equine industry continues to be a vital economy to the state, and the Department is working hard to 

safeguard this important state resource from the potential devastating effects of this disease. With support and 

cooperation from the state’s equine industries, Florida 

was one of the first states to implement an EIA disease 

control program.

Last year more than 2.1 million horses were tested for 

EIA nationally. In Florida more than 139,000 horses 

were tested, with no reactors detected. On a national 

level roughly 20 percent of the equine population is 

tested annually, but in Florida approximately 30 percent 

of the horses are tested annually. In spite of being in 

the EIA “hot zone,” Florida’s EIA control program keeps 

the disease incidence at a very low rate (<0.004 percent), 

which is below the national level of 0.015 percent. This 

can be attributed to the Department’s effective EIA control program and strong support from the state’s equine 

industry.

Equine Piroplasmosis

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is an animal disease caused 

by the parasitic organisms Babesia equi and Babesia caballi, and is primarily transmitted to horses by ticks. The 

greatest risk of introduction of this disease is through 

importation of horses from countries where EP is endemic.

An outbreak of EP occurred in Florida beginning in 

August 2008, when a horse showing signs of the disease 

was admitted to a referral hospital in Ocala. The horse 

was determined to be infected with the EP organism, 

Babesia equi. The subsequent investigation ended in February 2009 after 25 premises were quarantined and over 

200 horses were tested for the disease. The origin of 

the outbreak is believed to have been an infected horse 

imported from Mexico.

Florida is the only state that monitors the status of 

horses imported from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands, where EP is endemic. Florida requires all horses 

to be negative for EP prior to shipment and to be retested 30 to 60 days after arrival. Last year the Department 

issued 67 permits covering 95 horses.

Arboviruses

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are viruses that 

can be transmitted to humans and horses by mosquitoes. Arboviral infections in humans and horses may 

result in development of a fatal case of encephalitis: 

inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. These 

viruses are maintained in nature through continuous 

transmission between natural reservoir hosts (primarily 

wild birds) and certain species of mosquitoes (disease 

vectors). Humans and horses do not contribute to the 

spread of these diseases and, as such, are considered 

“dead-end” hosts. Although other animals are susceptible to arbovirus infections, humans and horses are most 

susceptible to developing clinical disease. 

As arboviral activity is seen every year in Florida, an 

Arboviral Working Group has been formed. It involves 

many state agencies, including the Florida Department 

of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission, and the University of Florida, among 

others. This task force monitors the Florida arboviral 

situation all year, which includes testing and surveillance 

of sentinel chicken flocks, wild birds, horses, humans 

and other animals, and mosquitoes. The Bureau of 

Animal Disease Control’s role involves the monitoring 

of equine populations for Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 19

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Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) is one of several 

arboviruses transmitted by infected mosquitoes that may 

cause fatal encephalitis in humans and horses. Mosquitoes become infected with the virus after feeding on wild 

birds. Transmission of EEE from horse to horse or horse 

to human via mosquito bites is highly unlikely because 

humans and horses are poor reservoirs for the virus. In 

humans and horses, the mortality rate is extremely high: 

50 percent or more in humans and 80 to 90 percent 

in horses. Regular vaccination of horses is effective in 

greatly lowering the prevalence of this disease.

EEE is most often detected in horses during the months 

of May through September. Florida averages over 74 

confirmed cases of EEE each year. Many of these cases 

appear in the same areas year after year. Mosquito activity in Florida may occur on a year-round basis; therefore, 

cases of EEE may be reported during any given month. 

About every seven to 10 years, the number of cases 

reported reaches epidemic proportions and may be well 

over 100. In 2003 the number of cases reached epidemic levels with 207 cases being reported. The EEE activity 

during the fiscal year 2008-2009 was very close to the 

yearly average at 73 confirmed cases.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) is another mosquito-borne viral 

disease that may cause encephalitis in humans and 

horses, but unlike EEE, the clinical course of the disease 

is not as severe, and mortality rates are much lower: 25 

percent to 30 percent in horses and less than 10 percent 

in humans. Vaccination of Florida horses is also recommended.

WNV is commonly found in wild birds, humans, and 

other vertebrate animals in Africa, Eastern Europe, 

Western Asia, and the Middle East, but until 1999 had 

not been documented in the Western Hemisphere. During the late summer of 1999, WNV was identified in 

New York City for the first time. By the end of the year, 

cases in wild birds, humans, and horses had been documented in three northeastern states. The virus survived 

the winter, and during 2000 continued to spread to 12 

eastern coastal states. By 2001 the virus had spread to 18 

states, including Florida. Across the country more than 

730 equine cases were confirmed, with 156 fatalities. 

Florida alone reported 492 cases with 82 deaths. In 

2002 WNV expanded rapidly westward. Almost 1,500 

equine cases were reported in 40 states. Approximately 

one-third of the affected horses died. Florida reported 

499 cases with 92 horse deaths. In 2003 there were 117 

equine cases reported. This number has continued to 

decline in horses, and in fiscal year 2008-2009 there was 

only one confirmed case in a horse.

The Department continues to work closely with its other 

Arboviral Working Group partners to provide valuable surveillance data on equine cases. The EEE/WNV 

Equine Database has been an invaluable tool in tracking 

these diseases and reporting them to the working group 

in a timely manner. Early detection and reporting of 

arboviral cases help to warn citizens to take precautions 

against mosquito bites and to remind horse owners to 

ensure that their horses are appropriately vaccinated.

Swine

For fiscal year 2008-2009, 67,611 swine were inspected 

on 2,973 premises visits by field personnel, 9,693 were 

inspected at livestock markets, 12,087 were inspected at 

small animal sales, and 9,631 were inspected at fairs and 

shows.

Classical Swine Fever

Classical Swine Fever (CSF), also known as hog cholera, 

is a highly contagious viral septicemia affecting only 

swine. It has been eradicated from the United States 

since 1976. As the world’s second-largest exporter of 

pork, the U.S. pork industry would suffer catastrophic 

losses should there be a CSF outbreak. Florida must 

remain vigilant in its surveillance for the emergence of 

foreign animal diseases because of its location and high 

feral swine population, the existence of garbage feeders, 

and increases in international travel. During the past 
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fiscal year, in accordance with a state-federal cooperative 

agreement, a targeted surveillance program of slaughter 

plants and high-risk swine populations (garbage feeders, feral swine) was begun. In 2008-2009, 20 tonsil 

samples were submitted to the Kissimmee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for testing, and 2,005 serum 

(blood) samples were submitted to the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory for 

testing. 

Garbage Feeders

The cooperative State-Federal Swine Health Protection 

Act established standards for feeding waste to swine. 

The standards were designed to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth 

Disease and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) into U.S. herds. 

As the primary entity charged with fulfilling the requirements under this act, state inspectors have the responsibility of conducting monthly checks at facilities that collect edible waste food products that are cooked and fed 

to swine. During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department 

licensed 75 garbage feeder operators and carried out a 

total of 1,178 inspections. Through these inspections, 

52,802 garbage-fed swine were evaluated and, if needed, 

tested for disease.

Swine Brucellosis and Pseudorabies 

(Aujeszky’s Disease)

Brucellosis is a contagious, costly disease affecting ruminants, swine, and humans. Caused by a bacterium, 

it affects livestock by causing abortion, low fertility, and 

lameness. Under the Cooperative State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, Florida is classified a brucellosis-free state for its commercial production swine. Like 

brucellosis, pseudorabies is a deadly disease of pigs that 

can be spread to cattle, horses, sheep, goats, dogs, and 

cats. An infection with this viral disease leads to high 

mortality in newborn piglets, and older pigs can become 

carriers of the virus for life. A voluntary cooperative 

eradication program for pseudorabies was established in 

the United States in 1989 and involves industry and federal and state government. The program’s primary activities include surveillance, herd monitoring, and herd 

cleanup. Swine producers that wish to have Qualified/

Validated status or Modified-Monitored/Validated status 

for these two diseases must first pass a risk assessment 

test and complete a herd health plan. Florida is classified a pseudorabies-free state (also within the Commercial Production Swine herds). For fiscal year 2008-

2009, 556 animals were tested for pseudorabies and 

678 animals were tested for swine brucellosis. Twelve 

herds qualified as brucellosis-free and pseudorabies-free. 

Both of these diseases are highly prevalent in feral swine 

throughout Florida and continue to threaten backyard 

swine maintained in all areas of the state.

Reportable Animal Disease Tracking

Reportable diseases are those considered dangerous and 

transmissible. They can seriously impact animal, and 

sometimes public, health. Early disease detection is 

instrumental for effective control and eradication. Having a list of reportable diseases gives the state a roadmap 

to follow in carrying out its mission of protecting its 

populace from animal pests and diseases, which could 

have major economic and public health consequences. 

From that list the Department has developed a database 

on which information concerning reportable animal 

disease investigations can be entered and evaluated. For 

fiscal year 2008-2009, 269 reports of suspected or positive dangerous, transmissible diseases were received and 

acted upon by the State Veterinarian’s Office.

Cervidae

Florida’s captive cervidae industry continues to grow. 

While this industry is licensed primarily by the Florida 

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the 

Department is a partner working with disease control 

issues and importation policies. A newly formed Florida 

Deer Farmers Association, with 300 active members, is 

working with the Department and game biologists to 

improve the herd health and genetics of Florida’s captive 

cervidae herds. The Department’s captive Cervidae Herd 

Health Plan requires mandatory testing of all animals 

that die or are killed if they are older than 16 months 

of age. Passive surveillance of symptomatic wild deer 

is also under way. To ensure these requirements are 

enforced, state personnel work with owners of captive 

cervidae herds on disease management programs. They 

conducted over 408 premises inspections during the 

past fiscal year. No animals tested positive for tuberculosis, brucellosis, or CWD. The Department continues to 

monitor the status of certain diseases affecting cervidae 

in other regions of the United States.
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Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a Transmissible 

Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk. To 

date, this disease has been found only in cervids (members of the deer family) in North America. First recognized as a clinical “wasting” syndrome in 1967 in mule 

deer in a wildlife research facility in northern Colorado, 

it was identified as a TSE in 1978. CWD is a progressive 

disease that attacks the brains of infected animals, causing the animals to become emaciated, display abnormal 

behavior, lose bodily functions, and subsequently die. 

CWD has become of particular concern due to its lack of 

known prevention and treatment, lack of a live animal 

diagnostic test, and unknown origin and means of transmission. There is no known relationship between CWD 

and any other TSE of animals or people, and there is no 

evidence that CWD poses any risk to human health.

Current growth and resultant rapid widespread movement in the cervidae farming industry increase the 

potential for the spread of CWD and other diseases of 

cervidae. Due to the potential threat CWD poses to 

Florida’s captive and free-ranging cervidae populations, 

Chapter 5C-26, Florida Administrative Code, requires 

that cervidae being imported into Florida originate from 

a herd that participates in an official CWD surveillance/

prevention program, be free of CWD for at least 60 

months prior to importation, and originate from accredited tuberculosis-free and brucellosis-free herds. It 

also requires that all captive cervidae being transported 

within the state must originate from, and be moved 

to, premises currently licensed by FWC and currently 

enrolled in the Division of Animal Industry’s Cervidae 

Herd Health Plan (CHHP) program. Since Rule 5C-26 

became effective, the number of approved CHHP program herds has increased from 93 herds in 2002 to 317 

as of June 30, 2009. Additionally, all cervidae being 

transported into or within Florida are required to be accompanied by a Certificate of Animal Movement, issued 

by the division within 30 days prior to movement. A 

total of 47 import permits and 181 intrastate movement 

permits were issued during fiscal year 2008-2009.

A federal CWD Herd Status Rule that will place specific 

requirements on cervidae being moved from state to 

state is still under consideration before becoming effective. The Division of Animal Industry is continuing to 

work with Florida’s captive cervidae herd owners to help 

them achieve CWD Free Herd Status.

CWD has been diagnosed in both captive and free-ranging elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed 

deer located in Canada, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, 

Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, 

Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The Department continues to work 

with the cervidae industry, USDA, and other state and 

federal agencies to prevent the introduction of CWD and 

conduct surveillance in farmed and wild cervidae populations in Florida. During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, 582 

samples from free-ranging deer and three from captive 

cervidae herds in Florida were submitted for testing and 

all results were negative. No suspected clinical cases of 

CWD have been reported.

Companion Animal and Small 

Animal Programs

In 2003 the Division of Animal Industry designated a 

separate program area to monitor companion animal 

health issues within the state and ensure compliance 

with existing rules and legislation affecting companion animals. Efforts have continued and expanded as 

compliance with interstate and intrastate small animal 
22 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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movement requirements, health certification by accredited veterinarians in Florida, consumer protection and 

assistance, and rule development/legislative support 

areas are monitored.

A tracking system was implemented to address consumer complaints involving health certification and the 

sale of small animals (dogs and cats), covered by Section 

828.29, F.S., the Pet Law, and Section 585.145, F.S., relating to the control of animal diseases as well as Departmental rules. A total of 307 written complaints were 

processed in fiscal year 2008-2009. These complaints 

involved cases concerning both dogs and cats and were 

brought against pet stores, breeders, brokers, veterinary 

clinics, private sellers, and boarding kennels.

Mediation of these consumer complaints resulted in 

refunds of purchases in the amount of $24,633. Approximately 10 percent of the cases/complaints were 

referred to the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement 

and/or other agencies for further investigation. Educational letters were sent to sellers and their veterinarians 

in Florida in an effort to inform them of the requirements of Florida statutes governing the sale and health 

certification requirements of dogs and cats sold in or 

transported to Florida.

During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, division inspectors 

visited 250 pet stores to review Official Certificates 

of Veterinary Inspection and inform sellers about the 

requirements of the Pet Law for sales of dogs or cats in 

Florida. 

Emergency Management

In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Chapter 

252, F.S. (State Emergency Management Act), was enacted, mandating the development of the Florida Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The plan establishes a framework through which Florida prepares for, 

responds to, recovers from, and mitigates the impacts of 

a wide variety of disasters that could adversely affect the 

health, safety and/or general welfare of the residents of 

the state. The plan provides guidance to state and local 

officials on procedures, organization, and responsibilities. It also provides for an integrated and coordinated 

local, state, and federal response.

To facilitate effective operations, the plan adopts a functional approach that groups the types of assistance to be 

provided into 18 Emergency Support Functions (ESF). 

Each ESF is headed by a lead or primary agency or organization, which has been selected based on its authorities, resources, and capabilities in that functional area.

ESF-17, Animals and Agriculture, is organized to ensure 

a rapid, coordinated response to animal and agricultural emergencies that may result from natural disasters, 

dangerous transmissible diseases, or a bioterrorist event. 

The Department is the primary agency for ESF-17. The 

Division of Animal Industry assigns personnel to staff 

ESF-17 at the State Emergency Operation Center as well 

as in the field and provides daily direction. This direction includes the assignment of personnel to handle 

requests for assistance and ensures that requests for assistance are prioritized, met, and documented.

ESF-17 establishes coordination with other Emergency 

Support Functions and multiple county, state, and federal agencies and volunteer organizations. It maintains 

open communications with these agencies and organizations in both the planning and operations stages.

In order to effectively coordinate the efforts of multiple organizations, a State Agricultural Response Team 

(SART) was formed in 2003. SART is a multiagency coordination group consisting of governmental and private 

entities dedicated to all-hazard disaster preparedness, 

planning, response, and recovery for the animal sectors 

in Florida.

SART’s mission is to empower Floridians through training and resource coordination to enhance all-hazard disaster planning and response for animal and agricultural 

issues. SART operates under the direction of an advisory 

board made up of representatives from supporting agencies and organizations.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 23

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Participating agencies supply personnel who comprise 

the SART Advisory Board. This board currently has over 

30 members. It meets quarterly to provide guidance for 

animal and agricultural emergency management activities. Division of Animal Industry personnel provides 

support and coordination for these meetings and for the 

SART Advisory Board.

SART held its second biennial statewide conference on 

March 25-27, 2009, in Cocoa Beach. The conference 

was well attended with nearly every county sending at 

least one representative.

ESF-17/SART assisted Floridians during the floods 

caused by Tropical Storm Fay as well as the during spring 

flooding across North Florida. On September 14, 2008, 

Texas asked ESF-17/SART to help following Hurricane 

Ike. On September 16, 2008, the division deployed a 

six-member team with a variety of response equipment. 

The team returned to Florida on September 22.

SART’s Veterinary Emergency Treatment Services (VETS) 

program led by the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine continues to grow and provides veterinary medical care for animals impacted by a disaster. It 

is similar in concept to the U.S. Army’s old-style MASH 

units. Immediately following a disaster such as a hurricane, a VETS team in cooperation with private, state, and 

federal agencies under ESF-17 direction would perform 

veterinary needs assessments in an impacted area. The 

team would assist veterinary hospitals and clinics, coordinate aid for private practitioners, and provide basic to 

moderate levels of animal care.

SART continues to purchase and stage emergency response trailers, supplies, and equipment; provide coordination and guidance on the preparation of multiple 

training modules and materials; and administer the 

SART web site and the numerous community outreach 

activities related to emergency management education. 

During fiscal year 2008-2009, SART added seven Mobile 

Animal Response Equipment (MARE) units to its response capability list. A MARE unit is a 16-foot, opensided livestock trailer that is stocked with small-animal 

response necessities. A unit was purchased for each of 

Florida’s seven regions through a Homeland Security 

grant for developing regional resources. Memorandums 

of Understanding (MOU) have been completed with the 

host counties in each region: Region 1, Walton County; 

Region 2, Madison County; Region 3, Bradford County; 

Region 4, Sumter County; Region 5, Osceola County; 

Region 6, Glades County; and Region 7, Broward County. FDACS will maintain ownership of the units and 

will utilize them for emergencies in other regions. The 

county is responsible for storing the equipment in an 

area providing protection from weather elements, performing light maintenance, and sharing the unit with 

other counties in the region as needed.

Division staff met with Emergency Management personnel in 65 of the 67 counties in Florida to provide them 

with copies of the newly printed Pet Friendly Evacuation 

and Sheltering Manual. At these meetings division staff 

provided information on developing county animal response plans and county SART teams. This manual can 

be found online at www.flsart.org. Division personnel 

provided presentations at many conferences throughout 

Florida and in other states. These included the National 

Hurricane Conference, the South Florida Catastrophic 

Planning Project, the Governor’s Hurricane Conference, 

the National SART Conference, and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association Conference.

Division personnel also attended and participated in 

multiple State Emergency Operations Center exercises, 

including a statewide hurricane exercise, radiological in-
24 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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cident exercise, and a statewide Rift Valley fever training 

exercise. Rift Valley fever is a very serious foreign animal 

disease that is a threat to animal and public health in 

Florida.

The Rift Valley fever statewide training exercise was 

sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and 

Consumer Services, the University of Florida’s College of 

Veterinary Medicine, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Over 100 participants attended, 

representing 14 state, federal, and international agencies. 

The purpose of the training exercise was to provide the 

participants with the opportunity to plan, initiate, and 

evaluate current response concepts and capabilities in a 

simulated introduction of Rift Valley fever into Florida. 

Following the statewide training exercise, the Division 

of Animal Industry’s Kissimmee Diagnostic Laboratory 

held an associated tactical exercise to a Rift Valley fever 

incident in Florida.

The Florida Veterinary Corps is a growing program comprised of volunteer veterinarians, animal health technicians and volunteers who will support relief efforts in 

an emergency or disaster involving animals and animal 

health in Florida. The goals of the corps are to assess 

veterinary response capabilities in the impacted areas, 

provide emergency animal treatment in the aftermath of 

a natural disaster, and support disease surveillance and 

control efforts in combating devastating diseases affecting Florida’s animal industry. Currently, there are 80 

veterinarians, animal health technicians,, and volunteers 

enrolled.

Diagnostic Laboratories

Due to Florida’s unique geographic location, its close 

proximity to countries that have endemic diseases that 

are considered exotic or have been eradicated from the 

United States, the increased number of nonnative animal species introduced into the state, and the presence 

of international ports in Florida, the state occupies a 

critical position in the nation’s agricultural industry. Imported animals pose a constant threat for the introduction of classic or foreign animal diseases. The ongoing 

threat of terrorism also raises concerns about the state’s 

vulnerability to deliberately introduced biohazards. To 

meet these challenges, the Department’s Bureau of Diagnostic Laboratories (BDL) is staffed with veterinarians, 

biologists and technicians who are highly trained in a 

range of diagnostic disciplines, including bacteriology, 

virology, molecular biology, toxicology, parasitology, 

and pathology. The BDL performs numerous diagnostic 

tests across these disciplines and periodically conducts 

foreign animal disease exercises to ensure the staff’s 

readiness to respond.

Many diseases are considered harmful to Florida’s animal industry or to the general public. These diseases 

are listed as reportable to the Department. In addition 

to the monitoring and surveillance of animal diseases, 

the laboratories also conduct thousands of diagnostic 

tests each year to detect diseases of public health significance, such as West Nile Virus (WNV), Lyme disease, 

Rocky Mountain spotted fever, psittacosis (chlamydia), 

toxoplasmosis, giardiaisis, brucellosis, salmonellosis, 

anthrax, leptospirosis, rabies, and many others. Rabies 

suspect animals that have been implicated in human 

exposure incidents are submitted to the laboratory for 

collection of samples. These samples are then forwarded 

to human diagnostic laboratories at the Department 

of Health for rabies virus testing. The BDL staff works 

closely with the Bureau of Animal Disease Control staff 

in the monitoring and implementation of disease surveillance programs.

In November 2008, senior BDL staff attended a threeday statewide emergency preparedness exercise for a 

simulated foreign animal disease outbreak investigation 

conducted in the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. This was followed by a real-time, simulated and 

unannounced foreign animal disease outbreak scenario 

conducted by the Emergency Response Coordinator of 

the Division of Animal Industry to test the Kissimmee 

Laboratory’s emergency response plans. The laboratory’s 

response was deemed successful by independent evaluators.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the laboratory accomplished 

the goals of creating and developing its emergency response teams, bio-safety teams, and emergency response 

and bio-safety plans. These plans have been written in 

conjunction with the bureau’s quality manual and are 

integrated into the bureau’s quality management system. 
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Comprised of the diagnostic laboratories at Kissimmee 

and Live Oak, the BDL’s main laboratory in Kissimmee 

is an all-species, full-service laboratory certified by the 

American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) to conduct diagnostic testing. The 

AAVLD sets the requirements for quality system standards among veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the 

United States. The AAVLD certification is recognized 

worldwide.

In addition to full instrumentation upgrades and facility 

renovations to meet the new equipment demands in recent years, the BDL had received funding to initiate and 

complete construction of the first and second phases of 

the new campus master plan. The first phase was the 

completion of a new shipping and receiving building in 

October 2008, and the second phase was the completion of the new necropsy and incineration facility in July 

2009. The third and final phase of the master plan is 

the construction of a main laboratory unit, which will 

complete the campus replacement. The final phase is 

expected to cost approximately $33 million.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the BDL tested over 

338,000 submitted samples.

Kissimmee Animal Disease 

Diagnostic Laboratory

The Kissimmee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 

(KADDL), one of two laboratories in Florida’s Diagnostic Laboratory System, is a full-service, all-species 

laboratory receiving domestic and exotic animal species 

with the exception of primates. A wide variety of tests, 

ranging from full necropsy/anatomical pathology service 

to clinical pathology, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, are offered. Additional tests include microbiology (bacteriology/virology/serology), toxicology, 

and molecular diagnostics. During fiscal year 2008-

2009, 72,192 samples were tested at the Kissimmee 

Laboratory.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, KADDL responded to and 

processed and tested samples associated with three major disease incidents in equines (i.e., contagious equine 

metritis, equine Piroplasmosis, and selenium toxicosis). 

The laboratory staff has been trained and proficiencytested to perform sample preparations and test procedures to detect and diagnose these diseases accurately in 

a timely manner.

The Kissimmee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 

has a Level 3 Biosafety Laboratory (BSL-3) at its facility. 

This BSL-3 enables the bureau to provide rapid diagnostic procedures for diseases that are considered foreign in 

the United States, introduced either naturally or intentionally (bioterrorism), which could result in potentially 

devastating disease outbreaks.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the Kissimmee Laboratory as one of the pilot 

laboratories of the National Animal Health Laboratory 

Network (NAHLN). The NAHLN was created to provide increased homeland and domestic security both in 

Florida and the nation. This initial program identified 

12 laboratories across the United States to augment the 

USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, 

Iowa, and the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic 

Laboratory at Plum Island, New York. The KADDL has 

maintained its core membership category with NAHLN 

and has continued receiving substantial cooperative 

grant funding from USDA. Recently, the KADDL has 

realized its commitment to send HL7-interfaced result 

messages to NAHLN via the NAHLN-O-Matic reporting 

system.

The initial target diseases are Exotic Newcastle Disease 

(END), highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), African Swine Fever (ASF), Footand-Mouth Disease (FMD), Rinderpest, Contagious 

Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Lumpy Skin Disease 

(LSD), Vesicular Stomatitis (VS), Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Scrapie. These are monitored using 

immunohistochemistry techniques. Laboratory staff has 

received training on methods using new procedures in 

molecular diagnostics, including real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-RT-PCR). The 

laboratory is certified by the USDA to perform rt-RT-PCR 

for AI, END, CSF, FMD, and, recently, for novel H1N1 

Influenza. The laboratory is continuing its surveillance 

for END, AI, and CSF as part of the NAHLN effort to 

detect foreign animal disease before outbreaks may pose 

serious problems to agriculture. The surveillance program is a concerted effort between the Bureau of Animal 

Disease Control field staff, the BDL, and the USDA. 
26 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Laboratory staff members have been actively performing surveillance testing in high-risk bird populations 

that consist mainly of backyard flocks, exhibition birds, 

and other non-industry-related bird-rearing activities. 

Additional samples have been received at both the Kissimmee and Live Oak laboratories for AI testing due to 

increased surveillance by the National Poultry Improvement Program and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The laboratories also 

continue to test for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, a 

mosquito-borne disease that has continued to be prevalent in Florida. Several tests such as antigen capture 

ELISA, traditional RT-PCR, rt-RT-PCR, and viral isolation 

are performed to diagnose infections with WNV. The 

Kissimmee Diagnostic Laboratory in conjunction with 

the Florida Department of Health monitors for WNV as 

well as other mosquito-borne arboviral diseases. Evaluating the spread of arboviral diseases in animals affords 

public health officials a barometer of impact to humans. 

New tests have allowed the laboratory to confirm the 

diagnosis of these diseases.

Live Oak Animal Disease Diagnostic 

Laboratory

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Live Oak Animal 

Disease Diagnostic Laboratory worked to gain infrastructure, training and testing improvements aimed to 

better serve Florida’s animal industries. These proposed 

enhancements are intended to position the laboratory to 

meet changing needs and allow flexible response for future demands. The Live Oak Laboratory performs mainly Florida program testing for USDA-regulated program 

diseases, for example, brucellosis, Equine Infectious 

Anemia, pseudorabies, Avian Influenza, Avian Mycoplasmas, Pullorum Typhoid, and Johne’s disease. During 

this fiscal year, the Live Oak Laboratory tested 265,839 

samples. Results for these tests were reported to officials 

responsible for emergency eradication efforts or ongoing 

animal disease control programs. These programs were 

primarily for cattle, horses, poultry, and swine.

Poultry disease surveillance for the area broiler industry 

is a major component of sample submission and testing 

regularly conducted at the Live Oak Laboratory. These 

surveillance tests monitor birds for Salmonella, AI, and 

other disease entities critical to poultry production and 

economics. Ongoing regular submissions of diseased 

backyard poultry via Bureau of Animal Disease Control 

field operations yields surveillance samples that could 

provide early detection of diseases that could be very 

detrimental to Florida’s poultry industries. 

The laboratory staff worked closely with the Bureau of 

Animal Disease Control field staff and District veterinarians on numerous individual cases as well as several 

ongoing disease programs to assist in the early detection 

of monitored diseases and to provide surveillance for 

the emergence of new animal disease threats. 

Feed, Seed and Fertilizer

Feed Program

Animal feeds are regulated using a network of six Department-certified laboratories located throughout the 

United States. Registrants, including ingredient suppliers, livestock feed and pet food manufacturers, and 

other distributors of commercial feed products, are 

required to submit samples of their products for testing 

based on the feed type and tonnage distributed in the 

state. Results from the certified laboratories are reported 

to the State Feed Laboratory, where compliance with 

Chapter 580, F.S., is determined and regulatory actions 

are initiated as appropriate. In fiscal year 2008-2009, 

866 companies were registered with the Department as 

distributors of commercial feed in Florida. A total of 

1,724 samples were submitted and analyzed, with 73 

violations in one or more categories. This represents 

an overall violation rate of 4.23 percent. Inspection, 

sampling, and laboratory evaluation oversight was 

conducted to verify compliance with the feed program. 

Eight consumer complaints were investigated, and 60 

administrative fines totaling $26,252 were collected for 

feed rule violations. 

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), widely referred to as “mad cow disease,” continues to be the most 

critical feed-related issue. BSE is a progressive and fatal 

neurological disorder of cattle that is caused by infectious protein agents called prions. The disease was first 

identified in 1986 in the United Kingdom, but it was 

not detected in the United States until December 2003, 

when BSE was diagnosed in a single dairy cow in Washington State (the cow had been imported from Canada). 

Subsequently, two additional cows, one in Texas and an-
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 27

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other in Alabama, were confirmed to have BSE in 2005 

and 2006. In each case, swift government intervention 

prevented the infected cattle from entering the animal 

feed or human food markets. 

Variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, a chronic and fatal 

neurodegenerative disease that affects humans, is assumed to be linked to the consumption of beef products 

contaminated with the BSE agent. The U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture have implemented measures to protect 

the public from health risks associated with BSE and to 

prevent the spread of the disease in U.S. cattle. The Department continues to pursue funding from additional 

sources to enhance existing surveillance and laboratory 

analysis programs related to BSE prevention. 

To ensure that this disease does not develop in Florida, 

the Bureau of Compliance Monitoring extended its contract with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

to conduct inspections of feed manufacturers, distributors, transporters, salvagers, and ruminant feeders. The 

inspections are intended to prevent the establishment 

and amplification of BSE by ensuring that no prohibited 

mammalian protein products are used in feed for ruminant animals such as cows and sheep. A total of 330 

BSE inspections were completed under the 2008 contract and cooperative agreements, and 330 inspections 

are contracted for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. In June 

2009 the Feed Section secured additional funds to enhance its feed analysis and inspection program in which 

animal feeds are tested for materials prohibited by FDA’s 

ruminant feed ban using polymerase chain reaction 

(PCR). This new technology uses a DNA amplification 

technique to isolate and amplify any bovine proteins 

present and potentially prohibited from use in sampled 

feed products. In fiscal year 2008-2009, 336 animal 

feeds were tested for the presence of bovine proteins using PCR with additional funding from FDA. 

Seed Program

The seed program is administered to ensure that Florida 

consumers have a source of high-quality seed for planting that meets or exceeds state and federal standards. 

Samples of agricultural, vegetable, and flower seed are 

collected and analyzed for purity, noxious weed contamination, germination, and compliance with Chapter 578, 

F.S. Commercial seed samples are tested on a fee basis 

to determine seed quality for accurate labeling or planting information. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 1,841 

Seed Dealer Licenses were issued and 2,920 official seed 

samples were collected. Laboratory personnel analyzed 

3,148 official, special, and commercial seed samples, 

requiring 62,087 determinations. Based on analyses, it 

was determined that 17.8 percent of the official samples 

were mislabeled and 3.8 percent were illegal.

The division continues to play a vital role in controlling the spread of the invasive noxious weed tropical 

soda apple. During this fiscal year, the seed laboratory 

identified 19 seed lots contaminated with this invasive 

noxious weed seed, resulting in the initial stop-sale 

of 129,700 pounds of contaminated agricultural seed 

destined for planting in Florida and the Southeast. 

Re-cleaning and subsequent analysis of contaminated 

seed lots allowed for relabeling and the potential sale 

of 27,100 pounds of previously stop-saled seed. The 

Department continues to inform stakeholders about the 

severity of tropical soda apple infestations and educate 

them on control and management practices. An additional 34,950 pounds of agricultural seed were removed 

from sale due to laboratory analysis confirming the 

excessive presence of other noxious weed seed, including 

field bindweed, Texas millet, and wild radish. 

Laboratory analysis also resulted in the stop-sale of 

138,300 pounds of agricultural and vegetable seed due 

to germination below the minimum standard allowed 

under 5E-4.006, Florida Administrative Code. An additional 112,600 pounds of oat seed were determined to 

be in violation of Chapter 578.24, F.S., “Mixed varieties 

of seed oats prohibited,” and subsequently placed under 

stop-sale. Another 48,150 pounds of field seed were 

placed under stop-sale after laboratory analysis determined contamination with weed seed in excess of 2 percent by weight, a violation of Section 5E-4.004, Florida 

Administrative Code.

The increased usage of genetically enhanced seed in 

Florida agriculture – predominantly corn, cotton and 

soybean seed – is confirmed through the division’s seed 

sampling and regulatory program. Additional analyses 

were performed on 67 samples of genetically enhanced 

seed to verify the presence of an herbicide tolerance 

trait. 
28 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Chapter 578.26, F.S., authorizes the Seed Investigation 

and Conciliation Council to assist farmers and seed 

dealers in determining the validity of complaints made 

by farmers against seed dealers and to recommend cost 

damages in those cases involving failure of the seed to 

produce as represented by the label on the seed package. In fiscal year 2008-2009, the council received five 

new complaints, of which none are currently pending. 

During the fiscal year, the council issued findings and 

recommendations on 11 seed complaints that were completed through the investigation and hearing process. 

The Seed Laboratory is a member of the Association of 

Official Seed Analysts, and five laboratory personnel are 

individually certified by the association as Certified Seed 

Analysts. These personnel participated in two referee 

sample projects conducted by the association during this 

fiscal year for the purpose of possible rule modifications. 

Four laboratory personnel, recognized as Registered Seed 

Technologists, are also members of the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists and have successfully completed eight proficiency samples during the fiscal year 

in order to maintain their Registered Seed Technologists 

standing.

The Department also cooperates with the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in enforcement of the Federal 

Seed Act. During this fiscal year 24 official seed samples, 

representing tomato, pepper, sweet corn, and ladino 

clover seed shipped via interstate commerce into Florida, were submitted for inclusion in Trueness-to-Variety 

trials. Results of these field trials may conclude with 

enforcement action by the Seed Regulatory and Testing 

Branch of the Agricultural Marketing Service. 

Fertilizer Program

The Fertilizer Program stands out as one of the most 

progressive programs in the country. Official samples 

of commercial fertilizer and agricultural liming materials are collected statewide by field staff and analyzed to 

ensure they meet the standards established in Chapter 

576, F.S., and Chapter 5E-1 Florida Administrative Code. 

The Department’s Fertilizer Laboratory continually 

searches for, or develops, new methodologies to meet 

the evolving needs of the Florida consumer in the areas 

of nutrient availability in controlled-release fertilizers 

and micro-nutrient solubility. 

The Bureau of Compliance Monitoring registers “specialty fertilizer” which is packaged in containers of 49 

pounds or less and distributed for home and garden 

use. There are 1,780 specialty fertilizer products actively 

registered with the Department of which approximately 

500 of these brand and grades are labeled for residential 

lawns. 

As of July 1, 2009, fertilizer products shipped to the 

retail level must meet the guidelines set forth in Rule 5E1.003(2), regarding Fertilizer Label Requirements for Urban Turf, Sports Turf, or Lawns. The rule outlines labeling requirements that are intended to protect Florida’s 

water resources from non-point source pollution from 

turf fertilizers by limiting the application of nitrogen 

and available phosphate. 

The fertilizer laboratory analyzes official samples of 

commercial fertilizer and agricultural liming materials to 

ensure that they meet the standards set forth in Chapter 

576, F.S. There were 3,793 fertilizer samples analyzed 

during fiscal year 2008/2009, of which 833 were found 

to be deficient in one or more plant nutrients. The 

laboratory performed 146,821 determinations on these 

samples. The overall deficiency rate was 22 percent. Because of excessive deficiencies, licensees were placed on 

probation, and penalties and fines totaling $377,990.54 

were levied, with $301,460.64 of that total returned to 

consumers. There were 532 licenses issued for the sale 

of fertilizer in Florida. Nearly 1.5 million tons of mixed 

fertilizer and fertilizer materials were reported sold in 

the state. The fertilizer laboratory performed 11,430 

analyses for non-guaranteed trace metals in 163 fertilizer products, of which none exceeded the established 

tolerances. The fertilizer laboratory also analyzes commercial samples on a fee basis to determine compliance 

with label guarantees.

The fertilizer laboratory provides analytical support in 

the development of nutrient best management practices. 

The laboratory maintains accreditation from the National Environmental Laboratories Accreditation Conference 

(TNI) for its non-potable water analyses. TNI is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented 

quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent 

process that is responsive to the needs of the community. The NELAC standard is recognized nationally and 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 29

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

internationally as the standard for assessing the quality 

and competence of environmental analytical testing. 

Office of Agricultural 

Water Policy

Best Management Practices 

The Department, through the Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP), has adopted Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water conservation and water quality 

for various agricultural land uses throughout the state. 

Agricultural BMPs are practices or combinations of practices based on research, field testing, and expert review, 

determined to be the most effective and practicable onlocation means, including economic and technological 

considerations, for improving water quality in agricultural discharges. The development and implementation 

of agricultural BMPs are directed by statute and are the 

primary means for the agricultural community to comply with state water quality standards.

In developing BMPs, the OAWP works with the agricultural industry, Florida Department of Environmental 

Protection (DEP), the University of Florida’s Institute of 

Food and Agricultural Sciences, the state’s Water Management Districts, environmental community stakeholders, and others. During fiscal year 2008-2009, OAWP 

adopted statewide BMP manuals for sod and cow/calf 

operations. OAWP also worked on a manual for equine 

operations and a manual for specialty fruit and nut 

farms, both of which are targeted for adoption during 

fiscal year 2009-2010. 

OAWP staff and OAWP-funded implementation teams 

work throughout the state to assist producers in selecting 

and implementing the BMPs applicable to their operations. In fiscal year 2008-2009, 384 producers enrolled 

approximately 117,734 acres in OAWP BMP programs. 

Prior to the fiscal year, approximately 3,213 agricultural 

producers representing almost 2 million acres of agricultural land had enrolled in OAWP BMP programs. Some 

of these operations have gone out of production due to 

conversion to urban development and other reasons. 

During the fiscal year OAWP staff initiated an ongoing process of updating enrollment information in the 

database.

State and Federal Cost-Share Programs

In order to assist agricultural producers in implementing BMPs, the OAWP has developed working partnerships with various state and federal agencies. Through 

these partnerships, cost-share reimbursement is available for growers to implement BMPs that are otherwise 

cost-prohibitive. Currently, the OAWP has active agreements with USDA-NRCS, St. Johns River Water Management District, Suwannee River Water Management 

District, Southwest Florida Water Management District, 

South Florida Water Management District, and several 

of the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts and 

Resource Conservation and Development Councils in 

order to administer these cost-share programs. During 

this fiscal year, staff was able to deliver only a minimum 

amount of cost-share programs due to budget shortfalls. 

BMP Implementation Follow-Up 

In July 2008 OAWP published an Implementation Assurance report to summarize the overall level of BMP 

implementation in certain regions of the state during 

fiscal year 2007-2008. The report, which is based on 

surveys and site visits, provides information on producer 

implementation of BMPs identified on Notices of Intent (NOIs) submitted to the Department under various BMP rules. The report focused on implementation 

of BMPs in the Indian River and Ridge Citrus regions, 

the Suwannee River Basin, and the Lake Okeechobee 

Watershed. Other commodities and areas of the state 

will be covered on a staggered schedule. The 2008-2009 

Implementation Assurance Report is near completion 

and focuses on the Gulf Citrus region, the Peace RiverManasota basins, the Suwannee River Basin, and the 

Lake Okeechobee Watershed. 

Field Staff and Technical Services 

The OAWP has field staff co-located with the five Water 

Management District offices throughout the state. They 
30 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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help growers with BMP implementation by providing 

assistance with state and federal programs, conservation planning, BMP enrollment, and cost-share application information. Field staff participate in DEP’s 

total maximum daily load (TMDL) program during the 

establishment of TMDLs and the development of Basin 

Management Action Plans (BMAPs) to implement TMDLs. OAWP’s role in the BMAP process is to ensure that 

agriculture is adequately represented and that agricultural impacts to water quality are appropriately addressed. 

During the fiscal year, staff participated in TMDL/

BMAP processes in at least a dozen priority watersheds 

throughout the state.

Regional Partnerships 

The Suwannee River Partnership: The Suwannee River 

Partnership (SRP) was formed in 1999 as a coalition of 

state, federal, and regional agencies, local governments, 

and private industry representatives working together to 

reduce nitrate levels in surface waters and ground water 

and to conserve water resources within the Suwannee 

River Water Management District. The SRP continues to 

assist dairy, poultry, and row crop farmers with BMP and 

conservation plan implementation. During the fiscal 

year SRP staff supported the continuation of springshed 

protection programs, worked on improving site inspection processes to evaluate BMP implementation, and 

assisted in the implementation of BMP demonstration 

programs, among other things.

The Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program: The Lake Okeechobee Protection Program was 

established by the 2000 Legislature to restore and protect the lake. Staff worked with DEP and SFWMD to 

implement the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan that 

was submitted to the Legislature in 2004. The recommendations included in the plan are designed to reduce 

phosphorus loads from agricultural operations and 

implement long-term solutions based on the lake’s 

phosphorus total maximum daily load. In 2007 the 

Legislature expanded the scope of the program to include the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River watersheds, 

renaming it the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program. The OAWP continues to work closely 

with DEP, SFWMD, and other stakeholders in this area 

to implement the recommendations of River Watershed 

Protection Plans pursuant to legislative resource protection goals and directives. OAWP staff also represented 

the Department on basin working groups for the development of basin management action plans for the St. 

Lucie and Caloosahatchee River watersheds.

Soil and Water Conservation Council 

The Soil and Water Conservation Council is a soil and 

water issues advisory body to the Commissioner of 

Agriculture. The council includes agricultural producers, representatives from the five Water Management 

Districts, DEP, USDA-NRCS, the Florida Legislature, the 

University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural 

Sciences, and the environmental community. The council’s primary purpose is to make water policy recommendations to the Commissioner of Agriculture regarding 

the Department’s key water resources programs. 

Mobile Irrigation Laboratories 

Mobile irrigation laboratories (MILs) provide on-site 

water conservation assistance to the agricultural industry and the general public, under the coordination 

and administration of OAWP staff, the Water Management Districts, and/or the USDA-NRCS. This assistance 

typically includes site-specific irrigation system testing, 

diagnostics, irrigation scheduling, and/or recommendations for system upgrades or retrofits, consistent with 

the Department’s BMP implementation and federal 

conservation planning programs. During this fiscal year, 

the Department received continued funding from the 

Florida Legislature to support the statewide MIL water 

conservation effort.

For more than a decade, MILs have been operating 

throughout Florida. Presently, there are 16 MILs pro-
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 31

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viding service in 51 counties. Of the 16 MILs, 10 are 

agricultural and six are urban. Recognizing the invaluable service that MILs provide to the state’s agricultural 

industry, the OAWP continues to help fund MILs (via 

partnerships with state and federal agencies), improve 

MIL services and programs, and document related activities and water savings. Because of budget constraints 

during fiscal year 2008-2009, the OAWP discontinued 

funding support for the urban MILs it had provided that 

service to in previous fiscal years. 

If fully implemented, the evaluation recommendations 

given during fiscal year 2008-2009 by the 10 agricultural 

MILs would save a minimum of 3.13 billion gallons of 

water a year. The cost to conserve water through MIL 

services is very competitive when compared to the costs 

to develop new sources of water. 

Florida’s Agricultural Water Policy 

Progress continued on updating Commissioner Bronson’s “Florida’s Agricultural Water Policy” document, 

which was originally released in July 2003, to reflect new 

issues, statutes, and policies. The document resides on 

OAWP’s web site, www.FloridaAgWaterPolicy.com, and 

outlines statewide agricultural issues associated with the 

supply, use, conservation, and allocation of the state’s 

limited freshwater resources. The process for updating 

the document requires close coordination and consultation with multiple affected interests. Completion of the 

update is targeted for December 2010.

Ombudsman Assistance

Pursuant to statute, the OAWP has a Memorandum of 

Agreement with the five Water Management Districts 

(WMDs) regarding surface water permitting of agricultural operations. If requested by a WMD, staff produces 

a written opinion, based on legal and technical findings, 

to help the WMD determine whether an agricultural activity meets statutory requirements for exemption from 

permitting. During this fiscal year, OAWP staff assisted 

in two cases to determine whether the activities in question were exempt pursuant to Section 373.406(2), F.S. 

Staff also facilitates discussion between producers and 

agencies regarding other regulatory matters, such as consumptive use permitting and actions to address ground 

water impacts.

Agricultural Law 

Enforcement

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement consists of 

the Bureau of Uniform Services, the Bureau of Investigative Services, and the Bureau of Administrative Services, 

and is dedicated to the protection of Florida’s agriculture and food supply. The office supports all regulatory 

and law enforcement programs of the Department and 

engages in cooperative partnerships with many federal, 

state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout 

the state. It works to safeguard the agricultural industry 

from the introduction of devastating diseases and pests, 

to secure the state’s borders, and to enforce criminal and 

civil violations occurring within state forests, criminal 

acts against consumers, and those crimes involving agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture.

The Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act authorizes the 

Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement to seize and 

forfeit real and personal property, including currency, 

vehicles, aircraft, and other articles that are used in violation of the act. In addition, the office conducts joint law 

enforcement ventures with federal agencies that result in 

the seizure of cash and property. 

An accreditation program has long been recognized as 

a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Accreditation is the certification by an 

independent reviewing authority that an entity has met 

specific requirements and prescribed standards. The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement is currently accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement 

Accreditation, Inc. 
32 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Bureau of Uniform Services

Interdiction Stations

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement’s interdiction stations are Florida’s first line of defense in the 

protection of its agriculture. The Department operates 

22 agricultural inspection stations located on all paved 

highways crossing the natural boundary of the Suwannee and St. Mary’s rivers. In addition, the Department 

operates a 23rd inspection station, which is located 

on Interstate 10 at the Florida/Alabama line. Agricultural vehicle inspections are conducted at each location 

around the clock, 365 days a year, by 215 law enforcement personnel and a support staff of five individuals.

These officers support and supplement all of the Department’s regulatory and law enforcement programs 

by conducting inspections of highway shipments of 

agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural, and livestock 

commodities. These regulations and programs ensure 

compliance with Federal-State Marketing Agreements as 

well as laws, rules, and regulations enacted to make certain the public receives quality food products. Programs 

are also designed to prevent, control, and eradicate 

specific plant and animal pests and diseases that could 

economically devastate segments of Florida’s agricultural 

industry.

The state’s border security is one of the four cornerstones 

in Florida’s domestic security initiative. The increased 

vigilance of the Department’s law enforcement officers 

has strengthened Florida’s surface border protection. 

The implementation of the plan has resulted in the following:

– Performing interdictions/inspections of all commercial 

traffic and rental trucks entering and exiting the state.

– Tracking vehicles transporting dangerous cargo entering all interdiction stations. 

– Utilizing real-time imaging of documents to track 

movement of agricultural commodities and livestock 

entering and exiting the state of Florida. 

– Utilizing mobile gamma ray technology to enhance 

detection of plants, pests, or animal disease, and safeguarding Florida against agri-terrorism and contraband 

smuggling.

– Utilizing canine (K-9) teams, specially trained to 

detect illegal plant and animal material. These specially 

trained dogs detect animal and plant materials that 

may harbor infectious diseases that could be harmful to 

Florida’s farming community as well as to public health.

– Maintaining a 24-hour toll-free hotline to report suspicious inbound or outbound commercial vehicles, as well 

as other agri-terrorism issues.

– Increasing staffing at all interdiction stations post 

September 11, 2001, has resulted in the identification 

of over 741 illegal aliens who attempted entry through 

concealed means. It has also resulted in the recovery of 

$28.1 million in contraband, including narcotics, currency, and stolen property. 

– Implementation of a camera system at key locations 

with tag recognition software that enhances bureau personnel’s ability to detect suspect carriers.

To facilitate movement of commercial highway traffic, 

the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement continues a 

public/private partnership with the Florida Department 

of Transportation and private enterprise, to provide 

commercial carriers with the PrePassTM electronic identifier which may allow some vehicles to bypass interdiction 

stations, reducing station traffic and allowing Department officers to concentrate their efforts on specific 

carriers of agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural, and 

livestock commodities. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 33

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During fiscal year 2008-2009, Department officers 

conducted 9,466,834 vehicle inspections that detected 

8,997 violations, which resulted in 295 arrests, 5,582 

warnings, 3,004 administrative actions, and the apprehension of 116 illegal aliens. Officers also seized illegal 

narcotics currency and recovered stolen property valued 

at $1.1 million.

During times of natural disasters, bureau officers function as members of Florida’s Mutual Aid Response Team, 

participating in relief efforts to ensure that devastated 

areas receive adequate law enforcement protection. 

The Department also cooperates with federal, state, and 

local governmental agencies on projects, both criminal 

and non-criminal, which either improve the efficiency of 

agricultural programs or generate additional revenues to 

the state without increasing costs to Florida’s citizens.

Department officers collected and provided the Florida 

Department of Revenue with 48,336 bills of lading pertaining to certain types of cargo entering Florida. These 

efforts resulted in an additional $7,332,131 in sales 

and use taxes being collected by the state during fiscal 

year 2008-2009 that would have otherwise gone uncollected. This cooperative effort not only greatly enhances 

the state’s ability to collect sales and use taxes but also 

precludes out-of-state contractors and businesses from 

gaining an unfair competitive advantage over Florida 

entrepreneurs. Since the inception of the program in 

April 1993, this cooperative effort has resulted in the detection and collection of over $170 million in otherwise 

undetected sales and use tax.

Bureau of Investigative Services

The Bureau of Investigative Services is one of three designated bureaus in the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and provides investigative and technical support to 

the Bureau of Uniform Services and Bureau of Administrative Services in daily operations.

The bureau provides investigative support for all divisions of the Department in both civil and criminal matters over which the Department has jurisdiction.

The bureau works closely with all local, state, and federal agencies, providing investigative assistance and 

support in all matters over which the Department has 

jurisdiction, and is directly involved in safeguarding the 

pubic in issues relating to homeland security.

Bureau Mission

The mission of the Bureau of Investigative Services is to 

provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of 

this state by:

– Protecting consumers against unfair and deceptive 

trade practices. 

– Protecting the state’s diverse agricultural industry from 

theft and other related crimes.

– Preserving and safeguarding the wholesomeness of 

food and other consumer products. 

– Protecting the state’s natural resources.

To safeguard the public, the bureau aggressively investigates criminal complaints seeking appropriate judicial 

intervention to resolve the complaint and prevent future 

acts of wrongdoing.

Bureau Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Bureau of Investigative Services are as follows:

– The investigation of matters over which the Department has jurisdiction and incidents occurring on property owned, managed, or controlled by the Department.

– The enforcement of criminal and civil violations occurring within State Forests or any crimes involving 
34 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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farms, farm equipment, animals, livestock, poultry, and 

agriculture in general, and any crimes involving horticulture, aquaculture, or citrus products.

– The enforcement of environmental crimes such as illegal dumping, and laws governing outdoor open burning. All personnel in the bureau are trained in fire and 

arson investigations and investigate fires occurring in 

wildland and urban areas.

– The enforcement of laws governing consumer issues, 

including illegal telemarketing operations, sale of business opportunities, solicitations of contributions, sellers of travel, motor vehicle repair fraud, health studios, 

dance studios, pawnshops, moving and storage companies, and price-gouging.

– Developing and processing criminal intelligence information, conducting crime analysis of reported crimes, 

conducting research of persons suspected of committing 

crimes, and conducting background investigations of 

prospective employees of the agency. 

– Providing personal protection services for the Commissioner of Agriculture and other dignitaries as needed.

Domestic Security

The bureau is actively involved in issues relating to 

domestic security and actively participates in all seven 

regional Domestic Security Task Forces statewide.

The bureau has two positions assigned to the state’s 

joint response team under the direction of the Department of Environmental Protection. The team, which 

is represented by several state agencies, is trained in the 

response to and investigation of bio-hazard incidents 

statewide.

The bureau continues to conduct threat assessments of 

regulated entities affiliated with fertilizer, pesticide, food, 

and petroleum production and distribution points. It 

also investigates theft, shrinkage, and suspicious activities regarding these materials.

The bureau is engaged in a cooperative partnership with 

all federal, state, and local agencies in all 67 counties, 

providing investigative support in all matters over which 

the Department has jurisdiction. 

Accomplishments

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the bureau initiated 3,344 

investigations. The general categories used to classify 

investigations and the numbers of investigations conducted for each category are shown in the chart below. 

General categories may have sub-categories associated 

with them.

CATEGORY

Animal/Livestock 111

Aquaculture 10

Arrest on Warrant 3

Background/Pre-employ 53

Bomb Threat/Destructive Device 0

Burglary/Trespass 15

Bypassing Ag Station 1

Consumer Related 552

Dignitary/Protective Operations 8

Drugs/Alcohol 28

Entomology/Pest Control 39

Environmental 21

Executive Investigations 11

Field Interview 1

Fire Related 844

Food Safety 63

Fruit and Vegetable 9

Illegal Aliens 0

Informational Only 60

Law Enforcement Sensitive/Intelligence 0

Licensing Related 16

Persons 7

Plant Related 7

Special Details 4

Standards Related 16

State Lands Related 1,367

Theft 62

Traffic 36

0ther 0

Total Cases Initiated 3,344
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 35

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Restitution/Recovery/Seizure/Reimbursement

The bureau has been directly involved in the investigation of, or assisted in the investigation of, significant 

drug seizures, recovery of stolen property, and the payment of restitution to the Department for expenses associated with investigative costs. For fiscal year 2008-2009, 

the restitution, recovery, and seizure collections totaled 

$803,839. 

Bureau of Administrative Services

The Bureau of Administrative Services is committed to 

efficiently supporting professional law enforcement 

through administrative leadership. The bureau provides 

organizational support to the sworn and civilian personnel of the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement 

by managing personnel, finances, records, property and 

evidence, supplies, the vehicle fleet, Department property, data services, computer support, training, hiring, 

and accreditation. The Bureau of Administrative Services 

contains all core functions vital to the daily operations 

of Agricultural Law Enforcement.

Accreditation 

On June 6, 2007, the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement was awarded accredited status by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). 

AgLaw has been working diligently to remain in compliance with all accreditation standards. State law enforcement accreditation is a three-year certification, and 

AgLaw anticipates participating in the reaccreditation 

process in the summer of 2010.

Training 

The bureau’s Training Section coordinates and delivers 

law enforcement and civilian training to all personnel, 

as well as other law enforcement agencies. The Training 

Section delivered over 7,000 contact training hours to 

sworn personnel. In addition to legal and ethics training, officers received training in high liability areas such 

as firearms, defensive tactics, and use of force. Officers 

also received training on elder abuse investigations, 

bloodborne pathogens, and dealing with people with 

mental health issues.

The Training Section partnered with Dr. Paul Whitesell, 

superintendent of the Indiana State Police, to present a 

series of lectures on law enforcement related issues. 

Arrests, Notices to Appear, Civil Violations, 

Written Warnings/ Field Interrogation Reports 

(FIRs)

The following is a cumulative total of actions taken 

involving known violators:

Number of Known Violators

Adult Felony 66

Adult Misdemeanor 62

Juvenile Felony 16

Juvenile Misdemeanor 4

Juvenile Diversion 6

Misdemeanor NTAs 161

NTA Non-Criminal 465

UTC Criminal 3

UTC Non-Criminal 15

Adult Written Warnings/FIRs 806

Juvenile Written Warnings/FIRs 37

Total Known Violators 1,641

Number of Related Charges

Adult Felony 179 

Adult Misdemeanor 115 

Juvenile Felony 16

Juvenile Misdemeanor 5

Juvenile Diversion 6

Misdemeanor NTAs 179

NTA Non-Criminal 471

UTC Criminal 3

UTC Non-Criminal 15

Adult Written Warnings/FIRs 850

Juvenile Written Warnings/FIRs 37

Total Violations/Charges 1,876
36 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Dr. Whitesell presented “Issues of Leadership and Interpersonal Interaction for Police Executive,” “Stress and 

the Police Family,” and “The Psychology of Combat” to 

an audience of more than 100 law enforcement professionals. 

The Training Section also partnered with Pat Thomas 

Law Enforcement Academy at the Florida Public Safety 

Institute to design and construct a firing range for the 

sole purpose of teaching the Cover and Concealment 

Course. The Training Section staff consulted with the 

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, 

Georgia, to determine the physical layout of the firing 

range. The Training Section staff developed the course 

curriculum and has delivered a train-the- trainer-type 

course to other high-liability instructors from other state 

and local law enforcement agencies.

Two members of the Training Section became certified 

TASER instructors through TASER International. These 

instructors conducted the first Dart-Firing Stun Gun 

course offered to AgLaw’s sworn personnel. Additional 

TASER classes are scheduled during annual in-service 

training.

Domestic Marijuana Eradication Program

In January 2005 the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement became the pass-through agency for the Outdoor 

Marijuana Eradication Program through the U.S. Drug 

Enforcement Administration. In January 2008 AgLaw 

assumed coordination of the Indoor Marijuana Eradication Program and became the Drug Enforcement Administration’s point agency for this program in Florida. 

AgLaw’s role involves collecting data and providing 

reimbursement funds to local law enforcement agencies 

for both indoor- and outdoor-grown marijuana.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the bureau collected statistical data related to marijuana eradication missions from 

local law enforcement agencies around the state. Additionally, the Bureau of Investigative Services assisted in 

providing orientation and training opportunities to all 

law enforcement agencies throughout the state regarding information submission, reimbursement procedures, 

and investigative and detection techniques. The following chart outlines a brief synopsis of accomplishments 

for calendar year 2008:

Outdoor

Plots Eradicated 299

Cultivated Plants Eradicated 16,211

Bulk/Processed Marijuana Seized 309 pounds

Total Arrests/Charges Filed 130

Firearms Seized 84

Total Assets Seized $751,492.00

In comparison, the following chart outlines the accomplishments of the first six months of calendar year 2009.

Outdoor

Plots Eradicated 70

Cultivated Plants Eradicated 1,978

Bulk/Processed Marijuana Seized 10 pounds

Total Arrests/Charges Filed 49

Firearms Seized 36

Total Assets Seized $3,714.97

Indoor

Plots Eradicated 350

Cultivated Plants Eradicated 22,751

Bulk/Processed Marijuana Seized 2,063 pounds

Total Arrests/Charges Filed 391

Firearms Seized 78

Total Assets Seized $1,654,972.97

Information Technology

AgLaw Information Technology supports several proprietary applications within the Bureau of Uniform Services. The Bill of Lading (BOL) and Commerce Transport 

Imaging System (CTIS) programs are installed at all 23 

interdiction station locations. With CTIS, Florida is the 

only state in the nation able to track incoming and outgoing shipments of agricultural commodities, livestock, 

and plant material, archiving historical information on 

product origination and destination locations. The Bill 

of Lading Program is a joint interagency program which 

has imaged over one million documents for the Florida 

Department of Revenue for sales and use tax collections. 

Due to the success of this venture, collections of over 

$171.7 million have been deposited to Florida’s General 

Revenue fund over the life of this program. 

A Tag Recognition System has been installed at all interstate locations and five side stations. This system documents every vehicle passing through these locations, 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 37

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

providing a rapid verification of the time, date, and 

identity of every driver and vehicle that enters the stations. The program also images tags and sends queries 

to Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) and the 

National Crime Information Center (NCIC), for possible criminal activity such as stolen vehicles, etc. A new 

module of the Tag Recognition System, which went online in 2008, also documents information on shipping 

containers which pass through the stations. 

In addition, AgLaw Information Technology is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Department’s 

Emergency Operations Center. This site, located in the 

Rhodes Building in Tallahassee, includes redundant systems for communications, video feeds, and video conferencing that are available to support field operations 

during disaster situations. The center is also available 

as a backup location to the State Emergency Operations 

Center. 

Three full-time IT positions support over $1 million in 

equipment, for approximately 300 personnel located at 

23 Interdiction Station sites and over 30 investigative office locations throughout the state.

Property and Evidence

The Property and Evidence Administrator serves three 

primary functions: inventory, uniforms, and evidence. 

The Department inventory is conducted yearly and 

involves traveling throughout the state to verify the locations of all AgLaw inventory items. The administrator 

also supplies approximately 270 law enforcement professionals with the uniforms and gear needed for their 

daily activities. In addition, the administrator manages 

the Rhodes Building Evidence Room while overseeing 

six other evidence rooms in the state assuring that evidence is collected and stored within the guidelines and 

rules set forth in Florida Statutes and Department policy. 

Records Management

As of June 2007, AgLaw’s Records Analyst has created a 

functioning electronic records management system in 

compliance with law enforcement accreditation standards and Florida Statutes. The system helps maintain 

all records created by agency employees, including paper, email, maps, books, tapes, disks, films, photographs, 

and audio-recordings. Video/audio equipment is available in order for the public to view or listen to requested 

materials. 

Plant Protection, 

Inspection and 

Certification

The Division of Plant Industry is the plant protection 

arm of the Department. It works to detect, intercept, 

and control plant and honey bee pests and diseases that 

threaten Florida’s native plant and agricultural resources. 

The division maintains these functions through five 

bureaus: 

– Pest Eradication and Control

– Citrus Budwood Registration

– Methods Development and Biological Control

– Plant and Apiary Inspection

– Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology

This fiscal year, the division encountered new challenges 

with the discovery of new pests and diseases such as 

Texas Phoenix palm decline, orchid mealybug, rust disease (Dianella tasmanica), Argentine ant, and blue gum 

chalcid. The division continues to address known pests 

and diseases through the application of research, survey, 

and pest management including regulatory requirements 

and biological control. Some examples of these pests 

and diseases include huanglongbing or citrus greening, citrus canker, Africanized honey bees, colony collapse disorder, pink hibiscus mealybug, gladiolus rust, 

Phytophthora ramorum, and redbay ambrosia beetle/

laurel wilt disease. The division has taken on additional 

responsibilities with new regulatory roles and programs 

such as aquatic harvesting permitting, the Casuarina 

cunninghamiana five-year windbreak pilot program, and 

the identification and abatement of abandoned citrus 

groves. In addition, the division is also on the lookout 

for new pests and diseases of agricultural importance 

such as fruit flies of economic importance, potato cyst 

nematode, pests and diseases in solid wood packing 

materials, laurel wilt in commercial avocado areas, light 

brown apple moth, and the emerald ash borer.
38 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Pest Eradication and Control

The Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control (PEC) assists in detection and response activities associated with 

harmful plant pests and diseases, particularly those 

affecting citrus. The bureau operates statewide from 

its headquarters in Winter Haven and four field offices 

located in citrus-producing regions of the peninsula including Avon Park, Immokalee, Tavares, and Vero Beach. 

The bureau performs survey and regulatory activities 

to carry out the mission of the Citrus Health Response 

Program (CHRP). This program was developed in cooperation with the Department, the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA), and the citrus industry to help mitigate the impact of citrus diseases, of which citrus canker 

and citrus greening are currently the most significant 

and devastating to Florida’s citrus industry. With industry input and assistance, the cooperative efforts of the 

Department and the USDA are directed toward shortand long-term management, which will ensure a healthy 

Florida citrus industry today and in the future. Those 

efforts include surveying for citrus pests and diseases 

and monitoring existing disease including citrus canker, citrus greening, and the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), 

which is the vector for citrus greening. This fiscal year, 

the bureau undertook a new survey initiative to locate 

and identify abandoned grove properties throughout the 

state to address the pest and disease risks associated with 

these often unmaintained groves. 

Abandoned Grove Initiative

Through its CHRP program the state has been working 

cooperatively with county tax assessors and property 

owners to encourage the removal and destruction of 

these properties, offering abatement recommendations 

and tax incentives. This survey effort involving 31 counties across Florida began in mid-February and ended 

in April, and identified approximately 80,000 acres of 

abandoned grove properties. Owners are being contacted and asked to remove or destroy abandoned trees and 

are offered an agricultural tax incentive to do so if they 

comply with CHRP requirements.

Commercial Citrus Survey

During fiscal year 2008-2009, 139,609 commercial acres 

and 5,853 residential properties were surveyed under 

state CHRP operations. This included over 37,694 commercial acres surveyed for fresh fruit export. Pre-harvest 

certification is required when the fruit is intended for 

certain foreign market shipment. Working with growers statewide, 20,327 acres were surveyed this season at 

their request. Surveys surrounding commercial nurseries 

were also conducted in accordance with regulations in 

commercial (8,676 acres) and residential (5,853 properties) areas to protect nursery trees from citrus diseases. 

In cooperation with the USDA, the bureau surveyed 

72,913 commercial acres selected by USDA under their 

multiple-pest survey project targeting exotic citrus pests 

and diseases. This survey usually looks for citrus canker, 

citrus greening, and the Asian citrus psyllid, but was expanded this season to include exotic citrus diseases such 

as leprosis, citrus variegated chlorosis, and citrus black 

spot, which are not known to occur in Florida.

In cooperation with USDA, all PEC survey and regulatory teams remained focused on commercial citrus groves 

and the regulation of harvesting operations. Federal 

counterparts (USDA/APHIS) within the CHRP-regulated 

packinghouses inspected the fruit on the grading belts 

for canker lesions and regulated the movement of citrus 

fruit for markets beyond Florida’s borders.

Psyllid Trapping and Aerial Spraying for 

ACP/Greening 

The bureau assisted in two industry initiatives this year: 

the psyllid-trapping program and test aerial spray programs. The psyllid-trapping program was conducted 

in Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties to detect 

and monitor psyllid populations. The test aerial spray 

program was held in the Gulf Coast and Indian River 

areas to test the effectiveness of aerial spraying on psyl-
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 39

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

lid populations. These efforts were conducted to help 

control and manage citrus greening disease.

Regulatory

The regulatory branch enforces state statutes and works 

with industry to control and limit the artificial spread of 

pests and diseases such as citrus canker and citrus greening. Regulatory oversight includes registering companies 

to ensure they are aware of current rules related to the 

movement of regulated items and the requirements for 

decontamination to control the spread of disease for the 

protection of Florida citrus. Regulated articles include 

host plants and host plant parts (including branches, 

roots, fruit, and seeds), exposed equipment, and disease 

vectors. 

Two new regulatory projects, the Citrus Greening and 

Canker Survey and the Business Plan Share Program, 

began in 2008. These projects have the potential to 

provide valuable feedback to citrus growers over the next 

few years. The survey project is a joint venture designed 

and implemented in cooperation with University of 

Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences 

(UF-IFAS), USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

and Florida Department of Citrus. This initiative gathers 

data from a sample of growers to project a statewide estimate of the incidence of citrus canker and citrus greening disease and grower management practices in relation 

to citrus greening and its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid. 

Results of the initial survey are expected to be published 

by UF-IFAS in September 2009. The Business Plan Share 

Program was created to assist growers in monitoring and 

controlling disease by providing scouting and sampling 

activities in groves for grove owners who volunteer to 

participate. There has been interest in the program, 

which now includes almost 1,400 acres of grove located 

in 20 different sections of the state. 

The 2007 compliance agreements continue to be in 

effect, allowing flexibility for growers as they develop 

customized disease management programs. Compliance agreements are issued to citrus growers, caretakers, 

citrus harvesters, handlers, processors, and citrus packers 

to ensure that these companies or individuals are registered with the Department and are aware of the rules. 

The grower compliance agreements also include a fresh 

fruit application, which is required in order to ship fruit 

to restricted foreign markets such as the European Union (EU). 

Other documents are also issued to citrus-growing and 

handling companies in order to control the movement 

of regulated articles as required, including stop-sale/

hold orders, emergency action notifications and special 

permits. Reports of violation are issued for non-compliance, with penalties that range incrementally from a 

one-time administrative warning to a $5,000 fine and 

revocation of the violator’s compliance agreement. Penalties have been waived for this season, as the industry 

battles citrus greening disease and the Asian citrus psyllid. During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, 28,450 inspections were performed and 434 compliance agreements, 

10 violations, and 4,387 harvesting permits were issued. 

Public Relations and Education

The bureau works to keep the public and industry informed of its activities and services as well as to provide 

up-to-date information on current rules and requirements affecting the citrus industry. Presentations, industry updates, web sites, on-site training, and in-house 

training have been provided. 

In October 2008, bureau staff participated in tours given 

to a visiting delegation from the Jamaican Citrus Protection Agency. Members of the delegation wanted information about citrus greening disease and the chance to 

observe greening management efforts in Florida. Field 

offices were involved in the itinerary and showed the 

visitors the division’s methods of commercial survey and 

psyllid collection efforts for testing. 

In summary, the bureau’s function is one of support of 

Department efforts to ensure a healthy sustainable citrus 

industry into the future through survey and sampling, 

regulatory oversight, training, public education, gathering and reporting data for research efforts, and working in conjunction with other bureaus and agencies on 

behalf of Florida’s citrus industry.

Citrus Budwood Registration

The Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration oversees 

budwood certification in Florida’s commercial citrus 

nurseries. The protection of Florida’s propagating material is fundamental to ensuring growers receive diseasefree trees to plant. Planting pathogen-infected trees is 

economically unsustainable and, at the very least, greatly 

diminishes farm profits. Disease-infected trees often are 

not noticed until after growers have absorbed several 
40 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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years of caretaking expenses on top of tree and planting 

costs. Budwood registration includes graft-transmissible 

pathogen testing of all propagating sources in Florida. 

Allowing only disease-tested material into the nurseries 

translates to disease-free plants leaving the nursery. The 

Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration’s foundation 

facility provides nurserymen with tested scion material 

for establishment of their own clean stock. The bureau’s 

laboratory tests foundation and nursery propagating 

source trees routinely for the endemic graft-transmissible diseases of citrus.

This year’s high point was the completion and opening of the Chiefland budwood foundation facility. The 

rapid startup of this project was a result of having clean, 

protected trees available to move from a Central Florida 

greenhouse to the new greenhouse without having to 

start over with newly budded trees. The fact that those 

pathogen-tested trees had been under protected greenhouse cover their entire lives accelerated the transition. 

In effect, budwood was made available almost from 

day one. The Chiefland greenhouses are in their second 

year of operation, and are starting to produce significant 

quantities of budwood. One hundred thirty-two thousand budeyes were cut from the Chiefland greenhouses 

this fiscal year, bringing the total budwood cut in the 

first year and a half to 174,210 eyes.

Nine hundred seventy-one tree spaces are planted 

at Chiefland, leaving room for only 164 additional 

trees. The planted trees represent 321 different clonal 

selections. The Chiefland foundation planting is 33.9 

percent sweet orange, representing 52 different sweet 

orange varieties. Mandarins make up 27 percent of the 

trees, representing 73 varieties. Grapefruit is represented 

with 22 varieties and makes up 9.3 percent of the planting. The greenhouse trees are inspected every day. Also, 

the perimeter of the structure is walked daily and closely 

scanned for any possible areas that could allow insect 

incursion. 

The lowest temperature recorded outside the greenhouse 

during the winter of 2009 was 17 degrees. Inside the 

greenhouses the temperature never dipped below 50 degrees. Approximately 2,800 gallons of LP gas were used 

during the winter to maintain greenhouse temperatures, 

and at no time were more than 50 percent of the heaters 

operating.

A new office/headhouse building was added to the bureau’s Chiefland foundation facility in 2008-2009. The 

new office includes a walk-in cooler for the optimal storage of budwood before shipment. A large workroom 

allows for trimming budwood in an air-conditioned 

environment, further optimizing the condition of the 

budwood. A conference room provides a place for small 

groups to meet and receive information on the budwood facility without having to enter the greenhouses. 

Because of the importance of minimizing any risk of 

pathogen contamination of the foundation clean stock, 

the greenhouse areas are off limits to visitors. To allow 

visitors to view the operation, a window has been placed 

in the side of the greenhouse. 

The Immokalee UF-IFAS cooperative foundation greenhouse facility, which has not been used for budwood 

since the 2006-2007 fiscal year, has been partially topworked to seed source varieties. Eleven different seed 

source varieties have been top-worked in greenhouse 

number two. 

Since the advent of Florida’s budwood program in 1952, 

more than 163 million registered nursery trees have 

been produced. Nursery capacity and production have 

been increasing for the past three years, after a four-year 

period of decline. Production levels have nearly returned to what was produced in the 2003-2004 season. 

Although the number of citrus nurseries is lower than 

it was five years ago, the average production per nursery 

has increased. The average nursery made 85,000 propagations this fiscal year. Forty-six percent of Florida’s 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 41

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nursery trees are produced in Polk County, and this is 

where the majority of the citrus nursery inspectors are 

stationed. Forty-four commercial citrus nurseries reported making nearly 3.8 million propagations in 15 

counties. 

The bureau registered 8,665 scion trees this fiscal year. 

This is up 594 trees from last year. This represents 5,515 

trees (64 percent) that are budwood sources and 3,150 

trees (36 percent) that are seed source trees. Budwood 

sources are required to be grown in protected greenhouses that have to be approved by the Division of Plant 

Industry. 

Bureau personnel witnessed the planting of 933 new 

scion trees this fiscal year, of which 415 are seed source. 

The average age of a budwood scion tree is 3.2 years. 

The transformation of the nursery industry from field 

to greenhouse in 2006 resulted in newly established 

protected budwood trees. While initially reducing the 

availability of budwood, the longer-term result is cleaner 

pathogen-free propagation material. Scion trees produced 51 percent of the nursery propagating material, 

with the average scion tree producing 878 budeyes in 

2008-2009. Increase trees accounted for 45 percent of 

nursery propagation material. Qualifying increase trees, 

those originating from foundation trees, can be converted to scion trees by being witnessed and pathogentested. 

This fiscal year, all program seed source and budwood 

scion trees were tested for citrus greening with no greening-positive trees being found. Seed source trees were all 

additionally tested for citrus leaf blotch virus, with only 

two trees testing positive. Budwood scion trees were 

also tested for citrus tristeza virus and citrus viroids. 

Collecting the samples from all 8,665 scion trees takes 

over three months. Additional pathogen testing then 

begins, once the tristeza tests are completed. All these 

tests are qPCR-based and the initial extraction is suitable for all subsequent tests. This is a very efficient and 

cost-effective means of testing source trees, as only one 

collection per year is required. In past years, multiple 

trips to nursery sites were required for sample collection. 

One trip is all that is now needed, due to the ability to 

detect all pathogens from the one extraction.

A total of 33,118 pathogen tests were run at the bureau’s 

Winter Haven laboratory. The majority of these analyses 

were on scion trees and foundation trees. The Florida 

Citrus Arboretum had two additional HLB-positive trees 

this year, bringing the total of positives at this location 

to four. No budwood source trees were identified as 

being greening-infected. The old foundation grove at 

Dundee continues to struggle with citrus canker infection. Approximately 644 grapefruit trees were removed 

from the grove to reduce the risk of spreading canker 

inoculum to the sweet oranges. The original seed source 

block containing many Poncirus trifoliata hybrids, has 

been particularly hard hit by canker infection, with 65 

percent of the trees being removed. 

Hamlins and Valencias, the perennial favorite varieties 

produced, have consistently been the top two citrus varieties grown. Midsweet continues in third place, and is 

the top midseason variety. With Florida’s citrus industry 

predominately producing an orange juice product, it is 

no surprise that these three sweet varieties are the most 

widely planted. Sweet oranges comprise 89 percent of 

the total nursery production. Grapefruit represent 4.7 

percent of nursery propagations, and mandarin oranges, 

4.1 percent. Ray Ruby was the most widely used grapefruit variety, and is also the number one variety being 

top-worked. Ruby Red is the second top grapefruit selection propagated, followed by Rio Red.

Methods Development and 

Biological Control

The Bureau of Methods Development and Biological 

Control was involved in several cooperative biological 

control programs during this past year, as well as technology transfer and other supportive functions for the 

division. 

Rearing Programs for Biological 

Control Agents 

Caribbean Fruit Fly

The Biological Control Rearing Facility (BCRF) continued production of the Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha 

suspensa, Loew), rearing approximately 66 million flies. 

Various life stages were supplied to researchers and cooperators at the University of Florida, the USDA, and the 

Indian River Citrus League. 
42 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Diaprepes Root Weevil

Mass rearing of Diaprepes root weevil (Diaprepes abbreviatus) continued at the BCRF to provide various 

life stages to researchers developing control strategies 

against this pest. During this reporting period, over 

2,500 eggs, 17,830 neonates, 2,162 grubs, and 5,794 

adults were shipped to nine different researchers.

Diaprepes Root Weevil and Parasite 

Quadrastichus Haitiensis

Biological control of Diaprepes root weevil (Diaprepes 

abbreviatus), was initiated in 1969 by introduction of 

the parasite Quadrastichus haitiensis from Puerto Rico. 

Mass-rearing methods were developed, and field releases 

of this parasite were started in late 1998. At present 

the parasite has been established in several locations in 

Miami-Dade and Broward counties. During fiscal year 

2008-2009, 1,136,800 Q. haitiensis were sent to 23 cooperators in Florida. 

Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) and 

Phorid Flies (Pseudacteon sp.)

Mass rearing of the phorid flies, P. tricuspis, P. curvatus

and P. obtusus, continued at the BCRF as part of a joint 

venture with the USDA to release these parasitoids as 

biological control agents against the imported fire ant 

(IFA), Solenopsis invicta. This endeavor encompasses 

personnel and resources from DPI, USDA-ARS and 

USDA-APHIS, as well as several other agencies in many 

southern states. The majority of funding for the project 

continues to be provided via a cooperative agreement 

with the USDA-APHIS. Currently, 14 specially designed 

attack boxes are online, and over 3.4 million flies of all 

species combined were produced this fiscal year.

The USDA-APHIS Gulfport Laboratory in Mississippi 

continues to coordinate field release efforts with various 

federal and state cooperators. This past year the facility supplied P. tricuspis to four states, P. curvatus to six 

states and P. obtusus to five states for release or research 

purposes. In the coming year, the plan is to continue 

distribution of all three phorid species to IFA-infested 

states. It is expected that these phorid flies and additional species will become successfully established 

throughout the entire southeastern United States within 

the next three to five years. These various phorid flies 

will work together to help suppress the IFA because they 

each attack different size worker ants at different times 

of the day. This allows for a reduction in pesticide usage 

and gives native ant species and other insects as well as 

ground nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals an opportunity to re-establish themselves in numerous environmental niches.

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug Biological Control Program

A cooperative agreement with USDA, initiated in 2005, 

continues to support a regional mass-rearing facility for 

parasites of pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM) Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). These biological control agents 

are released in Florida and other regions to control the 

spread of PHM. The PHM biological rearing facility 

produced a total of 2,332,763 parasites (Anagyrus kamali

and Gyranusoidea indica). Currently, there are 25 counties in Florida receiving parasites for release. Parasitoids 

were also shipped to Texas, Jamaica and the Cayman 

Islands for control of this invasive pest. 

During this period, several crops of Japanese pumpkin, 

the preferred host of PHM, were grown in cooperation 

with the University of Florida using mulched-raised beds 

with drip irrigation at IFAS facilities in Citra and Hastings, and in 20-gallon pots at the DPI Methods field 

office located at the State Farmer’s Market in Fort Pierce 

during the winter months. The crops were successful, 

producing 4,080 Japanese pumpkins weighing a total of 

11,140 pounds. 

Tropical Soda Apple Biological Control Program

This program, funded through a cooperative agreement 

with USDA, supports the mass rearing of the leaf-eating 

beetle Gratiana boliviana (Gb) for release as a biological 

control agent for the weed tropical soda apple (TSA), 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 43

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(Solanum viarum). During fiscal year 2008-2009, 18,155 

adult beetles were reared at this facility and released in 

18 counties throughout Central and North Florida to assist in the control of tropical soda apple. An additional 

443 Gb of various life stages were given to other scientists for further research on the insect.

In September 2008, a survey was conducted to determine if Gb was present in all of the Florida counties 

where more than 10,000 head of cattle were reported. 

Random survey points were generated for each county. 

The survey indicated that Gb was present in most surveyed counties in Central and South Florida; however, 

very few if any beetles were found in counties of North 

Florida even though beetles had been released in many 

of these counties. The dividing line appeared to be 

about 29 degrees north latitude. The TSA Technical 

Working Group, comprised of scientists from the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, UF-IFAS, and the Division of 

Plant Industry, conducted this survey. An article about 

the survey was published in The Florida Cattleman and 

Livestock Journal. 

A follow-up survey was conducted during the winter 

and spring months of 2008-2009 to try to gain further 

understanding of these results. Results of this survey are 

still being analyzed to determine if a pattern exists.

West Indian Fruit Fly Biological Control Program

The West Indian fruit fly (WIFF), Anastrepha obliqua, attacks 74 species of fruit, including mangos, and has one 

of the broadest distributions of any pest tephritid. WIFF 

poses a significant threat to fruit production, due to its 

wide host range and distribution. Although it is not 

established in the continental United States, WIFF has 

been trapped in the Florida Keys, the Rio Grande Valley 

in Texas, San Diego, and Orange and Los Angeles counties in California. The populations in the Caribbean 

threaten the southeastern United States. 

Three parasitoid colonies, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, Doryctobracon areolatus, and Utetes anastrephae, were 

transferred from the USDA Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) to the Division of Plant 

Industry at the beginning of the year in order to facilitate 

the technology transfer of the rearing methodologies 

and to maintain the colonies until facilities are developed in Puerto Rico. 

Cycad Scale

Cycad scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui, was first identified in 

Florida in Miami-Dade County in 1996. The infestation had apparently been present for a year or longer. 

This pest of cycads has since spread to at least 25 Florida 

counties where heavy infestations have been reported 

from Alachua to Miami-Dade counties. In February 

2002 the Division of Plant Industry collected the parasitoid Coccobius fulvus from infested cycads in the Naples 

area and released about 11,000 of these parasitoids in 

about 15 infested counties extending from the Orlando 

area south. Unfortunately, surveys during the past three 

years have indicated that C. fulvus from Thailand has not 

provided the desired level of control of Asian cycad scale 

populations. 

During the search for natural enemies of cycad scale 

funded by UF-IFAS and DPI, Dr. Ren Hui found C. fulvus

in Guangdong, China. A parasite from Guangdong 

was collected and sent to the Gainesville quarantine 

laboratory in October 2004. A permit for release from 

quarantine was granted in June 2005. In early fall of 

2005, 2,300 C. fulvus were released in the Gainesville 

area. C. fulvus, Chinese biotype, was found to be established in Alachua County. The survey of six locations in 

Gainesville on November 13, 2007, showed that about 

25 percent of cycad scales were parasitized by C. fulvus

(range: 1.9 percent to 52.6 percent). No parasites were 

found in those locations prior to releasing in 2005. Additional shipments of cycad scale and its natural enemies were received from Vietnam in March 2006 and 

from China throughout the fiscal year. A search for the 

natural enemies of cycad scale in Thailand and North 

Vietnam was conducted by Dr. Ru Nguyen (DPI) and 

Dr. Ron Cave (IFAS) in October 2007. Two parasites, 

Aprostocetus purpureus and Arrhenophagus chionaspidis, and 

Phaenochilus sp. were collected during that trip. According to Dr. Natalia Vandenberg, USDA-ARS, Phaenochilus 

sp. is a new species. Host range tests showed that this 

lady beetle is a good predator of armored scale such as 

Aulacaspis yasunatsui and Aonidiella orientalis (magnolia 

scale) but does not feed on aphids or mealybugs. Colonies of this ladybug are kept in quarantine laboratories 

in Gainesville and Fort Pierce. A request for field release 

of this predator will be submitted to USDA-APHIS-PPQ 

in the near future. Populations of A. purpureus and A. 

chionaspidis died in the quarantine laboratory in January 

2008.
44 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Asian Citrus Psyllid

Division of Plant Industry personnel discovered Asian 

citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, at Boynton Beach on 

June 2, 1998. It had spread to 28 counties by 2001. It 

is one of the most efficient vectors of citrus greening 

disease (huanglongbing). In cooperation with UF-IFAS, 

two parasites of D. citri, Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis and 

Tamarixia radiata from southern Vietnam and Taiwan, 

were introduced in DPI’s quarantine laboratory on 

October 21, 1998. A permit for field release of T. radiata

was granted on July 12, 1999, and for D. aligarhensis on 

March 10, 2000.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, approximately 45,326 T. radiata

and 10,832 D. aligarhensis were reared and released from 

the Division of Plant Industry’s laboratory. A statewide 

survey conducted by Dr. Juang-Horng Chong (USDAAPHIS) in 2006 found that T. radiata has been established in 23 counties south of Volusia County. However, 

a study conducted in 2005-2006 by Drs. P.A. Stansly, 

D.G. Hall, M.E. Rogers and J.A. Qureshi in 28 commercial citrus groves across 16 counties in South and Central 

Florida reported that an average percent parasitism was 

less than 20 percent in spring and summer. This rate 

was lower than those in Reunion, Taiwan, Guadeloupe, 

and Puerto Rico. No hyperparasitoid of T. radiata was 

detected during the survey.

DPI staff continues to monitor the effectiveness of these 

parasites and to search for new parasite biotypes in Asia. 

In September 2006 Dr. Ru Nguyen (DPI) and Dr. Ron 

Cave (IFAS) collected a new biotype of D. aligarhensis in 

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. A field release permit 

of this biotype was granted by USDA-APHIS-PPQ on 

June 1, 2007. In July 2007, Dr. Cave and Dr. Nguyen 

collected T. radiata in Bac-Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Dr. Rehman collected T. radiata from Punjab Province, Pakistan, in September 2008, and Dr. Phil Stanly 

(IFAS) collected it in Guangdong Province, China, in 

November 2008. Those biotypes of T. radiata have been 

reared in DPI’s Quarantine Laboratory in Gainesville. A 

permit for field release of these biotypes was granted by 

USDA-APHIS-PPQ on July 9, 2009.

 

Citrus Leafminer

Ageniaspis citricola, a parasite of citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, was imported from Australia and Taiwan and began to be released in May 1994 throughout 

Florida. This parasite has been established and widely 

distributed and provided good control of citrus leafminer in Florida. The parasitism rates of this parasite 

in October 1996 were 80 percent on dooryard citrus 

and 60 percent in commercial groves. However, citrus 

leafminer populations were high in 2002, especially on 

young groves. To complement A.citricola, Citrostichus 

phyllocnistoides from Spain was introduced into the division’s quarantine laboratory in July and August 2003. 

A permit to release C. phyllocnistoides from quarantine 

was granted in May 2006, and subsequent releases were 

initiated in Immokalee in June 2006. During fiscal year 

2008-2009, 19,931 parasites were released. 

Lobate Lac Scale

Lobate lac scale, Paratachardina lobata, was first found in 

Broward County in 1999. This species, from India and 

Sri Lanka, has rapidly become a serious pest of several 

ornamental and native plants in South Florida. Cooperative efforts with UF-IFAS and USDA-ARS, Fort Lauderdale, are under way to secure and introduce parasites 

from its native land. Two shipments of Kerria lacca, 

a commercial lac scale, collected from Thailand, were 

sent to the quarantine laboratory in October 2003 and 

March 2004. Six parasites and two predators emerged 

from the shipment in March, and over 1,000 parasitoids 

representing three species emerged from the March 2004 

shipment. Among those parasites, Coccophagus tschirchii

and Tachardiaephagus tachardiae were listed in the literature as primary parasites of K. lacca and lobate lac scale. 

Unfortunately, neither parasite could be reared on lobate lac scale in the quarantine laboratory in Gainesville. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 45

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Several shipments of lobate lac scale were collected from 

India and sent to Fort Lauderdale Quarantine Laboratory in from 2005 to 2007. According to Dr. Bob Pemberton, USDA-ARS Fort Lauderdale, two species of parasites 

emerged from those shipments, but they couldn’t be 

reared on lobate lac scale in Florida. Later, Dr. Pemberton said that DNA analysis of scales collected from India 

and Florida indicated that those scales are different. It is 

likely that the lobate lac scale in Florida is a new species. 

The search for natural enemies of lobate lac scale is still 

continuing by USDA-ARS, Fort Lauderdale.

Cactus Moth

The BCRF continues rearing the cactus moth, Cactoblastis 

cactorum, as part of a cooperative agreement with the 

USDA to help combat this recently introduced pest in 

the southeastern United States. The overall goal of the 

program is to establish a barrier at the current leading 

edge of the cactus moth spread utilizing the sterile insect 

technique (SIT). In SIT, large numbers of sterile or partially sterile insects are mass reared and released to mate 

with the wild population, producing either no progeny 

or sterile ones. This barrier will prevent the spread of 

the cactus moth to the Midwest and western regions of 

this country and into Mexico. If the geographic range of 

the moth expands westward, it will cause serious damage to the desert ecosystems and agricultural production 

of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

The facility reared over 233,958 moths on artificial diet 

during this past year for both colony maintenance and 

for SIT field releases. Further investigations and research 

trials continue for disease management techniques and 

for increased production performance. 

Technique Development Laboratory

The bureau’s technique development laboratory has 

been involved with investigation into the developmental 

phases of Cactoblastis cactorum for the SIT program. Tests 

include experimentation of ingredients in insect diets, 

disease identification and quantification, improvements 

to percentage yield from each life stage, maximization of 

larval density, elimination of infective agents, and reduction of the rate of spread, increasing the total number 

of adults produced and targeting field release dates with 

peak adult production and quality. 

A standard operating schedule was developed for highdensity rearing that is now in effect in the production 

area. This schedule addresses infest rate, diet changes, 

sanitation, humidity, and disease management. This 

schedule was designed for a one-week development 

cycle from first egg hatched to last pupa collected. 

Production of quality sterile (irradiated) adult moths 

has been the primary focus of this lab. Methods were 

developed for the conditions and equipment at DPI to 

allow peak production of adult moths to coincide with 

anticipated release dates in the field for SIT releases. 

Quality control measures have been developed and 

implemented which improve total adult emergence and 

overall health of the colony.

Florida Accelerator Services and Technology (FAST)

FAST completed the new beam centerline guide assembly installation in October 2008.

The linear accelerator modernization and service life extension program continues with the June 2009 purchase 

of a new industrial computer that controls accelerator 

operation. 

FAST completed a radioactive materials security assessment conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration, Global Threat Reduction Initiative (NNSA-GTRI) and has 

agreed to enhance the physical security of DPI’s Cesium 

137 irradiator. This DOE-NNSA-GTRI-funded project is 

scheduled to begin in August 2009.

FAST continues to provide electron beam and gamma 

irradiation services in support of research and biological control programs conducted by the Department, the 

University of Florida, USDA, and private industry. Products irradiated include: tomatoes, potted plants, plant 

tissue, bahiagrass for bio-fuel research, rice, strawberry 

seed, banana seed, and bio-burden reduction for cactus 

moth and diaprepes insect diet. For biological control 

programs: cactus moth adults, Caribbean fruit fly pupae 

and larvae, and apple snail eggs. For commercial customers: silicone substrate for semiconductor manufacturing.
46 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Caribbean Fruit Fly Research and Activities

This office maintains three continuous Caribbean fruit 

fly trap lines using plastic McPhail-type traps in portions 

of Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. These 

traps are serviced weekly and the results, showing number of flies caught by sex as well as species and condition 

of host plant, are tabulated for later reference concerning the variation in the seasonal Caribbean fruit fly 

population. These data support the Caribbean Fruit Fly 

Certification Program trapping information on fly populations in the urban area and are useful when conducting tests that involve the use of biological control agents 

or other suppression/control programs. These data were 

also given to another agency that included it in their 

larger GIS program.

A study to search for unknown hosts of the Caribbean 

fruit fly continues. Many species of ripe fruit collected 

off the tree or under the tree are incubated to see what 

species of insects develop in them. While no new hosts 

for Caribbean fruit fly were discovered, new relationships of these fruits to other insects were discovered.

Training and Compliance 

Bureau personnel continued to provide employees with 

training and testing for Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) 

Licenses, coordinate employee pesticide license applications and maintain records of CEUs for those licenses, 

provide recordkeeping for Right-To-Know and Material 

Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) files, coordinate disposal of 

hazardous chemicals produced at the division, and provide security monitoring of the Gainesville facilities. 

Fumigation/Miscellaneous Activities

Fumigation of specimens, books, and reprints for the 

Florida State Collection of Arthropods continued at 

DPI in Gainesville and University of Florida fumigation chambers. Annual evaluations and certifications of 

methyl bromide fumigation chambers used for blueberry fumigation were conducted during this period.

Personnel conducted bioassays and bulk density determinations to comply with Imported Fire Ant Program 

regulations.

Bureau personnel often aid with document translation, 

tours of facilities, and daily oversight and support of 

employees and community organizations using Doyle 

Conner Building facilities.

Plant and Apiary Inspection

Plant Inspection

At the end of fiscal year 2008-2009, there were 7,865 

nurseries (9,804 block locations) with an inventory of 

633,843,076 plants classified as nursery stock. There 

are 3,354 nursery stock dealers (8,012 outlet locations) 

registered with the Department. Inspectors made 37,531 

inspections of nursery and stock dealer establishments. 

As a result of these inspections, 122,958 plants were 

quarantined. There were 9,882 federal and 7,156 state 

certificates issued for shipments of plants and plant 

products exported from Florida. 

Department personnel inspected 30,485 shipments of 

plants and plant products imported into Florida from 

other states and countries, including 2,511 shipments of 

nursery stock. These inspections resulted in 416 (141 

for nursery stock) regulatory actions for plant pests of 

quarantine significance. A total of 7,316 soil and root 

samples were collected and analyzed specifically for burrowing nematodes as required by the Burrowing Nematode Certification Program. The Burrowing Nematode 

Certification Program has 1,269 ornamental nurseries 

under certification as of June 30, 2009.

Department personnel tended 222 gypsy moth traps in 

North Florida. Other seasonal traps include boll weevil 

traps and European corn borer traps. Department and 

USDA personnel tended more than 166,914 traps for 

exotic fruit fly detection.

Commercial Citrus Nursery Inspection Program

As of June 30, 2009, there were 54 citrus-propagating 

nurseries certified and inspected on a 30-day cycle 

representing 245 greenhouse structures. There are 34 

locations that are identified as commercial (certified free 

of burrowing nematode) citrus nurseries. Additionally, 

there were six own-use, seven research-only, three dooryard, and four commercial/dooryard citrus nurseries. 

Commercial citrus nurseries are inspected by six commercial citrus inspectors. These inspectors are restricted 

from inspecting more than one nursery per day to prevent transport of citrus diseases/pests between nurseries.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 47

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Pink Hibiscus Mealybug 

Between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, division personnel witnessed the destructions of 1,076 plants as a 

result of pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM). During this 

period, plant inspection personnel spent 1,971 hours 

working on PHM-related issues. There were 40 quarantine actions to nurseries and nursery stock dealers for 

PHM; as of June 30, 2009, 18 of those locations currently have plants that remain under quarantine.

Gladiolus Rust

Uromyces transversalis, the causal agent of gladiolus rust 

(GR), is an obligate parasite that grows and reproduces 

only on members of the family Iridacea, including 

Gladiolus, Tritonia, Crocosmia, and Watsonia spp. GR was 

confirmed to be present in the United States in April 

2006. As of June 30, 2009, regulatory actions and eradication efforts continue at two locations in a cooperative 

effort between USDA and the Division of Plant Industry. 

Inspectors have spent 5,068 hours conducting surveys 

and control measures for gladiolus rust.

Violations, Stop-Sale and Hold Orders

Between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, Division of 

Plant Industry personnel issued two administrative 

complaint letters and inspectors issued three complaints 

of violation. None of these violations resulted in monetary penalties. There were 857 stop-sale and hold 

orders for failure to renew annual registration. During 

the same period, 587 stop-sale and hold orders have 

been released as a result of fee payment or going out of 

business. Bureau personnel also issued 43 stop-sale and 

hold orders for restricted aquatic plants, and pests and 

diseases such as citrus canker, citrus greening, pink hibiscus mealybug, violation of division Rule 5B-62 (citrus 

nursery propagation) and division Rule 5B-62 (citrus 

canker, greening and ACP plant pest and nuisance), 

Florida Administrative Code.

Caribbean Fruit Fly Certification Program

The Caribbean fruit fly is a serious pest of many tropical and subtropical fruits of Central and South Florida. 

The fly-free zone certification protocol was developed 

to certify citrus fruit as free of Caribbean fruit fly larvae. 

Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, New 

Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, the People’s Republic of 

China, Vietnam, and the states of California, Hawaii and 

Texas have accepted this certification procedure, which 

is fully funded by grower assessments. Fruit shipped to 

these areas must originate in specific Caribbean fruit fly 

controlled or designated areas in citrus-producing counties approved for shipment of fruit.

In the 2008-2009 season, 102,480 acres were certified 

in 22 eligible counties. The protocol establishes a safe 

and effective procedure for exporting citrus to areas 

requiring quarantine safeguards. Japan is currently the 

largest importer of fresh Florida grapefruit. This season, 

6,195,442 cartons of citrus fruit were shipped to Japan 

under the protocol certification program.

Boll Weevil Eradication

At the close of the 2008 cotton-growing season, there 

were 276 commercial cotton producers in the state. 

These producers planted 65,340 acres of cotton in 13 

counties, a decrease of 17,914 from the 2007 growing 

season. Throughout the 2008 cotton growing season, 

there was no boll weevil trapped in the state.

Imported Fire Ant Certification Program

As of June 30, 2009, there were 1,289 nurseries and 

stock dealers under compliance agreement for Imported 
48 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Fire Ant (IPA) certification purposes. This compares to 

a total of 1,249 nurseries and stock dealers under compliance on June 30, 2008. During this period, plant 

inspection personnel spent 9,879 hours associated with 

IFA activities.

Casuarina Cunninghamiana Wind Break 

Pilot Program

Beginning in July 2008, the Casuarina cunninghamiana

five-year Windbreak Pilot Program was implemented by 

Chapter 581.091, F.S., which allows under permit registered nurseries to vegetatively propagate Casuarina cunninghamiana from certified male source trees for planting 

as windbreaks under permit in commercial fresh fruit 

groves in the areas of Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin 

counties. There were 21 trees certified as mature males 

and horticulturally true to type source trees, five permits 

issued to certified nurseries for propagation, and one 

permit issued for planting Casuarina cunninghamiana

in a grove in Indian River County. During this period, 

plant inspection personnel spent 544 hours associated 

with Casuarina cunninghamiana activities. 

Aquatic Harvest Permitting

Beginning in July 2008, the Division of Plant Industry 

took over the regulatory authority of permitting for the 

importation, transportation, cultivation, collection, sale, 

or possession of any aquatic plant. Non-prohibited 

aquatic plant harvesters are now required to be registered as a nursery and sign a compliance agreement/permit to harvest non-prohibited aquatics. As of June 30, 

2009, the division issued 27 aquatic harvesting permits. 

Native Flora Harvesting Permitting

Harvesting Endangered and Commercially Exploited 

plants requires individuals to have a permit issued by 

the Division of Plant Industry. Between July 1, 2008, 

and June 30, 2009, the division issued 71 permits, compared to 51 permits issued during the same period last 

year. 

Compliance Agreements

Compliance agreements are used by the Department to 

bring establishments into compliance with applicable 

requirements for handling regulated materials. Each 

compliance agreement is reviewed and signed off by the 

regulated establishment once a year. Between July 1, 

2008, and June 30, 2009, there were 31 different types of 

compliance agreements completed by 1,986 establishments. 

Apiary Inspection

This fiscal year, of the 230,221 honey bee colonies 

maintained by registered Florida beekeepers, there were 

62,469 colonies inspected from 2,712 apiaries. Compensation in the amount of $930 was paid to beekeepers 

for 42 honey bee colonies destroyed because of infestation of American Foulbrood Disease, a bacterial disease 

of honey bee larvae. There were 121,551 colonies that 

moved into Florida from 15 different migratory states 

and 125,145 colonies shipped from Florida to 24 different states.

In addition to regulatory responsibilities, the Apiary 

Section has educated thousands of citizens, tourists, and 

businesses in Florida and worldwide on the importance 

of honey bees and their place in agriculture. 

Honey Bee Health Issues in Florida

Honey bee health issues or challenges in Florida resulted 

in a 33 percent loss of honey bee colonies in 2008-2009 

due to the parasitic varroa mite and the tracheal mite, 

Nosema apis and ceranae, Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus 

(IAPV), American Foul Brood (AFB), European Foul 

Brood (EFB), and other viruses and bacteria which contribute to what is known as colony collapse disorder.

Florida beekeepers continue to produce some of the finest varietal honeys in the world. However, honey produced on a production scale does not return the revenue 

needed to solely allow this industry to compete with 

low-cost imported honey. Revenue produced from feebased pollination of an extensive list of crops provides 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 49

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the extra level of margin to keep commercial beekeepers 

solvent. Pollination of Florida crops adds significantly 

to the $100 billion value of this important resource. 

Thirty-five percent of the calories in the typical daily diet 

is commonly provided by the plants honey bees pollinate.

After a close examination of honey bees, their nest 

and foraging environment, pests, parasites and disease 

management, a variety of stressors have been identified. 

Pests, parasites and diseases introduced from outside of 

the United States continue to be identified as primary 

honey bee stressors.

External and internal honey bee mite parasites have 

weakened managed honey bee colonies and virtually 

eliminated feral European honey bee populations. 

Chemical miticides provided to control these destructive 

parasites may have negative long-term effects on honey 

bee populations. Introduced pathogens such as Nosema 

ceranae, and viruses such as the Israeli Acute Paralysis 

Virus that have limited control methods, have been 

discovered and implicated in honey bee health declines. 

Honey bee health may also be compromised by incomplete nutrition when the honey bees are confined to pollination/foraging activities in large mono-culture crops, 

which, in turn, can impact their immune system. Agricultural pest and disease control chemicals as applied 

topically or systemically on crops can unintentionally 

negatively impact the honey bee. Growth and development in Florida are crowding out various parts of the 

agriculture sector. Locations for beekeepers are being 

limited, making this profession more difficult.

Healthy honey bees mean a healthier, more robust 

beekeeping industry, which is beneficial to Florida 

agriculture. The business model for the commercial 

beekeeping industry is changing. Acceptance of yearly 

30 percent losses, dependence on pollination revenue 

to complement honey production, and loss of smaller 

beekeeping businesses as others grow is not a sustainable business model.

The number of part-time beekeepers has grown tremendously, adding 30 percent to the listing of registered beekeepers. These “hobby” beekeepers are actively engaged 

in forming new local and regional associations, training, 

educating, and advertising the value of honey bees to the 

general public in an effort to protect beekeeping. 

Despite the increase in the number of beekeepers, 

Florida’s honey bee colonies continue to lose vitality. 

Honey bees are simply not healthy, which makes commercial beekeeping in Florida less attractive and more 

precarious. Research on many fronts is under way to 

help improve overall honey bee health.

Africanized Honey Bee (AHB)

The Africanized Honey Bee (AHB) is an invasive insect 

that will eventually dominate the feral environment of 

Florida and the southeastern United States. Currently, 

the AHB is multiplying its population from a line that 

goes from the east coast to the west coast of Florida 

bisecting Orlando. Non-fatal stinging incidents involving people, pets, livestock, and wildlife are increasing, 

as expected. As an example, the Miami-Dade Venom 

Response Team responded to approximately 400 AHB 

stinging incidents in 2008. 

The Apiary Section continues planning and leadership 

on AHB educational outreach initiatives. Hundreds of 

thousands of Florida citizens and state, county, and 

municipal authorities have been trained on proper 

responses to avoid stinging incidents.

DPI has partnered with UF-IFAS on two levels for a 

comprehensive approach to AHB training. The first level 

involves training by Dr. Bill Kern for first responders (fire 

departments emergency rescue personnel and police). 

The second level involves the creation of the African 

Honey Bee Extension and Education Program (AFBEE) 

at UF-IFAS by Dr. James Ellis. AFBEE is designed to 
50 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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provide all of Florida with timely safety and eradication 

recommendations for AHB.

The Africanized Bee Identification Laboratory continues 

to operate under a backlog of samples submitted by 

apiary inspectors, UF-IFAS, pest control operators and 

concerned citizens.

Best management practices for beekeepers continue to 

be offered to registered beekeepers as a way to maintain 

manageable honey bee colonies and good relations with 

the public.

DPI, in coordination with other stakeholders in agriculture, state, county, and local government agencies, 

UF-IFAS, first responders, schools, hospitals, and many 

others, continues to develop tools and training to protect the beekeeping industry and educate the public on 

how to effectively and safely deal with this potential 

danger. The transition to a feral bee population dominated by AHB in Florida continues. DPI continues to do 

everything possible to avert and delay additional human 

fatalities by AHB in Florida.

Apiary Research Activities continued through DPI

(1) Increasing African Honey Bee Awareness via the 

African Honey Bee Extension and Education Program 

(AFBEE), Dr. Jamie Ellis, University of Florida/Institute 

of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

(2) African Honey Extension Education, William H. 

Kern, Jr., University of Florida/Institute of Food and 

Agricultural Sciences.

(3) Field Testing of Ozone (O3 ) as a Fumigant for 

Honey Bee Comb, Dr. Rosalind James, USDA-ARS, Logan, Utah.

(4) Bee Pests and Pest Bees: Reducing the Impacts by 

Nosema and Africanized Bees, Dr. Jay Evan, USDA-ARS, 

Beltsville, Maryland.

(5) Integrated Pest Management for Honey Bees, Dr. 

Paul Jepson, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.

(6) Quantifying the Exposure and Effect of Former 

Applied Pesticides on East Coast Migratory Operations 

Starting the Season in Florida, Dennis van Engelsdorp, 

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

(7) Identification of a Diet Supplement to Improve 

Honey Bee Health, Dr. Amanda Ellis, FDACS/DPI/Apiary 

Section, Gainesville, Florida.

(8) Determining Optimum Varroa Mite Economic 

Treatment Thresholds and Powdered Sugar Efficacy 

Trials, Dr. Amanda Ellis, FDACS/DPI/Apiary Section, 

Gainesville, Florida.

(9) Investigate the Use of Small Cell Foundation as a 

Tool for Varroa Mite Control, Dr. Amanda Ellis, FDACS/

DPI/Apiary Section, Gainesville, Florida.

Industry Status

The commercial apiculture industry continues to face 

challenges with honey bee health issues, low honey 

sales, loss of habitat, loss of agriculture, and loss of apiary sites in Florida. The part-time beekeeping industry 

continues to grow, due to increased awareness of the 

importance of honey bees.

Honey bee health: The Varroa mite, an external parasite, 

continues to be the most significant honey bee health 

concern. Controlling the mite without damaging the 

honey bees or colony is still a challenge.

Honey sales: Honey as produced on a commercial scale 

is a commodity. The low-cost producer always wins the 

commodity competition. Asian honey producers are 

the low-cost winners. They dominate the market and 

make honey-only production a flawed business model 

for Florida beekeepers. High-value Florida honey, such 

as tupelo and orange blossom, are still popular with the 

public.

Pollination business model: Many crops, such as almonds, cranberries, blueberries, and apples, are grown 

on vast acreage that requires honey bees for pollination 

and crop production. They absolutely require honey 

bees to produce a crop. Large mobile commercial beekeepers in Florida leave the state to participate in feebased pollination.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 51

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Entomology, Nematology 

and Plant Pathology

Entomology

The Entomology Section completed 11,082 separate 

identifications this year involving 341,042 specimens. 

During that same period, 19 exotic species were found 

established within the state, three of which represented 

new U.S. records. 

No old paper-based records were entered into the computer database, but all the old Paradox records were 

combined into a single Access database with 138,480 

records.

Significant New Arthropod Records

Acari

Diptilomiopus assamica Keifer, an eriophyid mite: A slight 

infestation was found on a sour orange tree in Hollywood, Broward County, in September, representing 

a new continental record. This species was reported 

previously from India and Australia on citrus. This mite 

does not seem to be an important pest, due to very low 

numbers, and is unlikely to be a pest on plants other 

than citrus.

Coleoptera

Carthosilvanus vulgaris (Grouvelle), a silvanid flat bark 

beetle: Specimens were collected in a blacklight trap at 

the Port Manatee Forestry Terminal in October 2008. 

This is a neotropical species not previously known from 

the United States; the collection was a continental record. This beetle is not of economic importance. It lives 

under bark and feeds on fungi. 

Diptera

Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard (a pea leafminer): This 

was intercepted on Molucella laevis, (bells of Ireland). 

This is the first positive identification of this highly 

invasive leafminer in Florida. This pest has possibly 

been intercepted on other imported commodities coming into Florida over the years, but never with a positive 

identification because DNA sequence data are needed 

to distinguish it from another commonly intercepted 

pest, the California pea leafminer, Liriomyza langei. The 

identification was confirmed with DNA sequence data 

showing >99 percent homology with L. huidobrensis vs. 

~95 percent homology with L. langei, and much lower 

homology with other Liriomyza species. The specimens 

were reared from cut foliage. Tracing the origin of the 

foliage was not possible because the vendor could not 

be located. No plant material was submitted to confirm 

the host species.

Hemiptera

Halyomorpha halys Stål, brown marmorated stinkbug: 

Specimens were found in a home in Plant City, Hillsborough County, on September 28, 2008. The infestation 

apparently arrived with household possessions moved 

from New Jersey. Another population was found in Polk 

City, Polk County, in February 2009 in a motor home 

belonging to a seasonal resident from an infested state. 

The only previous record of this species in Florida was a 

single specimen collected alive in a Jackson trap at Port 

Everglades in March 2006. Surveys near Port Everglades 

revealed no subsequent finds of the pest. The brown 

marmorated stinkbug is a serious pest of cultivated 

plants and a significant urban nuisance.

Haplaxius (=Myndus) crudus (Van Duzee), American palm 

cixiid planthopper: Specimens of the vector of lethal yellows of palms were found at the DPI property throughout the fall and in the early spring of 2009, indicating 

that the species over-wintered in Gainesville. Previously, 

it was thought that lethal yellow disease was limited to 

South Florida because the vector was not present further 

north. Now it appears that the presence of the cixiid 

vector is not the limiting factor for disease spread.

Eupteryx decemnotata Rey, Ligurian leafhopper: A specimen was intercepted on rosemary topiaries from California at a discount store in Palatka on December 3, 2008. 

Subsequent surveys showed that the species was established in California, but no further specimen was found 

in Florida. 

Hymenoptera

Leptocybe invasa Fisher and LaSalle, blue gum chalcid 

wasp: A moderate infestation was found on a plant at 

a residence in Lauderhill in Broward County and is a 

new continental record. This species, found on Eucalyptus, is an Australian gall wasp new to Florida and the 

United States. Within the past decade, it has become 

established in the Mediterranean Basin, several African 

countries, India, Southeast Asia, and Brazil. As Eucalyptus is used as both an ornamental and commercial 

tree in Florida, L. invasa has the potential of becoming a 
52 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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problematic pest. The wasp forms galls on new growth 

of young trees and seedlings, stunting growth. When 

large concentrations of these wasps are present, all new 

growth is susceptible to damage. The impact on adult 

trees is unknown. 

Lepidoptera

Grapholita angleseana (Kearfott), wild-strawberry seed 

borer: The species was first identified for Florida in 2008 

from specimens caught in 1974 in Gainesville. It occurs 

in northeastern states, but had not been reported from 

Florida before. Specimens were in backlog material in 

the FSCA collection. Hosts include wild strawberry (Fragaria spp.) in northern states. It is not known to attack 

commercial strawberries but should be watched for possible feeding on any plants in the strawberry group. 

Dryadaula terpsichorella (Busck), dancing moth: First 

recorded in Florida in late 2007 and subsequently noted 

to have several outbreaks in the Gainesville area during 2008. The moth occurs in Hawaii and California as 

well. It is a detritus feeder and does not present an economic problem for Florida. The adults may be noticed 

in swarms but feed only on plant debris. 

Cacocharis albimacula Walsingham, Caribbean gooseberry-tree leaftier: This West Indian and Mexican species 

was first recorded in Florida on November 18, 2008, and 

again on December 3, 2008, in Miami. A related species 

is native to southern Florida. Both species are of only 

modest economic concern, feeding on gooseberry tree 

(Phyllanthus acidus). 

Cydia erotella (Heinrich), Loblolly pine gall moth: The 

species was first reported for Florida in 2008 from specimens identified caught in 1975, 1983, 1989, and 1999. 

The Florida records are for Alachua, Miami-Dade, Gulf, 

and Santa Rosa counties. The larvae invade loblolly 

pines and make pitch galls in branch ends. The species 

appears to be of minor concern. It occurs in the southeastern United States. 

Cydia nigriargentis Heppner, black southern pine moth: 

First described in 2008, this dark brown and black moth 

occurs throughout the pinelands of Florida and adjacent states. It has been collected in Florida since 1972. 

The actual host plant is not known, but presumably is 

a pine, based on what related species feed on, but there 

seems no notable economic damage from the moth in 

Florida. 

Comotia torsicornis Dyar, Sapodilla flower moth: This 

Central American species was reported for Florida during 2008 from a specimen caught in Homestead in June 

2008. Further identifications made on specimens caught 

in southern Florida in 1992 proved to be the same species. The Homestead specimen was reared from sapodilla buds (Manilkara zapota), so the host plant is recorded 

for the first time as well. The species appears of minor 

importance for sapodilla cultivation.

Florida State Collection of Arthropods

Donations to the Florida State Collection of Arthropods totaled more than 71,998 specimens, valued at 

$430,526. Eight tours involving 95 students and adults 

took place during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

DPI Arthropod Quarantine Facilities

At both facilities, work continues on testing possible 

biological control agents, previously brought in under 

permit to quarantine, to control melalueca, tropical soda 

apple, cycad scale, Asian citrus psyllid, Metamasius bromeliad weevil, Jamaican nightshade, and Brazilian pepper. The following significant developments occurred 

this past year:

Florida Biological Control Laboratory: This facility 

houses DPI, UF-IFAS, and USDA staff. The USDA-ARS 

Old World Climbing Fern Biological Control Project 

moved from the Florida Biological Control Laboratory 

in Gainesville to the Invasive Plant Research Laboratory 

in Fort Lauderdale. This made room for the new USDAARS Chinese Tallow Biological Control Project. Currently, two beetles are being tested as possible biological 

control agents: Heterapoderopsis bicallosicollis and Bikasha 

collaris.

Biological Control Research and Containment Laboratory: The Biological Control Research and Containment 

Laboratory (BCRCL) at the University of Florida Indian 

River Research and Education Center is a cooperative 

program between UF-IFAS and DPI. Under this cooperative, DPI and UF personnel released under federal 

permit approximately 1,200 Lixadmontia franki (Diptera: 

Tachinidae) to help control Metamasius quadrilineatus, a 

pest of bromeliads in Florida. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 53

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Fruit Fly Identification Laboratory

Approximately 1,273,150 total fruit flies were screened 

and processed during this time in support of the Cooperative Sterile Preventive Release Program and the 

Caribbean Fruit Fly Free Certification Program. Delimitations for economic fruit flies from the previous year 

were successfully completed with no further fruit flies of 

economic importance being detected in Florida during 

fiscal year 2008-2009.

Approximately 250 combined personnel (division plant 

inspectors and USDA-APHIS-PPQ fruit fly survey specialists) serviced more than 55,000 total traps on 14- and 

21-day intervals as part of the Cooperative Fruit Fly 

Detection and Surveillance Program for the state. A total 

of 1,132,152 trap inspections were conducted during fiscal year 2008-2009. Of the traps inspected, 232,231, or 

17.9 percent of all fruit fly traps, were submitted to the 

Fruit Fly Identification Laboratory for further screening 

of suspect economic flies.

An estimated 2.3 billion sterile Mediterranean fruit flies 

were released at the rate of 125,000 per square mile 

over approximately 600 square miles. Approximately 

713,840 or 0.03 percent of the total sterile flies released 

were screened at the fruit fly lab for verification of sterility. There were 190 dissections performed to confirm 

sterility of suspect Mediterranean fruit flies from the preventive release areas, and there were 201 instances where 

suspect target economic fruit flies were sent to the Fruit 

Fly Identification Laboratory for urgent identification.

Annual refresher training and certification classes for the 

recognition of fruit flies of economic importance were 

conducted throughout the state for field personnel and 

temporary duty assigned personnel from the USDA Fruit 

Fly Strike Team. More than 300 people participated in 

the training.

Nematology

During this fiscal year, the nematology section analyzed 

14,630 samples. These samples contained more than 

74,800 specimens of plant parasitic nematodes, which 

were identified to genus and/or species by division 

nematologists. This diagnostic work involved 21,467 

morphological and molecular identifications. Nematological analyses for certification and regulatory programs 

relative to citrus, ornamentals, and other Florida crops 

represented 93.8 percent of the total diagnostic work. 

The remaining 6.2 percent included analyses for survey 

of nematodes of regulatory significance, plant problems, 

and investigations.

Bromeliads are ornamental epiphytes that are grown and 

traded for their attractive foliage and flowers. These ornamental epiphytes produce roots that anchor the plant 

to branches and twigs of trees, but also uptake nutrients 

when bromeliads are in contact with or grown in soil 

and other media. Shipments of these ornamentals often 

do not meet the nematode certification requirements for 

export to national and international markets because of 

presence of regulatory nematodes. A nematode survey was conducted in bromeliad operations in Central 

and South Florida in order to verify the most common 

plant parasitic nematodes which infect bromeliads. The 

results of this survey indicated that bromeliads belonging to the genera Guzmania, Neoregelia, and Vriesea are 

infected by root-lesion, root-knot, and spiral nematodes. The spiral nematode Helicotylenchus dihystera was 

the most common nematode detected in the surveyed 

operations. The peanut root-knot nematode Meloidogyne

arenaria was also found parasitizing Neoregelia roots in 

Central Florida. Pratylenchus brachyurus and other lesion nematodes, still in process of identification, were 

detected mainly in South Florida. All these nematodes 

feed inside the root tissues and are transported long distance with infected plants. The implementation of strict 

sanitation practices is the best approach to prevent the 

spread of these nematode pests in the nurseries. 

A survey of biological control agents infecting rootlesion nematodes in North Florida was initiated in this 

fiscal year. Specimens of Pratylenchus hexincisus collected 

from roots of Bermuda grass in Alachua County were 

found infected by the bacterium Pasteuria sp. The infection of this beneficial bacterium was not widespread in 

the surveyed fields. This survey is still in progress and is 

conducted in cooperation with the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida in 

Gainesville.

In April 2007, laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) plants were 

found infected with root-knot nematodes in a home 

garden in Alachua County. Infected roots were severely 

galled and partially rotted. Nematode-infected laurel 
54 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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oak secondary and tertiary roots were distorted by distinct round galls with attached egg masses protruding 

from their surface. Species identification was performed 

and was consistent with those previously reported for M. 

partityla. This appears to be the first report of M. partityla

occurring on Q. laurifolia. Also, this is the first report of 

a plant host outside the family Junglandaceae for this 

root-knot nematode species. Studies are in progress 

to determine the ability of the oak population of this 

nematode to infect and reproduce on other species of 

oaks and on pecan. 

Since 2007, division nematologists have been conducting a survey of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) in potatogrowing areas in Florida. Colleagues from USDA-APHIS 

and the Florida Cooperative Pest Survey participate 

in this survey, which was prompted by the find of the 

pale potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) in Idaho 

in April 2006. In 2007 and 2008, almost 500 samples 

were collected in South, Central, and North Florida. In 

2009 the PCN survey continued in North Florida and 

involved 147 samples from Flagler, Putnam, and Saint 

Johns counties. The results of the nematological analysis of these additional samples have not provided any 

evidence of occurrence of the regulated pale and golden 

nematodes in the potato-production areas in Florida. 

These findings have important regulatory significance 

and provide support to the exemption status of Florida 

agricultural industries from any ban on the export of 

potato tubers and other crops to countries regulating the 

PCN. 

The reproduction and virulence of four Florida isolates 

of Meloidogyne mayaguensis to the root-knot nematode 

resistant (Benning, Boggs, Bragg, Forrest, Haskell, Lee 

74 and G-93-9009) and susceptible (Bossier, GoSoy 17, 

Pickett) soybean genotypes were evaluated in a growth 

room. Two levels of each nematode isolate (low = 2,500 

J2 or eggs/ plant; high = and 5,000 eggs or J2/ plant) 

were used. None of the cultivars was immune to the isolates of M. mayaguensis. Differences in reproduction and 

virulence were detected among all the nematode isolates 

at both inoculum levels. All four isolates overcame the 

root-knot nematode resistance genes, including the Mir1

gene. The results of this work showed for the first time 

that gene(s) that confer resistance to at least one of the 

major root-knot nematode species in soybean may also 

confer resistance to some isolate of M. mayaguensis. 

This study, published in the journal Nematropica, was 

conducted in collaboration with the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. 

Studies have been conducted as an attempt to find molecular markers to identify Meloidogyne spp. from Florida. A study using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA 

(RAPD) was carried out using 26 random 10-mer primers (OPA01 to OPA20; M20, E07, J20, K07, K14, K19) to 

evaluate their usefulness to differentiate 49 isolates of 

Meloidogyne spp. (M. arenaria, M. floridensis, M. incognita, 

M javanica, M. mayaguensis, and four unidentified Meloidogyne spp.[M sp. 2-5]) collected from Florida. Numerous polymorphisms were found between the isolates of 

each unidentified Meloidogyne sp.; however, the isolates 

of M. sp. 3 were grouped more closely to isolates of M. 

javanica. This study was conducted in collaboration 

with the Department of Entomology and Nematology at 

the University of Florida. 

Janete Brito was invited by the European and Mediterranean Crop Protection Organization (EPPO) to participate in an expert working group to perform a pest risk 

analysis (PRA) for Meloidogyne mayaguensis. The meeting 

was held May 25-28, 2009, at the EPPO headquarters in 

Paris. 

Nematologists from the Department assisted their colleagues from the Italian Research Council in Bari, Italy, 

in the preparation of a report on the exotic and nonexotic nematode plant pests that pose a potential threat 

to the agriculture and environment of Italy. This report, 

which was intended for Italian regulatory agencies and 

local agricultural specialists, was published in the Italian 

Journal REDIA.

During the 2009 spring semester, Department nematologists organized graduate-level nematology seminars for 

the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the 

University of Florida in Gainesville and presented two 

seminars. 

Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory

The Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory (ADL) processed 

3,306 total samples during 2008-2009, including 350 

regulatory samples. Various molecular, biochemical, 

and other analytical techniques were used. Regulatory 

sample processing included:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 55

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Detection and identification:

– Identification of plant pathogenic bacteria including 

those responsible for citrus greening (HLB), zebra chip 

in potato, cucurbit yellow vine disease, citrus black spot, 

and phytoplasmas implicated in Texas phoenix palm 

decline (TPPD) in cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) and 

Phoenix palm.

– Identification of plant viruses including poty-, tospo-, 

gemini-, and other virus species.

– Taxonomic diagnosis of Phytophthora ramorum, the 

pathogen responsible for sudden oak death (SOD), as 

well as other Phytophthora species.

– Molecular taxonomic determination of pea leafminer 

larvae.

– Testing for soil formulation compliance as mandated 

by the Imported Fire Ant Certification Program.

Citrus Health Response Program-related 

Activities:

– Continued the development of a general molecular 

screening approach for proteobacteria in citrus as part 

of a strategy to detect pathogens in planta. This includes 

the development of fluorescent oligonucleotide probes 

to isolate and identify Liberibacter, Xylella fastidiosa, the 

causal pathogen of citrus variegated chlorosis, and other 

pathogens.

– Carried out screening and diagnosis for citrus canker, 

black spot, and phytoplasmas.

New and noteworthy records include:

– The confirmation of the fungus Phytophthora ramorum, 

the causal pathogen for sudden oak death, also known 

as ramorum blight, on leaf baits from water by DNA 

sequence analysis. 

– New county records confirmed for Texas phoenix palm 

decline for Duval, Lake, and Hardee counties, and the 

first confirmation of this phytoplasma in Sabal palmetto

for Sarasota County.

– Submitted a Plant Disease Note for the first record of 

Sida Golden Mosaic Virus on Phaseoplus vulgaris. The 

DNA sequence was submitted to the international gene 

bank.

New molecular diagnostics developed and/or implemented include those for:

– Citrus black spot pathogen Guignardia citricarpa.

– Cucurbit yellow vine disease pathogen, Serratia marcescens.

– Candidatus Liberibacter sp. associated with zebra chip 

in potato.

– Agromyzid pea leafminers Liriomyza huidobrensis and 

L. langei.

Plant Pathology

The Plant Pathology Section processed over 3,000 more 

samples this year compared to last year (11,142 samples 

this fiscal year compared to 8,128 samples in 2007-

08). Of that number, 1,933 were samples submitted for 

diagnosis of citrus canker, and 6,412 were submitted for 

diagnosis of citrus greening/huanglongbing. Over the 

last several years, sample numbers for routine pathology 

problems from division plant inspectors have remained 

at historically low levels. This is due to the number 

of special projects that take field personnel away from 

routine nursery inspection duties, and because many 

routine plant problems can now be identified in the 

field and brought to the attention of growers without the 

need for formal sampling. Even so, the number of routine pathology samples increased about 10 percent over 

last year. Some highlights of the past fiscal year follow:

Proposed Rule Change on Shipment of Fresh

Citrus Fruit from Florida

The Plant Pathology Section is continuing to cooperate on a USDA-Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops 

(TASC)-funded project along with UF-IFAS and USDAARS to assist the Florida fresh citrus fruit industry in 

marketing fruit now that citrus canker disease is endemic 

in the state. The discovery that citrus fruit with canker 

blemishes is not a good source of inoculum to initiate 

disease has been incorporated into a pivotal publication 

in the journal Crop Protection entitled “The epidemio-
56 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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logical significance of post-packinghouse survival of 

Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri for dissemination of Asiatic 

citrus canker via infected fruit.” This publication, along 

with another in Crop Protection titled “Survival and 

dispersal of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri from infected Satsuma mandarin fruit,” provided the basis for a proposed 

federal rule to ease the restrictions on shipping fresh 

citrus from canker-endemic production areas. (Federal 

Register 74(124)31201-31209, June 30, 2009). The comment period on the new rule will close August 31, 2009.

New Fungal Pathogen of Chrysanthemum Foliage

A potentially important fungal pathogen of chrysanthemum was brought to the DPI Plant Pathology Section’s 

attention by a large mum producer in Florida last year. 

After identifying the genus of the fungus, work continues 

to accurately identify this species of Plectosporium that 

causes blight symptoms on the mum foliage. Mary Palm 

and John McKemy (USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Beltsville, Maryland), mycologists knowledgeable about this genus, continue efforts to identify this Plectosporium to species. It is 

likely to be new and undescribed. Pathogenicity tests at 

DPI on Chrysanthemum x morifolium were positive.

Student Internships in the Plant Pathology Section

Three University of Florida students – one undergraduate from horticultural sciences and two plant medicine 

doctoral candidates – have participated in internships 

over the last year. Students learn basic and advanced 

diagnostic techniques for biotic and abiotic pathogens, 

and engage in small research projects involving new 

diseases or host plants. Projects investigated this round 

were the new foliar and leaf pathogen of Curcuma, Plectosporium delsorboi, the new rust disease of caused by the 

daylily rust pathogen Puccinia hemerocallidis originally 

thought to be Uredo dianellae (see separate paragraph 

below), and a survey of the cultural requirements for 

growing the newly discovered member of the Araucariaceae, Wollemia nobilis.

Phytophthora Ramorum Survey Activity

For the first time, Phytophthora ramorum was detected in a 

stream bait at a very low level about one-third of a mile 

down slope from the edge of a wholesale nursery in 

Havana, in Gadsden County, where infected plants had 

been detected in three of the past five years. The sample 

was obtained in late October 2008. Follow-up baiting 

of that same watershed in February 2009 failed to recover the pathogen a second time. This area will be monitored for several years to see if the pathogen establishes 

in the area. The watershed is in a remote wooded area 

that is subject to widely fluctuating water levels. Some 

years it is completely dried up and other years it experiences considerable flooding. It ultimately drains into 

the Ochlocknee River and Lake Talquin. This is the third 

year of stream baiting for the presence of Phytophthora 

ramorum both within and outside the confines of a retail 

garden center in Tallahassee and its wholesale operation in the nearby community of Havana. This project is 

conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service to 

track the possible spread of the sudden oak death/ramorum blight pathogen in the nursery trade.

Gladiolus Rust

For the second year in a row, gladiolus rust disease

(Uromyces transversalis) was absent in the Manatee 

County area. Both commercial and private residential 

gladiolus in the area made it through the season without 

infection. Additionally, the commercial glad production 

area in remote Hendry County also managed to stay 

rust free this season for the first time since the disease 

first appeared in the United States in the spring of 2006. 

Growers have faithfully and successfully followed recommendations from the joint state-federal regulatory 

working group to impose a host-free period to let the 

pathogen die out in the area, scout their crops with the 

aid of regulatory personnel, and apply fungicides in a 

judicious manner. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 57

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Commercial sales of cut flowers have been maintained 

throughout this eradication program by conducting 

careful inspections, foliage stripping, and fungicide dips 

at the packinghouse to make sure infected plants stay 

out of commerce. This is a remarkable example of a 

successful eradication program against a rust pathogen. 

Long-distance transport of rust inoculum from South 

America, Mexico, California, or the African Continent 

might one day again infect the Florida crop, but it appears the local industry is well on the way to eradication 

for now. The pathogen has gotten a firm foothold in 

residential (but not commercial) gladiolus in parts of 

California, making it unlikely that eradication would be 

possible there. 

Update on the New Rust Disease on 

Dianella Tasmanica

The rust disease on Dianella tasmanica has apparently 

established in several locations in South and Central 

Florida, but does not appear to cause much damage 

to the host. Original suspicions that this might be a 

host range expansion of the daylily rust pathogen were 

eventually proven accurate by molecular testing, but not 

before a preliminary determination had been passed 

down from the USDA Mycology lab in Beltsville that 

the pathogen was Uredo dianellae. In spite of the identification as daylily rust, efforts at DPI and UF to infect 

Dianella with rust from daylily or daylily with rust from 

Dianella have yet to be successful. Host specialization 

may be occurring. Weed scientists have recently expressed some concern over the invasiveness of this plant 

genus in natural ecosystems in South Florida.

Anticipated Movement of the Laurel Wilt 

Pathogen Into Avocado

The laurel wilt pathogen, now known as Raffaelea lauricola, and its vector, the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus 

glabratus), were first discovered in the Port Wentworth 

area on the Atlantic coast of Georgia just south of the 

South Carolina line in May 2002. Since that time, 

the pair has moved north, west, and especially south, 

spreading to date into 21 counties in Florida. The duo 

has killed untold numbers of redbay (Persea borbonia), 

along with lesser numbers of several other members of 

the Lauraceae. Avocado (Persea Americana) is a known 

host for the pair, and incursion into the avocado industry of Miami-Dade County is anticipated at any time. 

Avocado trees outside the commercial production area 

have already fallen victim to the disease, one in Jacksonville in September 2007, one in Malabar, in Brevard 

County, in October 2008, and one more in Merritt Island, also in Brevard County, in early 2009. Laurel wilt 

on redbay spanned the Florida peninsula for the first 

time in 2009, showing up on redbay in Citrus County 

on the Gulf Coast in late May. 

Mysterious Dieback of Spartina Alterniflora in 

Salt Marshes of the Southeast

For several years, sudden dieback of marsh grass (Spartina alterniflora) has been observed in various locations in 

the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the southeastern United 

States during the spring and summer. Florida has seen 

several especially noteworthy episodes in the Big Bend 

area off the coast of Gulf County. A cooperative effort 

with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 

to determine the cause has been largely unsuccessful to 

date, though some Dipteran larval borers and a few potential pathogenic fungi have been retrieved sporadically 

from samples. The syndrome abates by mid-summer, 

so further diagnostic efforts must await the next season. 

Other labs around the Southeast are facing similar frustration trying to determine possible causes.

Capability for In-house Molecular Diagnosis of 

Citrus Black Spot Disease (Guignardia citricarpa)

Citrus black spot is a fungal disease of fruit that is 

strictly regulated by the European Union and other 

citrus-production regions that remain free of the disease. 

For many years almost every fresh fruit export shipping 

season has had one or more cargo ship load of fruit held 

up in a European port for a presumptive diagnosis of 

citrus black spot. This is because many innocuous lesions on fruit can mimic the genuine black spot disease 

to a degree. Conventional diagnostics of the disease are 

so slow that a shipment faces serious degradation while 

waiting for confirmation or release. Recent improvements in PCR diagnostics supplied by Dr. Natalia Peres 

(UF, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center) now 

make it possible to check for the pathogen in pre-harvest 

surveys, or on fruit in commerce that displays early 

symptoms that are suggestive of the disease. The DPI 

citrus diagnostic team is adapting techniques for the use 

of the new diagnostics to assist with survey samples or 

samples of exported Florida fruit being held in port. 
58 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Davis Productivity Award to the Citrus Greening 

Diagnostic Group 

The citrus greening diagnostic group made up of Xiaoan 

Sun, Debra Jones, Tim Schubert, Wayne Dixon, Shannon 

Hickey, Koo-Whang Chung, Miriam Agdamag, Huiwen 

Chen, Lisa Jones, Bruce Sutton, and Susan Halbert were 

honored with a Notable Team/Work Unit/Partnership 

Cash Award from the Davis Productivity organization 

in June. Unprecedented sample loads for greening 

diagnosis required some streamlining of the process, 

so team members learned how to triage samples that 

required more expensive and time-consuming molecular 

diagnostics, and trained themselves to use visual assessments backed up by routine molecular confirmations to 

process and diagnose other samples. By careful training, diagnostic accuracy remained at peak levels, and 

large numbers of samples were processed accurately and 

speedily for the citrus industry. 

Progress with the Plant Pathogen/Problem 

Specimen Tracking (PPST) Database

The Plant Pathology Specimen Tracking (PPST) database 

continues to serve the section well and with use staff 

is growing familiar with database functions and capacity. The database modernizes the old SMART® database 

that had served the section well since 1984. The new 

system provides a much richer synopsis of each specimen processed, including records of all diagnostic tests 

with comments, pictures from the field and in the lab, 

and literature references used in the diagnostic process. 

The system also emails the completed diagnosis to all 

interested parties. Retrieval of records is improving as 

division data processing staff makes adjustments. The 

database compilation of disease records constitutes an 

online, searchable, continuously updated pathogen and 

host index for Florida, replacing the hard copy “Diseases 

and Disorders of Plants in Florida.” The overall format 

of PPST will serve as the template for tracking and storage of entomology, botany, and nematology determinations in the future.

Additional New Host Records of Interest

Cercospora ipomoeae was a new host record on Ipomoea 

hederifolia, an ornamental vine and wildflower. This 

sample came from the landscape on the grounds of the 

Doyle Conner Building in Gainesville.

Crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) was reported for 

the first time on Brugmansia x candida, angel’s trumpet.

A leaf smut/yellow leaf spot disease caused by Kordyana 

tradescantiae was reported for the first time in the Western Hemisphere on the wildflower Tradescantia ohiensis. 

Both nursery-cultivated and wild plants in the natural 

environment in North Florida have been found with the 

infection.

The Texas Phoenix palm decline (TPPD) strain of the 

palm lethal yellowing phytoplasma pathogen was found 

infecting the state tree, Sabal palmetto, in DeSoto County 

in August. This marks a significant range expansion for 

this strain. Infected sabal palms have been discovered 

now in 11 Florida counties, mostly in the Tampa Bay 

area. The disease presents formidable phytosanitary 

challenges for regulating commercial palm traffic. A 

survey for this disease continues. The vector for infecting Sabal palmetto remains unknown. Several phloemfeeding insects are good candidates, but none are proven 

vectors at this time. 

A leaf necrosis on Ctenanthe oppenheimiana (never-never 

plant) caused by Exserohilum rostratum was a new host record. The sample submitted in October 2008 was from 

an orchid nursery in Clearwater.

A new leaf spot disease on Christia obcordata (a legume 

known as ‘butterfly leaf’) from Immokalee in October 

2008 was caused by an undetermined Bipolaris spp.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (downy myrtle) from Apopka 

was the latest new victim of the rust pathogen Puccinia 

psidii, which has been increasing in intensity on many 

members of the Myrtaceae in recent years.

A bacterial leaf and twig blight on Gymnanthes lucida

(oysterwood) from a nursery in Homestead was attributed for the first time to a Xanthomonas sp. 

Phytophthora cinnamomi was detected for the first time 

on the host Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel), causing a 

root rot. The sample came in from a Tallahassee nursery 

in November 2008.

A sample of Japanese plum-yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) was submitted in November 2008 from a Gainesville nursery with a Pythium root rot, a first report on this host.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 59

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An ornamental Tillandsia sp. with rotten leaf bases was 

found to be infected with Nigrospora oryzae, plus a Colletotrichum sp. The Nigrospora was a first on this host. 

The sample was submitted in December 2008 from 

Clermont.

A Phytophthora root rot was detected for the first time on 

Erysimium chieri (Citrona yellow treacle mustard). The 

species of Phytophthora on the December 2008 sample 

from a Gainesville nursery could not be determined.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was detected in 

Gainesville in September 2008 for the first time on the 

perennial bedding plant and wildflower Stokesia laevis

(Stokes’ aster). This virus is transmitted by thrips.

The first record of Rhizoctonia solani root rot of bay-cedar 

(Suriana maritima) was submitted to the clinic in January 2009 from Lake Worth.

A root rot of Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) caused 

by the black root rot pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola was 

diagnosed from Bell in January 2009.

Agave angustifolia (century plant) was diagnosed with the 

leaf anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum agaves for the 

first time in March 2009 on a sample from Inverness.

Problems with chlorotic mosaic patterns and distortion 

on the foliage of prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) cuttings entering Florida from Central America was attributed to sugarcane mosaic virus, a new host record. 

Gray mold disease caused by Botrytis cineraria was diagnosed for the first time on Bethlehem lungwort (Pulmonaria saccharata), a perennial bedding plant, on a sample 

submitted to the clinic from a Eustis nursery in March 

2009.

A sample of Ilex krugiana (tawnyberry holly) from Coral 

Gables was diagnosed with a Pseudocercospora sp. leaf 

spot in March 2009.

A wilted manuka or New Zealand Tea tree (Leptospermum 

scoparium) in Gainesville yielded the first diagnosis of an 

Acremonium sp. in May 2009.

An unusual black fleck disorder on the foliage of Hydrangea macrophylla was determined to be the result of 

explosive ascospore discharge from Sordaria sp. perithecia in the potting media. The media contained manure 

and wood chips which served as substrate for the saprophytic fungus. The aggregated pattern of ascospore 

deposition was the tip-off that led to the identification. 

Flecks such as these are often attributed to unknown 

insects by plant health inspectors. This can result in the 

phytosanitary rejection of a shipment of plants. 

A new Mycovellosiella leaf spot was diagnosed on Plumeria frangipani foliage on a sample from Naples in June 

2009. 

Citrus Germplasm Introduction Program

The Citrus Germplasm Introduction Program (CGIP) in 

Gainesville initiates the quarantine process for importation of new citrus varieties into Florida. Individuals 

who are interested in importing new varieties will submit their requests to the Division Director and, following approvals by the director and the Citrus Budwood 

Technical Advisory Committee, CGIP will request budwood for the new variety under a USDA-APHIS departmental permit. Foreign budwood arrives in Beltsville, 

Maryland, where it is examined by USDA inspectors and 

if found apparently clean, is repackaged and shipped to 

CGIP. Upon arrival, the budwood is surface-sterilized, 

grafted, and prepared for therapy using shoot-tip grafting (STG) and/or thermaltherapy. Plants derived from 

therapy procedures are then pathogen-tested by laboratory diagnostics and bio-indexing. Once testing is 

complete, and no pathogen has been detected, commercial varieties are transferred to the Bureau of Citrus 

Budwood Registration greenhouses in Chiefland, where 

they are horticulturally evaluated and released as certified budwood. Research and breeding selections that 

complete introduction procedures are released to the 

original requestor. Therapy and treatments will vary 
60 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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depending on the source of budwood and the risk of 

its infection. High-risk germplasm is generally infected 

with one or more pathogens and requires both STG and 

heat therapies, full indexing, and testing, which is an 

estimated 24-to-35-month process. Low-risk germplasm 

is a candidate for expedited-type protocols that require 

only a single therapy, and reduction of indexing and 

testing that may be completed within 12 to 24 months. 

The “Passport” exchange of budwood between CGIP and 

California citrus germplasm programs is based upon 

core requirements set by NAPPO (North American Plant 

Protection Organization). Based on records supplied by 

the provider, a recipient program may choose to employ 

additional assays or therapy on the new variety prior to 

releasing it as certified budwood. CGIP currently employs three full-time personnel: one manager (Ms. Lisa 

Williams), one laboratory-scientist/shoot-tip grafter (Mr. 

Mark Gooch), and one greenhouse tech/grafter (Mr. 

Bryan McElroy). 

Ten new citrus selections entered the introduction program. They originated from Texas and Australia. Eight 

selections from Texas A&M University represented three 

varieties including: Hamlin sweet orange, Rio Red, and 

Ruby Red grapefruits. All were genetically modified and 

carry the SoD2 gene to express the spinach defensin 

protein, capable of causing resistant reactions to citrus 

canker and greening. Two tetraploid pummelos were 

provided for research and breeding by the Department 

of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, 

Australia. 

Citrus Germplasm Introduction Program - 

Varieties

New Varieties Released:

 4N Clementine

 Lemon UF 1-7-45 

 Lemon UF 1-8-57 

 Lemon UF 1-9-42 

 Lemon UF 1-9-57 

 Lemon UF 1-11-46 

 Southern Farms 8-2-6 Valencia 01-NS3

 Glen Red nucellar 

 Podagra rough lemon 

 “Vinegrowth” seedling

 Tango mandarin 

 Lemon UF 1-15-30 

 Lemon UF 1-15-43 

 Lemon UF 2-1-26 

 Lemon UF 2-2-13 

 Lemon UF 2-3-29 

 Lemon UF 1-15-23 

 Lemon UF 2-6-23 

 Foster grapefruit 

 Leug shaddock 

 Queen orange 

 Westcott pummelo 

Florida Varieties for Clean-up:

Grapefruit: 

 Charonja 

 “Good” pummelo

Miscellaneous:

 Ira Ebersole ugli

 Leopard Spot seedling

Sunfruit 

 Orange:

 Cadenera 441-33-27

 Cuban White

 Dr. King Valencia

 King seedling

 SF 8-1-1 02 Val 01-NL 15

 Lemon:

 RL 8166

 40 X Lemon-oil selections
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 61

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New Imported Varieties in Progress:

Grapefruit: 

 Dalandan

 Rio Red-Tx-5 

 Ruby Red-Tx-420

 Ruby Red-Tx-824

 Ruby Red-Tx-867

 Ruby Red-Tx-877

 Ruby Red-Tx-882 

 Ruby Red-Tx-890

Mandarin:

 C5282

 Eloise (2 selections)

 Mandalate

 Mandared

 Moria

 Winola 

Sweet orange:

 Hamlin-Tx-311

 Natal Valencia

Tetraploids:

 Hudson grapefruit

 Mucott

 Minneola

 Pomelo A

 Pomelo B

 Pomelo B

All field-grown citrus in Florida is at risk of infection 

with serious diseases endemic to the state including: 

citrus stem-pitting tristeza, canker, and citrus greening. 

Over the past few years citrus breeding programs with 

plants in the field sought to rescue many of their most 

valuable selections by providing budwood of each selection to CGIP for therapy and indexing. Once cleaned, 

these selections will be returned to their original institution for protection in a repository greenhouse. 

CGIP released 22 citrus varieties from quarantine following completion of therapy and indexing and no 

pathogens being detected. Twenty of these selections 

originated from the University of Florida (UF) breeding program, either infected with citrus tristeza virus or 

exposed to citrus canker or greening. Releases included: 

12 lemon selections bred for oil production, and an assortment of varieties from a Fort Pierce citrus collection. 

The remaining two selections originated from California: Tetraploid Clementine will be used for breeding and 

production of seedless triploids, and Tango Mandarin 

is a proprietary seedless Murcott requested by the New 

Varieties Development and Management Corporation.

Planning continues for construction of the Citrus Repository at Boston Farm, where CGIP will relocate to 

a 3,900-square-foot office/lab and an 18,000-squarefoot greenhouse facility built in conjunction with CBR 

backup budwood collection, located in Alachua. 

Dr. Luis Navarro, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones 

Agrarias, Spain, visited CGIP in August. Dr. Navarro is 

world-renown for using shoot-tip grafting to remove 

citrus pathogens. He shared an informative presentation regarding citrus quarantine programs and his expert 

advice on successful citrus therapy and indexing. 

CGIP hosted an October 2008 visit by Mr. Marco Gonzalez, Agricultural Specialist with the USDA-APHIS-IS 

and U.S. Embassy, who led a tour group for Organismo 

Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria with 

representatives from Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican 

Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. 

Participants were interested in viewing certification programs in operation. 

Botany

For fiscal year 2008-2009, the Botany Section processed 

9,183 samples. In addition, 347 specimens were added 

to the DPI herbarium (PIHG), bringing the total size 

of the collection to 10,484. The number of vials in the 

seed collection remains at 1,469. 

The Botany Section is participating in an ongoing project to provide forest health training material to the Division of Forestry, and at the same time adding specimens 

to the herbarium. The section is collecting samples 

of FLEPPC-listed invasive exotic plants and preparing 

herbarium specimens, two for each species for the Division of Forestry, and one for PIHG. So far, the section 
62 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Dr. Richard Weaver completed work on a revision of the 

text of the Division of Forestry handbook, “Forest Trees 

of Florida.” Dr. Anderson assisted by constructing an 

identification key.

Dr. Patti Anderson is participating in developing the 

Lucid Palm Resource, a project in cooperation with the 

USDA. The project, when completed, will provide interactive keys to the identification of the palms cultivated 

in the United States and the Caribbean islands, and to 

their pests. Dr. Anderson is working on the palm identification key and has greatly expanded the palm section 

of DPI’s herbarium. She completed two week-long field 

trips to Montgomery Botanical Center, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and other parts of southern Florida 

in December 2008 and April 2009. She has attended 

USDA workshops in Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville to 

coordinate the development of the key with entomologists on the project. 

Dr. Weaver is working on an online fifth edition of 

“Notes” on Florida’s endangered and threatened plants. 

This was last revised in 2003, and 19 species have been 

added to the endangered list since then. There are also 

numerous new county records, references, and illustrations to be listed.

Dr. Weaver has also begun a weed-identification project 

titled “Weed of the Month,” in which information about 

pest plants is provided via the DPI intranet for use by 

plant inspectors and other interested staff.

Dr. Anderson is the managing editor of “TRI-OLOGY,” a 

bimonthly summary of interesting or significant records 

of plants, arthropods, and diseases identified and processed during the period. Working with Dr. Weaver and 

staff from other sections, she has coordinated a revision 

of the report with improved use of the Internet to enhance access to these identifications.

Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey 

The Florida Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) 

program is comprised of a state survey coordinator, 

three pest survey specialists, a geographic information 

specialist, a public information specialist, a molecular 

diagnostician and a laboratory technician. These individuals, together with USDA pest survey specialists and 

the entomology domestic identifier, comprise the largest CAPS program in the nation. The CAPS team was 

involved in many key surveys and initiatives throughout 

the state during fiscal year 2008-2009.

Florida’s agricultural community and citizens were 

made more aware of exotic pests through several activities including the CAPS web pages, a traveling tabletop 

exhibit display, public outreach door hangers, a webbased emerald ash borer video public service announcement, flyers, online survey reports, computer desktop 

calendars, pest identification training sessions, scientific 

conferences, public meetings and presentations, and 

newspaper articles. 

Potato Cyst Nematode Survey

On April 19, 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture 

(ISDA) announced, that the pale potato cyst nematode 

(Globodera pallida Stone) had been detected from a soil 

sample collected at an ISDA potato grading facility. This 

sample was collected in an ongoing Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) to detect exotic pest nematodes. This was the first detection of this very important 

nematode pest of potato in the United States. 

Globodera pallida and the closely related golden nematode (G. rostochiensis Woll.) form a pest complex in 

which each species is commonly referred to as a potato 

cyst nematode (PCN). These potato cyst nematodes 

are of worldwide regulatory concern. PCN are obligate 

parasites of a number of solanaceous plants, including 

potato, tomato, and eggplant (with potato being the 

most important). They can cause potato yield losses 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 63

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of 20 to 70 percent and are easily transferred by passive means, especially in soil adhering to potato tubers. 

Female PCN can produce hundreds of eggs, which after 

the females’ death are retained in their hardened bodies, 

or cysts, which can persist in soils for 20 to 30 years in 

absence of a suitable solanaceous host. Their presence 

can spur quarantine action and result in loss of markets.

A CAPS potato cyst nematode survey initiative began in 

Florida in April 2007. According to the national protocol, 10 percent of commercial potato fields in each 

county were to be randomly sampled. At this time, the 

CAPS team has surveyed and sampled 16,853 acres in 11 

Florida counties:

Charlotte 100

Collier 1,947

Flagler 665

Lee 1,416

Manatee 1,850

Miami-Dade 60

Osceola 1,300

Okeechobee 1,200

Putnam 1,777

St. Johns 4,738

Suwannee 1,800

This represents over 60 percent of the state’s commercial potato production acreage. A total of 1,262 soil 

samples were submitted from the survey to DPI nematologists for processing and identification. No PCN has 

been found in any samples processed at the time of this 

report. In addition to a thorough screening for PCN, all 

plant-parasitic nematodes found in each sample were 

identified. From the 1,262 soil samples currently processed, 197,444 plant-parasitic nematodes in two orders, 

eight families, and 15 genera have been recorded. No 

nematodes of regulatory concern have been found. A 

report of the results of the nematologists’ findings for 

each site/field was provided to the producer. 

Laurel Wilt/Red bay Ambrosia Beetle Survey

The red bay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichoff) 

and its symbiotic fungus, Raffaelea lauricola Harrington 

and Fraedrich, were first detected in Florida in 2005. 

Since then, the CAPS team has worked with the Division of Forestry to survey for and track the spread of this 

beetle/pathogen complex throughout the state. 

Laurel wilt has an expanding host range that includes 

avocado (Persea americana var americana Mill.), red bay 

(Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.), swamp bay (Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg.), silk bay (Persea humilis Nash), sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees), pondspice (Litsea 

aestivalis (L.) Fernald), pondberry (Lindera melissifolia

(Walter) Blume), and camphor tree (Cinnamommum 

camphora (L.) J. Presl.). This fungus grows throughout 

the sapwood of a tree, preventing the flow of water and 

nutrients within the plant, ultimately killing the tree a 

few weeks after inoculation. 

While the loss of red bay from the Florida landscape 

would be of ecological significance, the loss of avocado 

would be of considerable economic and agricultural 

significance. The Florida avocado industry consists of 

about 7,000 fruit-bearing acres (personal communication, Alan Flinn, Avocado Administrative Committee, 

May 2009), more than 99 percent of which are located 

in southern Miami-Dade County. Avocados are a $13 

million industry in Florida. The infestation by the 

beetle and infection by its symbiotic fungus could result 

in a permanent reduction in the long-term profitability 

of the local avocado industry. For this reason, the CAPS 

survey efforts were increased in scope and intensity as 

the disease moved ever closer to the major avocado 

production area in fiscal year 2008-2009. Several major surveys took place as well as a continued trapping 

initiative and a new sentinel site survey program. The 

CAPS team discovered laurel wilt and its vector in St. 

Lucie and Martin counties, placing the disease about 100 

miles from the avocado production area. Palm Beach, 

Broward, and Miami-Dade counties were intensely surveyed, and 18 redbay ambrosia beetle traps were placed 

strategically throughout this region. DPI and USDA 

Fruit Fly Detection Program (FFD) personnel in Palm 

Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties were trained 

on how to set up sentinel survey trees along their trap 

lines. This additional program will include one sentinel 

site within an FFD trapper’s territory for regular monitoring in conjunction with their regular fruit fly trapping 

duties. Thus far, no evidence of laurel wilt or the beetle 

Xyleborus glabratus has been observed within the MiamiDade survey area. 
64 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Small Grains Survey

In Florida, there are three small grain crops grown in 

quantity: wheat, oats, and rye. Wheat and oats are more 

commonly grown followed by small acreage of rye. 

Most small grains in Florida are grown in the northwest 

counties of the state located near the Georgia state line. 

Of these counties, the highest producing are Jackson, 

Escambia, and Calhoun. The Florida CAPS program 

chose to survey for four pests with likely pathways 

into the state, including the wheat bug (Nysius huttoni 

White), the rice cutworm, Spodoptera litura (F.), and the 

old world bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), 

all of which pose a serious threat to wheat, oat, and rye 

production in Florida. The rust disease caused by Puccinia graminis tritici race Ug99 will also be surveyed for 

in concurrence with the other pests.

Florida’s 2008 wheat acreage was almost double that of 

2007, going from 13,000 to 25,000 acres. The value of 

the 2007 wheat crop was $2,206,000. Although Florida’s acreage is relatively small compared to other states 

to the north, Florida’s wheat can serve as a springboard 

for exotic wheat pests to move northward throughout 

the wheat production areas, which for 2008 is estimated 

to be approximately 63.5 million acres. 

The Florida CAPS team surveyed wheat, rye, and oats in 

Calhoun, Columbia, Escambia, and Jackson counties 

as part of a national small grains survey. Pheromonebaited bucket traps and UV-light traps were used as well 

as more traditional collecting techniques such as beating and sweeping and visually surveying a field. Over 

2,300 insects were screened and thousands of acres were 

surveyed. While this survey did result in 35 new county 

records, no pest of regulatory concern was collected.

Light Brown Apple Moth Survey

In March 2007 a light brown apple moth (Epiphyas 

postvittana) was collected in Berkeley, California. Shortly 

after this find, the pest was trapped in several other 

locations in the area. This led to an Incident Command 

System (ICS) program and an effort by California and 

USDA to eradicate this pest from the U.S. mainland. 

Florida receives much of its nursery stock from California, so a very real pathway for the introduction of this 

pest into Florida exists. 

This prompted the Florida CAPS program to identify 

and locate nurseries in Florida that receive nursery stock 

from light brown apple moth (LBAM)-positive counties in California. When a high-risk nursery was identified, Jackson traps baited with an LBAM pheromone 

lure were placed either within or in the environs of the 

nursery. At the time of this report, 122 LBAM traps had 

been placed in high-risk nurseries, cut flower distribution centers, and produce distribution centers. Another 

28 traps will be added in fiscal year 2009-2010. 

Solid Wood Packing Material Survey

Florida’s forest industry contributes $16.6 billion to the 

state’s economy annually and encompasses almost 16 

million acres. Florida’s forests are truly unique and are 

home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the 

world. Not only do the public forests of Florida provide 

habitat for its many endemic animal and plant species, 

but, with a relatively mild climate, state and national 

forests are a major draw for campers year round. Florida 

is a major trade hub and receives material by rail, sea, 

and air from all over the world. The state has 12 international airports and 14 deep-water maritime ports. 

Therefore, Florida is a high-risk state for the introduction 

and establishment of exotic wood-boring insects. Early 

detection of exotic wood-boring insects is critical to successful implementation of response actions. The importance of this type of survey is underscored by the discovery of the redbay ambrosia beetle after it had become 

established in North Florida and the expense of trapping 

and tracking this pest, the loss of the extremely ecologically important redbay tree, and the potential damage to 

avocado production in South Florida.

In recent years, several invasive species that threaten 

trees and other natural resources have been introduced 

into the United States via solid-wood packing materials 

(SWPM). Florida’s ideal environmental conditions and 

extensive international ports of entry combine to make 

this state an incredibly high-risk area for the introduction of pests in SWPM. This threat prompted the Florida 

CAPS program to begin setting traps for species of concern associated with SWPM within or very near Florida’s 

major international maritime ports. At the time this report was written, traps had been set at all major seaports 

in Florida. A total of 29 traps have been set statewide. 

This initiative is planned to continue for an unspecified 

length of time. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 65

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Emerald Ash Borer Survey

In June 2002 Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (emerald ash 

borer) was identified as the causal agent of ash decline 

in the Detroit metropolitan area. It is believed that this 

buprestid was brought in on solid wood packing materials transporting goods from the beetle’s native East 

Asia. The discovery has led federal and state regulators 

to set quarantines, which have grown to track the beetle 

as new finds have been discovered in Michigan, Ontario, 

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. 

In its larval stage, the emerald ash borer (EAB) feeds 

underneath the bark of an ash tree, developing galleries 

in the xylem and phloem of the tree, which eventually 

girdle it. This activity will usually lead to the mortality 

of the tree within three years. Symptoms of EAB infestation include leaf dieback, bark splitting, feeding galleries 

(often forming a serpentine path along the wood grain 

of an affected tree), epicormic shoots, and small Dshaped holes where an EAB has emerged from the trunk 

after completing the larval stage of its life cycle. In its 

native habitat, EAB is a relatively uncommon insect, but 

the lack of domestic predators and parasitoids have left 

some researchers with the expectation of total loss of ash 

tree cover. 

In Florida, ash trees are an important part of the forest 

habitat as well as a useful commodity. The ash is valued 

in the landscaping industry for its aesthetic appeal and 

speedy growth. Its strength-to-weight ratio makes it a favorite among carpenters, who use it in the construction 

of baseball bats, furniture, flooring, musical instruments, 

and many other useful items. Although Fraxinus does 

not constitute the most dominant genus in the tree canopy, its fast-growing nature and high seed production 

make it an important colonizer of disturbed areas of the 

forest, and integral for the prevention of soil erosion in 

the riparian environments where, in Florida, most species grow. The disappearance of the four ash species that 

grow in Florida will have a direct affect on many other 

species. For one it would tax the already rare and endangered population of ghost orchids, Dendrophylax lindenii. 

Of the thousand or so of these rare and exotic epiphytes 

left, 95 percent are growing on Florida’s native ash. Other species that depend on ash are the giant sphinx moth 

(Cocytius antaeus), great ash sphinx (Sphinx chersis), and 

the angel moth (Olceclostera angelica).

The lure used for this trapping initiative is either manuka oil or a manuka oil/phoebe oil mix which is placed 

in a purple prism trap before hanging. The number of 

traps per park ranges from two to four per park, depending on the size of the park. Traps are checked on a 

monthly basis and lures changed on a bimonthly basis. 

No EAB has been detected from these traps so far.

At this time 137 purple prism traps are active in 31 

counties. These traps are located in state parks, national 

forests, and private campgrounds. This survey will continue in fiscal year 2009-2010, and the number of traps 

in the field will be increased to 150.
66 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Domestic Security 

and Emergency 

Preparedness

The Department continues to work diligently to assure 

that Florida’s agricultural resources are safe from terrorism and prepared for all types of disasters. The Office of 

Agricultural Emergency Preparedness, established shortly after the terrorist attacks of 2001, coordinates with 

all of the Department’s divisions and offices to assure 

that its diverse programs are consistent, integrated, and 

equipped for success.

For the Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness, 

planning and training were top priorities for the 2008-

2009 fiscal year. Florida continues to be a national leader in the amount of federal homeland security funding 

used for the protection of food and agricultural systems. 

The Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness assisted the Department in obtaining $1.7 million in grant 

funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

for use during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. 

Funding was used to support key Department initiatives including support for technological advances at 

Agricultural Interdiction Stations (Office of Agricultural 

Law Enforcement), training and support of All-Hazard 

Incident Management Teams (Division of Forestry), support for laboratory enhancements (Agricultural Environmental Services, Animal Industry, and Food Safety) and 

continued support of the State Agricultural Response 

Team (led by the Division of Animal Industry). Funding 

was also provided for development and implementation 

of statewide, multiagency food, agriculture, and animal 

health emergency response and mitigation plans (in 

partnership with the divisions of Food Safety and Animal Industry).

The office continued to offer U. S. Department of Homeland Security-certified courses developed by the Western 

Institute of Food Safety and Security (WIFSS). More 

than 1,000 participants were provided with in-depth 

agroterrorism preparedness training during 24 course 

offerings throughout Florida. Attendees included Department employees and many of the Department’s 

homeland security partners from local, state, and federal 

agencies. Because of the high level of interest in these 

courses and the quality of the instruction, additional 

WIFSS agroterrorism courses will be offered throughout 

Florida in the coming months. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 67

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Florida Agricultural 

Promotional Campaign

The Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign (FAPC), 

often referred to as “Fresh from Florida,” is a promotional program designed to enhance the image and 

increase sales of Florida agriculture. The campaign helps 

both domestic and international consumers easily identify agricultural products grown and produced in the 

state. It also works to increase public awareness of the 

importance of Florida’s agricultural industry.

There are two levels of FAPC membership: paid and 

nonpaid. There is a $50 annual fee for paying members. 

This category includes producers, packers, repackers, 

processors, brokers, shippers, co-ops, agriculture supporters, and industry associations/organizations. Nonpaying members include retailers, food service, nonprofits, wholesalers, and educational and governmental 

organizations. 

Members receive a number of benefits including “Fresh 

from Florida” logos, the opportunity to participate in 

industry trade shows at a reduced cost, point-of-purchase materials to help promote their Florida agriculture 

commodity, and the chance to participate in the Logo 

Incentive Program. The purpose of the Logo Incentive 

Program is to provide members with the opportunity to 

offset a portion of their costs on packaging, cartons, labels, and business vehicles while promoting “Fresh from 

Florida” commodities. Members may be reimbursed up 

to $2,000.

The Department is continually working to develop marketing strategies to assist in the promotion of Florida’s 

agricultural products in both the United States and 

abroad. Now in its 19th year, FAPC has successfully led 

to increased sales and public awareness of Florida’s agricultural industry and its vital importance to the state’s 

economy.

“Fresh from Florida” Magazine

The Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign (FAPC) 

magazine, “Fresh from Florida,” is published twice a 

year. This high-gloss, full-color publication promotes 

Florida’s agriculture industry through feature articles on 

members and industry-sponsored events, educational 

information relating to the state’s present and future 

farmers, and seasonal articles on specific commodities. 

The magazine also includes recipes and articles promoting better nutrition from the Department’s executive 

chef. The publication is distributed to all FAPC members, national and international produce and seafood 

buyers, attendees at trade events, and other agribusiness 

industry professionals.

Xtreme Cuisine Cooking School

With the number of overweight and obese youth 

climbing each year, health and fitness issues are at the 

forefront of today’s news. To address these issues, the 

Division of Marketing and Development developed the 

“Xtreme Cuisine” curriculum to teach Florida youth 

how to prepare nutritious and tasty treats. The cooking 

classes also teach kids how Florida produce provides vitamins and minerals that can help prevent heart disease 

and other obesity-related illnesses. In addition, students 

learn the dangers caused by excessive amounts of salt, 

sugar, and fats in their diet.

In 2008 and 2009, Florida youth workers have been 

teaching the “Xtreme Cuisine” concepts to students all 

over the state. Through Florida Farm Bureau offices, 4-H 

programs, public and private schools, and other youth 

settings, students are learning how to make their own 

healthy snacks by using “Fresh from Florida” products 

and other nourishing ingredients. The “Xtreme Cuisine” 

cooking classes were introduced to 2,360 students in 16 

Florida cities during this fiscal year.
68 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Agriscience Education Leadership Program

The Agriscience Education Leadership Program was 

created in an effort to make the agriscience and natural resources field more desirable to teachers and to 

encourage more students to take agriscience courses. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida 

Department of Education created the training program 

to allow Florida’s agriscience teachers to develop and 

improve their leadership skills and knowledge of current 

agricultural production.

The participants consist of agriscience teachers and 

supervisors from different counties in the state who 

have at least three years of experience. Participants were 

nominated by their school district’s superintendent and 

then selected by a special committee based on application information and essay answers. 

With the Agriscience Education Leadership Program, 

teachers can expand their curriculum to include all 

components of agriculture. The program also allows 

them to refine their leadership skills in order to provide 

quality education for students. In 2008 and 2009, the 

group met six times and traveled to more than 50 different sites relating to agriculture, from the Department’s 

offices to strawberry fields. The training and education 

the teachers receive lays a strong foundation and understanding about Florida agriculture that students can 

build on and appreciate.

Fresh from Florida Kids

Fiscal year 2008-2009 marked the second year of the 

“Fresh from Florida Kids” program. The campaign was 

created to introduce fresh, healthy foods at an early age 

to help infants and toddlers develop a preference for 

fresh foods rather than processed foods. The campaign 

also focuses on helping mothers learn how to quickly 

and easily prepare healthy baby foods using fresh fruits 

and vegetables. The Department teamed up with Florida’s Healthy Start Coalitions and Publix in five regions 

of the state for the educational campaign.

The program is divided into three phases over two and a 

half years. Each phase represents a child’s eating behavior, spanning from six months to three years old. Parents are surveyed at the end of each phase, which helps 

to evaluate the program’s success. 

The web site www.FreshFromFloridaKids.com helps 

parents learn about healthy baby foods. The web site 

contains more than 100 recipes, cooking and storage 

tips, and detailed health and nutrition information for 

both children and parents.

 

African-American Health and Nutrition Campaign

In August 2008 the Department participated in the annual “Speaking of Women’s Health” event in Jacksonville. The conference is designed to celebrate women of 

color and educate them about preventative health care. 

A lifestyle survey was conducted, and fresh produce was 

distributed to 1,000 participants. 

Division staff attended the Florida Classic Fan Fare in 

November 2008 to further promote health and wellness among minorities. The Florida Classic Fan Fare 

is the annual event held just before the football game 

between Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 

and Bethune-Cookman University. Each year the event 

brings more than 70,000 fans to the Florida Citrus Bowl 

in Orlando.

In June 2009 division staff participated in the Second 

Annual Universal Sisters health event in Jacksonville. 

The event was designed to address the unique health 

concerns of women of color. Radio station WJCT, Baptist Health, the Women of Color Cultural Foundation, 

and “Fresh from Florida” were some of the contributing 

sponsors of the event. The conference featured keynote 

speakers, small group sessions, and free health screenings in an effort to provide vital health information 

related to women of color. Conference participants and 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 69

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

exhibitors received a “Fresh from Florida” shopping bag 

full of fresh produce. 

Hispanic Health and Nutrition Campaign

In 2008 and 2009, the division ran the new “Fresco 

para ti” 60-second radio promotions on 10 Hispanic 

radio stations on ClearChannel’s FNN Hispana Network 

and Univision radio. The radio promotions informed 

consumers about Florida’s agricultural products and encouraged them to look for the “Fresh from Florida” logo 

when shopping. The radio promotion complemented 

the “Fresh from Florida” circular promotions in Sedanos 

and Bravo supermarkets.

During the summer of 2009, the division conducted 

a tropical fruits promotion through Univision Radio 

online. The promotion included “Fresco para ti” radio 

spots and online ads informing consumers about the 

availability of Florida’s tropical fruits and linking to the 

www.Florida-Agriculture.com web site.

Culinary Promotions

Award-winning chef Justin Timineri serves as the culinary ambassador for the state of Florida. His job as 

executive chef is to promote Florida products by creating 

new recipes, attending trade events, performing cooking 

demonstrations, and educating children about health 

and nutrition. He supports Florida’s agricultural industry by creating healthy, modern-style dishes that reflect 

the state’s diverse population. Chef Justin’s philosophy 

is that cooking should always be fun, simple, and flavorful.

In 2009 Chef Justin and the Department designed 

and printed new brochures to be used in Publix stores 

around the state. The brochures feature several of Chef 

Justin’s recipes and information on buying, storing, and 

cooking Florida produce.

Advertising Campaigns

There were three different advertisements that ran in a 

variety of consumer and industry publications throughout the year. Each ad had two different versions: one 

that targeted industry representatives and buyers, and 

one that targeted consumers. The ads appeared a total 

of 19 times throughout 2008 and 2009. 

A football-themed radio advertisement was created in 

2009 that will run on sports radio networks during FSU, 

UF, Miami, UCF, and USF games. The 30-second spot 

promotes Florida’s “top picks” of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Social Media

In 2009 the Division of Marketing and Development 

created a number of online profiles and content to connect with a broad group of both consumers and industry 

representatives through social media. 

The “Fresh from Florida” blog at http://freshfromflorida.

wordpress.com is used to promote members of the 

Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign (FAPC), 

let consumers know when commodities are in season, 

share recipes and cooking tips, and bring attention to 

important issues related to Florida agriculture.

The Florida Agriculture Facebook page at www.facebook.

com/FloridaAgriculture is used to routinely interact with 

supporters of Florida agriculture by sharing photos and 

news, as well as asking and answering questions.

Twitter, the popular microblogging web site, has been 

utilized by the “Fresh from Florida” program to share 

news and information with a large group of consumers 

and people in the agriculture industry across the country. The “Fresh from Florida” Twitter page can be found 

at www.twitter.com/freshfromFL.

Retail Campaigns: Global Grid and Winners Circle

For six straight years now, retail campaigns “Global 

Grid” and “Winners Circle” have been present in more 
70 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

than 10,000 stores worldwide. This level of penetration 

in the retail sales environment is unprecedented and 

clearly demonstrates the Department’s commitment to 

helping Florida’s agricultural producers retain and expand sales in both domestic and international markets.

“Global Grid” has become the largest retail operation 

conducted by the Department, with more than 9,900 

particpating stores worldwide. Known as “Northern 

Exposure,” “Powergrid” and “Storming Across North 

America” in past years, this program tops the more than 

200 marketing enterprises conducted by the Department 

each year. Retaining a strong presence in the United 

States and Canada is of primary importance. Measuring results is critical to managers, and exports of fresh 

Florida fruits and vegetables to Canada have soared with 

“Global Grid.” Before the campaign began, exports of 

fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida to Canada totalled $291 million. In 2008 exports totaled $428 million. Individual store advertisements have also soared 

in this same period, increasing from 22,000 in 2002 to 

274,000 during the 2008-2009 program year.

In its ninth year, the “Winners Circle” campaign remains 

focused on Florida retailers and surrounding states and 

included 1,777 stores this year. The program continues 

to stress the earlier successes of similar retail campaigns 

like “Chill It or Grill It,” “Greetings from Florida Farmers” and “Farmer’s Express.” Approximately 138,000 

individual store advertisements were generated this year, 

the highest level achieved so far in this campaign.

Between November 2008 and May 2009, the combined 

campaigns included 11,728 stores with 41 retail partners. 

More than 12.9 billion consumer impressions were 

generated from store advertisements. The geographic 

areas the campaigns covered include 44 U.S. states, three 

Canadian provinces, 11 Central American and Caribbean nations, and South Korea. The sales generated an 

estimated $142.8 million in farm gate cash receipts for 

Florida farmers, creating more than 4,800 new Florida 

jobs and adding $17.9 million indirectly to local and 

state budgets. 

Trade Events

Marketing representatives traveled to Orlando in October 2008 to attend the Produce Marketing Association’s 

(PMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show. Ten Florida 

companies, consisting of growers, packers, distributers, producers and associations, attended and displayed 

produce in the “Fresh from Florida” pavilion. Executive 

Chef Justin Timineri performed cooking demonstrations 

at the pavilion as well. PMA drew more than 17,000 

attendees and featured more then 800 international 

exhibitors.

The Division of Marketing and Development works with 

the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscaping Association throughout the year by attending domestic and international trade shows, hosting reverse trade missions, 

and assisting with other marketing opportunities. The 

two main shows sponsored by FNGLA are the Tropical 

Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) and The Landscape 

Show. TPIE is held every January in Fort Lauderdale at 

the Broward County Convention Center. With a focus 

on tropical plants and the allied trades that complement 

the industry, the Department shows its support through 

booth sponsorship. The Landscape Show, formerly 

known as the Florida Nursery and Allied Trades Show, is 

held every year at the end of September or beginning of 

October at the Orange County Convention Center. 

This event focuses on Florida horticulture and floriculture, encompassing everything within the wide horticulture spectrum, from flowers to trees. At both shows, 

division staff members educate attendees about marketing initiatives and services provided through the Florida 

Agricultural Promotional Campaign. The partnership 

shared between the Department and the FNGLA is valuable because it positively impacts a large number of 

agricultural producers.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 71

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

SIAL, one of the world’s largest food and beverage 

trade events, was held in October 2008 in Paris. Over 

148,000 visitors from more than 185 countries attended 

the event. The division hosted a Florida Pavilion within 

the USA Pavilion at the show. Floridella, a juice company that packages and distributes Florida orange juice 

around the globe, was one of the companies that displayed their product in the pavilion.

The 84th Annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show was held in 

Toronto in May 2009. The trade show hosts over 240 exhibitors from countries around the world. The division 

brought three of Florida’s growers, B&W Quality Produce, Blue Lake Citrus/Noble Worldwide, and Kerry’s, 

together within the Florida Pavilion at the event. There 

were more than 3,000 attendees from over 13 countries 

at the 2009 show. 

International Marketing

The Division of Marketing and Development regularly 

conducts trade missions and attends events in foreign 

countries in conjunction with the Southern United 

States Trade Association (SUSTA). SUSTA is a nonprofit 

program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

that aims to increase exports of southern U.S. food and 

agricultural products. The long-term strategy of these 

missions is to create awareness of southern U.S. food 

products and to increase trade between the United States 

and foreign countries. This year the Department participated in SUSTA activities in India, Egypt, France, China, 

Germany, Dubai, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. The Department also played host to Canadian produce buyers during a reverse trade mission.

India: In 2008 the Department participated in the 

SUSTA India trade mission. This mission had companies from the SUSTA region meeting with key importers 

in New Delhi and Mumbai. 

India is an important market for many companies since 

it has the world’s second fastest-growing economy. The 

share of retail trade in India’s gross domestic product 

was 8 to 10 percent in 2007, is currently around 12 

percent, and is likely to reach 22 percent by 2010. In 

December 2009 Florida will again attend the India IFE 

show, India’s principal food, drink, and hospitality 

show, and, along with SUSTA, conduct a trade mission 

with several SUSTA region companies.

Egypt: In November 2008, for the first time, SUSTA 

participated in a trade event in Cairo. The Department 

and the Georgia Department of Agriculture were activity managers for the event. The trade show housed 

more than 400 exhibitors and had 10,000 visitors. The 

long-term goal is to locate importers and to identify the 

demand for southern U.S. products in Egypt, to educate 

chefs in the preparation of quality U.S. food products, 

and to build awareness, thus increasing the export of 

food from the southern states. Six Florida companies 

sent products to the event, and Florida’s Chef Justin 

Timineri prepared samples from the products for visitors 

to taste.

France: In January 2009 the Division hosted Orchid 

Island Juice, a Florida juice company, at the Salon 

International de la Restauration de l’Hôtellerie et de 

l’Alimentation (SIRHA) food show in Lyon, France. The 

division’s participation in the trade show allowed Orchid Island to introduce their juice to French importers, 

distributors and consumers. 

China, Germany, Dubai: As part of the its efforts to promote Florida’s prominent horticulture industry around 

the world, the division partnered with International 

Pflanzenmesse (IPM) trade shows in China, Germany, 

and Dubai in December, January, and March. Florida’s 

horticulture industry was introduced to the Chinese 

horticulture market through the promotion of the show 

and recruiting efforts. Florida companies Foremostco, 

Underhill Nurseries, and Peacock Tree Farms participated at the IPM Germany event. Pine Island Nursery and 

Peacock Tree Farms promoted Florida Palms in Dubai. 

Korea: In May 2008 the division participated in the 

Seoul Food and Hotel Show. One featured product that 

received a lot of attention was Florida potatoes. The 

ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Act will provide 

additional opportunities for U.S. potato products, which 

is expected to bolster the existing strong U.S. market 

share. Prior to the show, the division held a “Fresh from 

Florida” grapefruit promotion. Korean retailer E-Mart 

featured Florida grapefruit in 30 major outlets. Korean 

shoppers had the opportunity to sample and purchase 

Ruby Red grapefruits. 
72 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Saudi Arabia: In cooperation with SUSTA, the division 

also participated in a trade mission to Saudi Arabia. 

Bouras Global Trading from Fort Lauderdale was one of 

several companies from the southern United States that 

met with Saudi buyers in Riyadh. Mohamed Bouras, 

president of Bouras Global, signed several purchase orders, as did all other companies that participated. From 

Riyadh the mission headed to Jeddah where companies 

exhibited their products in the SUSTA booth at Food 

Arabia. This was the second year of a five-year program 

to participate in this show.

Canadian Reverse Trade Mission: The Department, in 

conjunction with SUSTA, hosted a Canadian reverse 

trade mission in March 2009. A group of retail and 

wholesale produce buyers from Ontario flew into Miami 

to tour farms and packinghouses in South Florida. The 

buyers were able to get a firsthand look at the commodities Florida produces, their seasonal availability, and the 

technology and safety practices used in the state. Missions like these are productive for Florida farmers not 

only by allowing them to showcase products grown in 

the state but also by helping them understand what 

retail demand they can fulfill.

Cattle Trade Missions

The Department is continually working to attract international livestock buyers. Florida’s livestock breeds, 

especially beef cattle, are well suited to many areas of the 

world because they show little or no effects from extremely high temperatures. These animals have adapted 

to tropical and subtropical climates, making them desirable to producers from countries with similar climate 

conditions.

In October 2008 a group of potential buyers and officials from the Cayman Islands traveled to Florida to 

meet with cattle and goat producers. The delegation 

spent several days visiting ranches and driving through 

agricultural production areas. This important reverse 

trade mission allowed established relationships to be 

strengthened and new contacts to be made. The group 

made arrangements to purchase both cattle and goats.

In November 2008 a delegation of cattlemen from 

Arizona and Florida, along with representatives from 

the American Brahman Breeders Association and the 

Department, attended the Fifth Eastern Cattle Show in 

Pattaya, Thailand. Representatives from Arizona and 

Florida judged during the show. In addition to meeting 

with local cattlemen, the group was able to visit processing facilities and other agricultural production areas. 

Both these and other trade missions foster communication between countries and educate producers. Participants learn about issues dealing with production and 

trade. The missions also contribute to the creation of a 

friendly business environment.

Florida Thoroughbred Trade Missions

Florida is home to some 600 Thoroughbred farms and 

training centers, with more than 75 percent of these 

located in the Ocala-Marion County area. These farms, 

training centers, and breeding and racing stock create an 

economic impact estimated at $1 billion annually.

The Department continues to attract international buyers by conducting trade missions from Florida and hosting reverse trade missions into the state. Trade contacts 

initiated by the Department have resulted in more than 

$3.8 million in Florida horse exports. This number is 

expected to grow as Florida marketing representatives 

continue to facilitate trade missions with foreign buyers. 

During the past year, the division sent an equine trade 

mission to India and conducted reverse trade missions 

for delegations from Korea, Italy, and Ireland. These 

missions were co-hosted by the Florida Thoroughbred 

Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, with the purpose 

of educating foreign buyers on the quality and value of 

Florida’s equine industry.

Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing

The Department’s Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture 

Marketing provides marketing strategies for Florida’s 

seafood and aquaculture industry to facilitate buying, 

selling, and the promotion of Florida seafood and aquaculture products. The mission of the bureau is to market 

Florida products to consumers and help the seafood and 

aquaculture industry increase sales.

The bureau produces educational materials for consumers. It provides promotional materials, supplier directories, and training on handling and storage safety for 

retailers, foodservice professionals, wholesalers, and 

processors. The bureau provides educational and tech-
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 73

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

nical support and training for fishermen, aquaculturists, 

retailers, and foodservice professionals. It serves as a 

liaison for aquaculturists, commercial fishermen, government agencies, and the consuming public by utilizing 

the expertise of industry advisory councils. The bureau 

provides public relations to the media on behalf of the 

seafood, aquaculture, and marine life industries. It also 

provides marketing services, including electronic marketing programs identifying U.S. and international buying 

and selling operations. It assists and promotes Florida 

industry through the distribution of recipe brochures 

and educational materials to visitors at seafood festivals 

throughout the state and at industry trade events both at 

home and abroad.

The Department is committed to serving seafood and 

aquaculture audiences with integrity and professionalism to increase the industry’s sales and profits through 

global marketing and education. Activities of the Bureau 

of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing generated 582 

million consumer impressions nationwide with a sales 

value of approximately $22.7 million. Chief among the 

audiences served by the Department are:

– Consumers seeking information to wisely purchase, 

prepare, serve, and store seafood and aquaculture products. The Department reaches consumers by means 

of printed materials, news releases, and public service 

announcements through television, radio, print media, 

and appearances at regional seafood festivals.

– Producers (fishermen, processors, and aquaculturists) turn to the Department for technical, educational, 

marketing, and promotional assistance, as well as safety, 

handling, and storage information. Florida fishermen 

and processors took advantage of marketing and promotional opportunities to sell their products. The Department’s marketing and promotional programs use the 

“Fresh from Florida” logo and are backed by a multilevel 

campaign creating consumer awareness and interest and 

fueling demand for Florida products.

TV Consumer Shows

On a regular basis during the year, staff prepared culinary segments featuring Florida seafood, fruits, vegetables, and other Florida products on the CBS television 

affiliate in Tallahassee. The recipes used in the segments 

demonstrate the ease of cooking fresh Florida seafood at 

home. During the culinary features, bureau staff pointed out the many health benefits of eating fresh seafood. 

Florida seafood highlighted in these segments included 

scallops, wild-caught shrimp, flounder, oysters, stone 

crab, blue crab, farm-raised clams, spiny lobster, grouper, 

and red snapper.

Seafood and Aquaculture Festivals

The bureau exhibited and distributed recipe brochures 

at the Apalachicola Seafood Festival, which drew 16,000 

attendees; Clamerica Festival in Cedar Key, which drew 

12,000 attendees; Lakeridge Winery Food and Wine 

Festival in Clermont, which drew 3,000 attendees; and 

the Mighty Mullet Festival in Panacea, which drew 2,000 

attendees.

Pocket Reference

The bureau printed a handy pocket-sized chart titled 

“Catch of the Day” to show seasons of availability for 

the top 10 species of fish and shellfish that are abundant 

in Florida. The back side of the card features aquaculture “fast facts” about the industry. The card is available 

for distribution at the retail and restaurant level and to 

give away at trade shows and seafood festivals.

SUSTA Trade Mission to Moscow

Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing staff 

spearheaded a trade mission to Moscow in June 2009. 

The mission was conducted under the auspices of the 

Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) and 

included alligator farmers, trappers, and hide processors 

and tanners. The goal of the mission was to open new 

Russian markets for alligator hides and skins. As a result 

of the worldwide recession and decreasing demand, 
74 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

traditional markets in Europe have become saturated as 

stockpiles of alligator hides have increased. In an effort 

to tap new markets, the bureau targeted Russia as a potential new source of sales. SUSTA approved and funded 

the activity at $51,520, which included market and 

government-based research. Research helped identify 

trade issues in the Russian marketplace, including customs issues, tariffs, and the implications of CITES, the 

international treaty regulating sales and possession of 

alligator hides. Also studied were the Russian consumer 

market for luxury goods and the flow of goods through 

the supply chain.

The Great American Seafood Cook-Off

The bureau sponsored Chef Andre Bienvenu of Joe’s 

Stone Crab in Miami Beach at the Great American Seafood Cook-off 2008 in New Orleans in August 2008. 

Selected by Commissioner Bronson to represent Florida, 

Bienvenu competed with chefs from 20 states for the 

“King of Seafood” title. He prepared an entrée featuring 

Florida stone crab, spiny lobster, shrimp, snapper and 

farm-raised clams in his signature Florida cuisine from 

Joe’s Stone Crab. The Department’s Executive Chef Justin Timineri judged the event and crowned the winner.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural 

History Ocean Hall Sustainable Seafood Event, 

Washington, D.C.

The bureau helped sponsor the Smithsonian’s Ocean 

Hall Sustainable Seafood Event in March 2009 at the 

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s new 

Ocean Hall, which opened in September 2008. Panel 

discussions focused on preserving the health of oceans 

through science, education, and conservation. Chef 

Allen Susser of Chef Allen’s in Miami prepared Florida 

seafood entrees for attendees at the Sustainable Seafood 

Celebrity Chef Event.

South Beach Wine and Food Festival

Bureau staff, Florida’s Culinary Ambassador Chef Justin 

Timineri, and Chef Josh Butler, executive chef for the 

Florida Governor’s Mansion, served Florida alligator to 

attendees at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. 

Chefs from the Food Network and local restaurants 

participated. Florida alligator businesses participating 

were Gatorama of Palmdale and All American Gator of 

Hallandale. The booth was sponsored by the Florida 

Alligator Marketing and Education Advisory Committee (FAME).

Aquaculture Marketing and Education Program

Thanks to a Florida Aquaculture Review Council grant in 

fiscal year 2008-09, the bureau was able to develop an 

introductory “Discover Florida Aquaculture” multimedia 

program. The goal of this program was to provide an 

introduction to aquaculture concepts and opportunities 

to today’s students and tomorrow’s business leaders. It 

was primarily targeted to the middle and high school 

student age group and consumers.

The components of the program included the “Discover 

Florida Aquaculture” booklet, video, poster, and stickers. 

In addition, new aquaculture-specific web pages were 

incorporated in the bureau’s web site www.FL-Seafood.

com. Teachers can download the components or order them via fax or mail. In May a letter was sent to all 

Florida middle and high school principals to inform 

them of the availability of these materials as a teaching 

resource. The response was outstanding. One hundred 

and fifty orders from teachers were processed. With 

the shipment of the materials it is projected that nearly 

26,000 students were reached. 

Public Relations

The bureau’s public relations efforts for fiscal year 2008-

2009 continued to increase media and consumer awareness about Florida seafood and aquaculture products. 

This year’s initiatives included commodity-specific and 

informational press releases, event participation, distribution of promotional materials, television cooking 

segments, and direct media contact.

Almost 754 million gross impressions and over $61,000 

in ad value were obtained from earned media. This 

exposure was accomplished by utilizing a multimedia 

approach at minimal cost, and 41 documented articles 

or features were published in print or online as a result 

of these efforts.

Marketing Seafood to the 55-and-Older Generation

The bureau coordinated a study to identify the attitudes 

and preferences of the 55-and-older age group relating 

to eating seafood and farm-raised aquatic products in 

2007-2008. This research was funded as part of a grant 

from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal-State 

Marketing Improvement Program. The Department 

contracted with the University of Florida to conduct the 

research. Based on the findings and recommendations 
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PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

of this research, a brochure titled “Florida Seafood for 

the Savvy Generation” was developed and printed. This 

booklet includes information about the nutritional content of seafood, the health benefits, handling, buying, 

and cooking tips, and a “How Much Seafood to Buy” 

table. During 2008-2009, over 42,000 booklets were 

ordered by retirement centers, consumers, and Florida 

seafood retailers. 

Marketing Campaigns

At the request of the seafood industry, the bureau 

launched marketing campaigns for mullet, spiny lobster, 

and stone crab. Each campaign used press releases, recipes, and graphics. Through the bureau’s web site, restaurants and retailers can order mullet and spiny lobster 

posters and recipe brochures, as well as posters, table 

tents, and staff buttons with a Florida stone crab theme.

Fishery Trade Leads

Leads from companies seeking fishery products, obtained from the National Marine Fisheries Service, the 

USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service, and from foreign 

and domestic companies, are compiled by the bureau 

and distributed to over 200 Florida seafood and aquaculture companies by email and fax. Trade lead recipients reported 13 new customers, 31 new prospects, and 

sales totaling $400,000 resulting from these leads.

International Boston Seafood Show

The bureau coordinated and hosted the Florida Pavilion at the International Boston Seafood Show in March 

2009. Florida seafood and aquaculture companies were 

provided a high-profile opportunity to present and promote their products within the pavilion. Seven Florida 

companies and the Florida Alligator Marketing and 

Education Committee promoted Florida seafood and 

aquaculture products, made new contacts, and generated 

sales. Over 17,000 international seafood and aquaculture buyers attended the show. Those buyers visiting the 

Florida Pavilion contributed to a banner year with an 

estimated $21 million combined sales, a record for the 

participants.

Las Vegas Restaurant Show

The Florida alligator industry was well represented at the 

Las Vegas Restaurant Show in March 2009. Department 

Executive Chef Justin Timineri served alligator bites and 

a large pot of alligator picadillo, a Cuban dish, to attendees. Over 28,000 restaurant owners, managers, buyers, and decision makers were in attendance. A culinary 

competition was set up across the aisle, so future executive chefs were introduced to the quality and versatility 

of Florida alligator meat. Florida alligator businesses 

participation in the show were All American Gator of 

Hallandale, Parker Island Gator Farm of Lake Placid, and 

Gatorama of Palmdale. The booth was sponsored by 

the Florida Alligator Marketing and Education Advisory 

Committee (FAME). 

European Seafood Expo

On behalf of the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA), the bureau coordinated a Southern 

U.S. Seafood pavilion at the European Seafood Expo in 

Brussels, Belgium, in April 2009. As the largest seafoodonly show in the world, this show attracted buyers from 

87 countries. Participating Florida companies reported 

sales at the show of $20.1 million.

Asia Events

SUSTA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Trade Office in Seoul, South Korea, and bureau 

staff helped facilitate the United States Pavilion at the 

2008 Busan International Seafood and Fisheries Expo in 

Busan, South Korea. The expo was a great opportunity 

for SUSTA companies to showcase their products for 

the over 8,000 buyers in attendance. Chef John Maxwell cooked and served Florida spiny lobster, stone crab 

claws, and other seafood products for the interested buyers. This expo enhances Florida’s seafood and aquaculture presence and strengthens the state’s competitiveness 

in Asia and the Pacific Rim. The combined participating 

companies in the U.S. Pavilion report projected sales in 

excess of $2 million directly from this event.

“Sea Notes” Industry Newsletter

To help maintain communication with the Florida 

seafood and aquaculture industry, the bureau produces 

“Sea Notes,” an electronic newsletter distributed quarterly to seafood restaurants, retail markets, wholesalers, 

and other seafood allied industry members. The newsletter showcases the bureau’s promotional efforts and 

provides timely Florida seafood industry news. “Sea 

Notes” notifies recipients of opportunities for industry 

to be involved in marketing activities coordinated by the 

bureau.
76 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Florida Seafood Seasons Advisory

The Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing 

publishes the Florida Seafood Season Advisory, an informational piece to inform Florida’s retail, wholesale, 

and restaurant seafood industry of upcoming seasons 

as well as other topical information such as changes to 

quotas and bag limits. This email advisory is distributed 

monthly, or as often as necessary, and highlights openings and closures of commercially harvested Florida 

seafood. In addition to regular monthly distribution, 

special advisories are sent as warranted when new or updated information regarding a certain species, opening, 

or closure is received.

Promoting Seafood and Aquaculture on the 

World Wide Web

The bureau’s web site, www.FL-Seafood.com, provides 

consumers, Florida’s seafood and aquaculture industry, retailers, and the press with many downloadable 

seafood and aquaculture-related brochures, point-ofpurchase materials, videos, audio files, and press releases. For consumers, the web sites features: Florida 

seafood recipes, nutritional information about seafood, 

information about popular Florida seafood products, 

oyster safety information, a calendar of Florida seafood 

festivals, a list of retailers and restaurants across the state 

that feature Florida seafood, history of Florida’s coastal 

fishing communities, a list of suppliers of finished alligator leather products, and tips for handling, storing, and 

cooking seafood. For wholesalers and retailers, the web 

site provides convenient on-line order forms for promotional materials, research and educational information 

on food safety and handling, trade leads, seafood advisories, and the Sea Notes newsletter.

“Go Native! Eat Florida Seafood” Campaign

The “Go Native! Eat Florida Seafood” campaign, rolled 

out early last summer, continued to be popular with 

Florida’s retailers, restaurants, and consumers this year. 

Multimedia initiatives to promote the campaign were 

launched throughout the year, and the bureau received 

requests for nearly 81,000 of the associated promotional 

materials.

Bureau of Education and 

Communication

The Bureau of Education and Communication is responsible for educating and informing consumers and 

industry segments through news releases, brochures 

and other publications, exhibits and displays, graphics 

presentations, the Internet, broadcast, and other media. 

The creative design and production services provided by 

the bureau are integral to many projects that are part of 

the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign (FAPC), 

a program that assists the state’s agricultural producers 

in expanding markets and promoting and selling Florida 

products. In addition to its role within the Division of 

Marketing and Development, the bureau also produces 

numerous projects for other divisions throughout the 

Department.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the bureau distributed 

more than 140 press releases to inform the public about 

various regulatory and promotional activities of the 

Department. The bureau also responds to inquiries 

from the public and mails out publications requested by 

visitors to the Division of Marketing and Development’s 

web site www.Florida-Agriculture.com.

Florida Market Bulletin

The online Florida Market Bulletin provides a forum 

by which Florida residents can advertise to buy or sell 

agriculture-related items. During the 2008-2009 fiscal 

year, 3,983 classified ads were published online. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 77

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Video and Radio Production

The bureau produces and disseminates audio and video 

productions such as television and radio public service 

announcements, radio programming, agricultural producer assistance videos, informational/promotional 

videos, documentaries, and training videos. Among the 

projects produced during the fiscal year were:

– Two 30-minute episodes of “The Florida Report” that 

explain the Department’s agricultural support functions 

and highlight the practices of various farming operations 

around the state. Produced in conjunction with the 

Florida Farm Bureau, these reports aired on RFD-TV, a 

satellite network that primarily serves rural and farming 

communities nationwide. 

– An informational/promotional video about the FFA 

state officers.

– An informational video about Florida’s “Woman of 

the Year in Agriculture,” outlining the lifelong contributions to the state’s agricultural industry by the 2008 

award recipient, Patsy Nathe of Dade City.

– Two documentary videos about the winners of the 

2008 Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards, detailing the progressive environmental 

practices of Carroll Brothers Nursery in Clearwater, and 

Brock Family Farm in Monticello.

– An informational video about Florida’s unique 

“Cracker Cattle” breed and its role in the development 

of the state’s agricultural industry. The video is part of a 

permanent historical display, “Florida Cattle Ranching: 

Five Centuries of Tradition,” administered by the Florida 

Department of State.

– Three television public service announcements showing the value of agriculture as a stable source of revenue 

and jobs during current challenging economic times.

– Two television public service announcements about 

Florida’s wildfire season, one advising residents to use 

caution when burning yard trash, and one urging residents to be watchful for possible arson activity. 

– A weekly agricultural radio news program produced in 

conjunction with Southeast AgNet.

– Radio spots promoting “Fresh from Florida” agricultural products that aired on various Florida university 

sports networks.

– A video promoting the Florida State Employees Charitable Contribution Campaign.

– An informational video about native Florida wildflowers which outlines the benefits of using native seeds 

for large commercial and civic projects as well as small 

home projects. 

Graphics Production

The bureau is responsible for the design, illustration, 

and production of printed brochures, reports, booklets, 

posters, billboards, ads, and other marketing, promotional, and educational materials pertaining to agricultural marketing programs and other activities of the 

Department. The bureau’s graphics section was involved 

in the production of more than 300 projects during the 

fiscal year. Among the graphics projects produced during the fiscal year were:

– 2008 Department Annual Report. This 178-page report provides an overview of the Department’s activities 

during fiscal year 2007-2008 in supporting Florida agriculture, promoting Florida agricultural products, ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply, conserving the 

natural environment, safeguarding consumers, responding to emergencies, and promoting employee excellence.

– “Florida Agricultural Statistical Directory 2008,” which 

is produced in conjunction with the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture. This 150-page book provides a statistical 

examination of Florida’s food, fiber, and forestry industries. In addition to agricultural statistics and specialized 

data, the directory contains price histories and production levels of various commodities, a listing of agricultural groups and associations in Florida, and a listing of 

producer assistance services offered by the Department.

– Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards 2008 program booklet, detailing the progressive environmental practices of the two farming 

operations that received this year’s award.
78 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

– “Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award” 2008 program booklet, detailing the award recipient’s contributions to the state’s agricultural community.

– A series of brochures promoting fresh Florida produce 

items. 

– “Xtreme Cuisine” educational cooking guide for children.

– Numerous informational and promotional brochures, 

magazine ads, posters, displays, and other miscellaneous 

graphics projects. 

Web Development

The Bureau of Education and Communication designed 

and maintains the Division of Marketing and Development’s two web sites, www.Florida Agriculture.com and 

www.FL-Seafood.com. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 

the two sites received over 673,000 visits, which yielded 

more than 2.64 million page views.

The sites contain information and materials that help 

Florida farmers more effectively market their commodities. These marketing tools include trade leads, current 

market prices, information about the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign, agricultural statistics, license and bond requirements, agricultural classified ads, 

point-of-purchase marketing and promotional materials, 

and an extensive list of agricultural links for research 

purposes.

The web sites also foster the notion that the more consumers know about the many agricultural commodities grown in Florida, the more they will choose to buy 

products that are “Fresh from Florida.” The sites inform consumers about the wholesomeness, variety, and 

availability of Florida agricultural products by providing: recipes for meals using Florida-grown ingredients, 

nutritional data, seasonal availability information, food 

handling and safety tips, and locations and contact 

information for Florida’s community farmers’ markets, 

U-pick farms, seafood markets, agricultural fairs and 

expositions, and wineries and vineyards. 

In addition to the division’s two primary web sites, the 

bureau also developed and maintains other web sites 

that promote the “Fresh from Florida” message, including: 

www.FreshFromFlorida.org

www.FreshFromFloridaKids.com

www.TheFloridaChef.com

www.WildFloridaShrimp.com

The bureau develops and maintains other web sites in 

cooperation with agricultural organizations that have 

partnered with the Division of Marketing and Development to promote Florida agricultural products. These 

web sites include:

www.FloridaWildflowers.com

for the Florida Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association, Inc.

www.WildflowerTag.com

for the Florida Wildflower Advisory Council

www.PropaneFL.com

for the Florida Propane Safety, Education and Research 

Council

www.Florida-Farmers.com

for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation

www.GreenPlantsForGreenBuildings.org

for the Green Plants for Green Buildings, Professional 

Landcare Network

www.FIFNC.com

for the Florida Interagency Food and Nutrition Committee
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 79

PROMOTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

Employee Newsletter

The bureau produced four issues of the Department’s 

Intranet-based employee newsletter, Open Lines.

Food Distribution

The Department administered or provided support 

through commodities and/or cash for a number of U.S. 

Department of Agriculture programs in Florida, including the National School Lunch Program, Summer Food 

Service Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance 

Program that provides commodities for distribution to 

the needy.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, approximately 200 agencies serving over 4,000 public and private schools, 

food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other 

emergency feeding organizations throughout Florida, 

received about 90 million pounds of food valued at approximately $80 million. As a result, about 1.5 million 

people were reached on a daily basis, making Florida’s 

food distribution program the fourth largest in the nation.

The Department is involved in the Food Recovery Program and other programs that endeavor to eliminate 

hunger and food insecurity in the state. This fiscal year, 

farmers donated over 6.2 million pounds of fresh produce for distribution to those in need. The Department 

produces the Food Recovery Resource Guide, which lists 

organizations involved in food recovery. The guide is 

available on the Department’s web site to the general 

public and to schools, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, 

and other entities involved in the preparation of meals 

and/or the sale of food items.

WIC/Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer 

Services and the Florida Department of Health jointly 

administer the WIC/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. 

This U.S. Department of Agriculture program has two 

statutory objectives: to provide fresh produce to eligible 

women and children who are nutritionally at risk, and 

to help local farmers by expanding the awareness of, use 

of and sales at local farmers’ markets. During this fiscal 

year, booklets totaling approximately $600,000 in $4 

coupons were provided to 29,986 eligible WIC clients 

in Alachua, Bay, Escambia, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Holmes, 

Jackson, Leon, Okaloosa, St. Johns, Santa Rosa, Sumter, 

Suwannee, Union, Walton, and Washington counties. 

The Department entered into agreements with 237 

farmers authorizing them to participate in the program. 

Participants can redeem the coupons for the purchase 

of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables from authorized farmers at community farmers’ markets. WIC/

FMNP is a very successful program that provides eligible 

WIC clients with nutrition education and fresh produce, 

and participating farmers with new customers. As a 

result, both groups continue to enthusiastically support 

the program.

Emergency Response 

As the lead agency for Emergency Support Function 

(ESF) 11, the Department is responsible for acquiring 

food, water, and ice for disaster victims. In the event of 

a disaster, the Bureau of Food Distribution also provides 

USDA commodities to disaster relief organizations for 

the mass feeding of disaster victims at designated feeding sites. Water and ice are given out at various points of 

distribution throughout the affected area.

In 2008-2009, Tropical Storm Fay made history by making landfall in Florida four times. The storm caused 

major flooding in several parts of the state. While ESF 

11 staff responded to the disaster, it was not necessary 

for the Department to furnish supplies.
80 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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ENSURING A SAFE, WHOLESOME FOOD SUPPLY

Division of Food Safety

The Department’s experienced staff of public health professionals and laboratory scientists monitor over 48,000 

food manufacturing/processing plants, retail food establishments, and similar food businesses to ensure compliance with food wholesomeness and safety standards. 

The Department maintains a close working relationship 

with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Florida 

Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Department 

of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and 

other agencies to share information, avoid duplication 

of effort, and carry out food safety activities effectively 

and efficiently.

The Department continues to emphasize proper sanitation and safe food handling practices in the establishments that it inspects, permits, and regulates. It also 

provides consumer protection safeguards by checking 

the accuracy of product labels, net weight, and grade 

standards. Laboratory analysis is performed to ensure 

the absence of food-borne pathogens or other contaminants. By administering the Interstate Milk Shippers 

Program and similar state regulations, the Department 

assures consumers that dairy products are wholesome 

and are produced, processed, and merchandised under 

sanitary conditions. These programs also enable Florida 

dairy farmers to ship their products in interstate commerce.

The Department continues to assist the food industry 

through training for the implementation of Hazard 

Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs. 

HACCP concentrates on preventing, eliminating, or reducing food safety hazards to an acceptable level; these 

hazards may occur during any stage of the food production or handling process. Thus far, HACCP training 

efforts have concentrated on high-risk foods, including 

seafood, sushi, sprouts, unpasteurized juices, and other 

high-risk processes such as acidification and reduced 

oxygen packaging. 

One of the Department’s missions is to protect the public from unsafe foods by laboratory surveillance testing 

for food-borne pathogens, illegal additives or contaminants, misrepresented products, and the presence of 

pesticides or other chemical residues for the enforcement of established tolerances. The Department is a 

national leader in the development and implementation 

of sophisticated analytical techniques and methods to 

ensure the safety of foods throughout the production 

and distribution process.

 

The Department emphasizes the prevention of foodborne illness, and when any situation relating to food 

safety arises, the Department has the authority to immediately stop the use of improper equipment or to 

halt the sale of products deemed unsafe to the public. 

As the lead state agency for food safety, the Department 

has continued to make preparations in its laboratories 

and inspection force to respond to any terrorist attacks 

and other emergencies related to the food supply. Inspectors have been trained as early responders, and the 

Food Safety Laboratories have key roles in laboratory 

response, both at the state and national level.

Food and Meat Inspection

The Division of Food Safety has broad consumer protection responsibilities in the area of food safety. It 

inspects, permits, and regulates food manufacturing/

processing plants, retail food establishments, and similar food businesses in Florida to assure compliance with 

food wholesomeness and safety standards. During fiscal 

year 2008-2009, there were 48,419 such businesses in 

operation in addition to 2,832 water vending machines. 

A total of 83,231 inspections were conducted, resulting 

in 3,975 individual food businesses being cited for failure to meet sanitation and food safety standards. Four 

hundred and nineteen of those firms received administrative complaints and were assessed $654,700 in fines. 

Other regulatory actions resulting from surveillance 

inspections included the issuance of 5,893 warning letters, 25,424 stop-sale orders, and 12,105 stop-use orders. 

Personnel from the division issued stop-sale orders on 

an excess of 3.34 million pounds of food products, with 

545,742 pounds of this food ordered destroyed as unfit 

for human consumption. 

The division also initiated administrative actions against 

406 food establishments that failed to pay the required 

renewal fee for a Food Establishment Permit. These establishments were open for business, had been inspected, and were in violation because they were operating 

without a permit. Permit renewal is required annually 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 81

ENSURING A SAFE, WHOLESOME FOOD SUPPLY

under Florida law. Other activities conducted by food 

inspectors included visits to establishments for consumer complaint investigations, administrative purposes, 

sample collection and enforcement actions such as the 

issuance or removal of stop-sale or stop-use orders. In 

addition to sanitation and food safety concerns, inspectors were also involved in a variety of other consumer 

protection activities. Food labels were reviewed for accuracy and compliance with federal and Florida requirements. Ready-to-eat foods were analyzed for a number 

of dangerous pathogens. Dried fruits were tested for the 

presence of undeclared sulfites; ground beef was tested 

to ensure the amount of fat was correctly stated on the 

label and that poultry or pork products had not been 

added. Eggs were examined to verify labeled grade and 

size. Fish were tested to ensure accurate species labeling. Products were tested for “no sugar” or other heath 

claims. Other foods received similar safety and quality 

checks.

The Division of Food Safety continued the surveillance 

of herbal dietary supplements containing harmful compounds. Ingestion of products containing ephedrine alkaloids (sometimes called ma huang, sida cordifolia, or 

pinellia) has been associated with several deaths, including at least one in Florida. Inspectors from the division 

maintain surveillance activities for these banned products and issue stop-sale orders for ephedrine-bearing 

dietary supplements when these supplements are found.

An equally important part of the food inspection program is response to consumer needs and concerns. During fiscal year 2008-2009, over 60,806 telephone calls 

were received, in addition to hundreds of calls either 

forwarded to or received directly by staff. Division staff 

also responded to 2,210 email inquiries, and numerous facsimiles and letters from consumers as well as 

permitted firms. There were numerous inquiries regarding food and food handling practices, or expressions of 

concern about food establishment conditions. More 

than 2,547 consumer complaints were investigated with 

the complainant being advised of the findings unless 

anonymity was requested.

The Division of Food Safety continues to work closely 

with its federal partners, FDA and USDA, on food 

safety-related activities. Under a contractual arrangement with the FDA, the division conducted inspections 

at 533 interstate food manufacturers/processors. The 

division and the FDA also continued with partnership 

agreements in several program areas that helped avoid 

duplication, fostered the sharing of information, and 

facilitated food safety activities. Under a cooperative 

agreement with USDA, the division continued to provide egg and poultry grading services for 166,989 tons of 

eggs and 141,731 tons of poultry. To expedite the terms 

of these types of agreements, many of the Department’s 

personnel are commissioned by the FDA while others 

are licensed by the USDA. Other related activities in 

conjunction with the USDA include periodic inspections 

for food products illegally imported for sale such as: 

illegal invasive plants, plants and animals from prohibited disease- and/or pest-infested areas, and meats 

from areas known to have Foot-and-Mouth Disease, hog 

cholera, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad 

cow disease).

In fiscal year 2008-2009 the Division of Food Safety 

continued to enforce Florida’s statutory requirement 

that the country of origin of any fresh fruit or vegetable 

produced outside the United States be identified to 

consumers at retail food stores. This identification is 

accomplished through labeling of individual items or 

by signage at the point of sale. During the fiscal year, 

96 violations were identified and four administrative 

fines totaling $9,800 were collected from establishments 

where violations were found. These numbers dropped 

dramatically this past year after the USDA’s Country of 

Origin Labeling regulations went into effect preempting 

Florida law.
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In the second year since its inception, the Special Inspection Team (SI Team) continues its focus as first responders to various food-related issues. The team focuses 

on conducting in-depth, independent assessments and 

tracking sales of illegal products and food products implicated in food-borne illnesses. The team also conducts 

trace-backs and trace-forwards of food products to determine the origin and destinations of illegal products and 

products involved in local and nationwide food recalls. 

In keeping with the division’s emphasis on high-risk 

activities, the team addresses those issues and products 

of greatest potential harm to the consumer. 

As a result of these inspections and joint investigations 

with local Food Safety district supervisors and inspectors 

and other various government agencies, the SI Team last 

year worked 394 cases involving suspicious and illegal 

products, unpermitted and unapproved sources, and 

cases in which products were found to have been adulterated. Food products were found violative for unapproved source, temperature abuse, filth and decomposition, unsanitary conditions, and having the potential to 

be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, Salmonella

spp., E. coli 0157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes. Additionally, a total of 251,574 pounds of suspicious food 

products were detained for further investigation; of 

these, 187,837 pounds were voluntarily destroyed by the 

firms’ representatives. In addition to issuing stop sale 

orders of these food products, the team was also able to 

identify and permit 206 businesses operating in violation of Chapter 500, F.S. 

The team was a key participant in nationwide recalls 

involving peanut products from Peanut Corporation 

of America, products from China found to be contaminated with melamine, and the Nestle USA raw cookie 

dough recall. As a result of a traceback investigation, 

the team, in a joint investigation with the FDA, was able 

to identify the source of a nationwide food outbreak 

involving peppers from Mexico. In one case jointly 

conducted with the FDA, the team was able to stop the 

sale of adulterated dietary supplements found to contain 

thiomethisosildenafil, an analog of sildenafil, the active 

ingredient in an FDA-approved drug used for erectile 

dysfunction. Ultimately, as a result of this investigation, 

product with an estimated street value of $2,173,561 

was voluntarily destroyed. In another case, smoked 

white cheese was tested and found to be contaminated 

with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in the 

destruction of 3,000 pounds of this cheese. 

The Division of Food Safety responded to requests for 

assistance from the FDA with national product recalls 

and effectiveness audits. Salmonella in jalapeño and serrano peppers led to two national recalls during which 

the division provided assistance in ensuring that potentially contaminated food products were removed from 

store shelves.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the division tested 111 

samples for nutritional label claims, resulting in 12 

warning letters for nutritional labeling violations. Appropriate fines were assessed for non-compliance with 

the law. The Department issued notice-of-violation 

letters, adverse findings letters and defect action level letters when necessary to assure compliance with the law. 

The letters covered such issues as excess fat in ground 

beef; undeclared allergens; high bacterial plate counts 

in various ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as sandwiches, 

salads, cheese, sprouts, sushi, and produce; species adulteration; and general labeling deficiencies. As a result 

of the division’s efforts on specific nutritional claims 

such as “low carbohydrate,” “low fat,” “no trans fat,” 

“low sugar,” “low salt,” etc., many food processors have 

changed their label or their formulation to comply with 

labeling requirements. In other situations, products 
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have been voluntarily removed from the Florida marketplace for failure to comply with accurate nutritional 

labeling criteria.

The Division of Food Safety is an active participant in 

the FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory 

Program Standards, and the FDA Manufacturing Food 

Regulatory Program Standards. Both standards are 

designed to serve as a guide to food program managers 

in the design and management of a high-quality regulatory program based on best practice principles. Achieving conformance with the standards requires constant 

self-assessment and a will to continue improving and 

creating innovative methods to achieve an excellent food 

protection program. 

The Technical Development and Review Section is made 

up of an administrator, a staff assistant, and two teams: 

Training and Standardization, and Hazard Analysis. 

Training and Standardization consists of eight FDA-certified inspection officers. The team standardizes field personnel, develops and implements programs, and trains 

and evaluates field staff. Other responsibilities include: 

addressing the Certified Food Protection Managers 

Certification requirements, reviewing and revising food 

program rules, conducting plan reviews, and developing field personnel manuals. This year the Training and 

Standardization Team standardized 134 field inspection 

staff in the FDA Standardization and Certification Process, which is based on the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention risk factors. This group also performed 

47 quality assurance audits as prescribed by the retail 

program standards.

The Hazard Analysis Team consists of five members who 

are trained in specialized processing methods. The team 

develops programs and guidance documents to assist 

industry in complying with various food safety regulations. The team also provides vital training to field 

personnel regarding high-risk foods. In 2009 this team 

was awarded the Davis Productivity Award for outstanding achievements in state government.

The division continues to be actively involved in the 

ongoing training and implementation of HACCP programs in the food industry. HACCP is an internationally recognized, science-based, systematic, preventive, 

process control program to assure the production of 

safe food. It complements existing sanitation and good 

manufacturing practices by preventing, eliminating, or 

reducing hazards that may occur during any stage of the 

food production or handling process. Federal and state 

food regulations require both seafood and fresh juice 

processors to evaluate their food-handling processes 

and to develop and follow an HACCP plan if a critical 

control point is identified in their process. During the 

2008-2009 fiscal year, 727 verification HACCP inspections were conducted for the bureau’s various HACCP 

programs. HACCP verification inspections included 

high-risk products such as seafood, sprouts, fresh juice, 

sushi, and specialized processing such as preserving 

food by acidification, smoking, curing, and other similar 

methods.

The division continues an active intra-agency partnership with the Department’s Agricultural Interdiction 

Stations. Cooperation between the Division of Food 

Safety and Agricultural Law Enforcement has resulted 

in enhancement of the safety of food through continuous monitoring and rapid response to problems associated with the transportation of foods throughout the 

farm-to-table food continuum at every road portal into 

Florida. Through coordinated activities, thousands of 

pounds of potentially unsafe food have been destroyed 

and prevented from entering Florida’s food supply, or 

the vehicles have been sealed and sent back to their state 

of origin. Communications with the regulatory authorities in other states allow food safety professionals from 

regulatory agencies in neighboring states to meet such 

returned vehicles, supervise the destruction of the products, and take appropriate regulatory action against the 

shipping firm. 

The division is actively involved with the Florida Food 

Safety and Food Defense Advisory Council, which was 

created to serve as a forum for presenting, investigating, 

and evaluating issues relevant to the safety and security 

of the state’s food supply and which brings together 

diverse partners to address common food safety and 

food defense issues of concern to the citizens of Florida. 

Recent concerns have focused on food defense and 

preparation throughout the “farm to fork” continuum 

in the event a pandemic associated with avian influenza 

is realized. Other issues have ranged from food-borne 
84 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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illness outbreaks to technical advances in accurate and 

rapid identification of fish to prevent misrepresentation 

and over-pricing.

The substitution of higher-priced, wild-caught fish with 

less expensive farm-raised fish continues to be a major 

concern. The farm-raised fish are quite inexpensive 

when compared to fish such as grouper or snapper, but 

the fillets are similar in appearance. This price differential creates a potential for large-scale misbranding of 

seafood. Advances in technology have enabled the Division of Food Safety to confirm the true identity of some 

of these seafood items. Testing of imported grouper and 

snapper for confirmation of species has disclosed misbranded lots. With the help of other state and federal 

agencies, academia, and industry, the division continues 

to develop tests and procedures to ensure that the consuming public receives wholesome, safe, and properly 

identified seafood. When misbranding is verified, the 

product is placed under stop-sale order and removed 

from the marketplace.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department processed and 

issued over 8,315 Certificates of Free Sale. These documents are provided for food products that are used for 

human consumption and exported to other countries. 

Businesses receiving such documents must be permitted by the Department and have a current satisfactory 

sanitation rating. Three hundred and thirty businesses 

received service for shipment of U.S.-originated food 

products to some 60 different foreign countries.

The Department oversees bottled water plants, bulk 

water vendors, and self-vending water machines. The 

Department coordinates with other agencies to ensure 

all drinking water processed in Florida continues to 

meet the federal and state Safe Drinking Water acts. The 

Department also works closely with the Bottled Water 

Association on an international level since bottled water 

is imported from various countries and the imported 

water must meet all applicable drinking-water standards. 

Additionally, there are over 2,832 self-vending water 

machines at convenient locations throughout the state. 

They offer another source of safe and convenient drinking water to Florida’s residents and visitors. The Department uniquely identifies and tracks each machine to 

make sure it is properly inspected and sampled at established intervals. Self-vending ice units are a new addition to the food industry in Florida. These units are selfcontained modular buildings that produce, store, bag, 

and vend ice to consumers. The Department has been 

actively involved in evaluating the design, construction 

and sanitation procedures to confirm compliance of the 

units with all sanitation code requirements.

The Division of Food Safety was awarded a Cooperative 

Agreement from the FDA to develop an infrastructure 

utilizing rapid response capability to a potential adverse 

food/feed event. Only five other states across the nation 

were selected as the first states to pilot this venture. The 

agreement consists of $1.5 million over a three-year period. The division is responsible for coordinating efforts 

with various state agencies to develop a cohesive network to activate a complete response and recovery to adverse incidents involving food and/or feed. The division 

is working closely with the FDA District Office in Florida 

with additional training and exercises to be adequately 

prepared to work seamlessly together to avoid duplication and to function as one unit for timeliness and 

optimum efficiency. Additionally, the division works 

closely with other divisions within the Department, such 

as the Division of Agricultural Environmental Services, 

the Division of Fruits and Vegetables, and the Office of 

Agricultural Emergency Preparedness.

The division’s mission is to have Subject Matter Experts 

in various commodities that are specific to Florida. 

These experts are on call and available 24 hours a day, 

7 days a week to respond and travel to an incident with 

much pre-planning and expert consultations. In addition, as part of this agreement, the division has enrolled 

in FDA’s Manufactured Food Regulatory Response Plan, 

a program of excellence that covers all manufactured 

foods in the state. The division will be conducting a 

self-assessment to develop a baseline in regard to the 10 

standards required by the program and will be audited 

regularly as it works toward achieving each of the standards.

Marketplace survey food samples are taken routinely 

during the inspection process or if violation of state 

or federal standards is suspected. Additionally, food 

inspectors have increased sample surveillance of foods 

manufactured within the state. In fiscal year 2008-

2009, the division’s field inspection staff collected 7,206 

samples that were sent to the Department’s Bureau of 
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Food Laboratories for testing and analysis. As a result 

of laboratory findings, the division has initiated nationwide and statewide recalls of adulterated or contaminated food products. The marketplace and manufactured 

foods survey sample program is just one more level of 

consumer protection that the Division of Food Safety 

offers to Floridians.

During fiscal year 2008-2009 the division continued 

to work with the Food and Drug Administration in its 

Tomato Safety Initiative, which is part of a risk-based 

strategy to reduce food-borne illness in fresh tomatoes 

by focusing food safety efforts on specific products, 

practices, and growing areas thought to be potentially 

problematic. Interdisciplinary teams comprised of 

individuals from the FDA, the CDC, the University of 

Florida, the Division of Food Safety, and the Division of 

Fruit and Vegetables conducted assessments on tomato 

farms and in tomato packinghouses throughout the 

state of Florida. The goal of this multi-year initiative is 

to improve guidance and policy intended to minimize 

future outbreaks as well as ascertain future tomato safety 

research, education, and outreach needs. At the request 

of the tomato industry, the Department, with input from 

the University of Florida-IFAS and the tomato industry, 

promulgated the nation’s first regulation relating to safe 

handling practices of tomatoes at the farm and packinghouse. The Division of Food Safety and the Division of 

Fruit and Vegetables will continue working in a cooperative effort to implement and enforce this regulation to 

enhance the safety of tomatoes in the state.

On July 14, 2009, Florida Rule Sections 5K-4.027, Standard of Identity, Honey, and 5K-4.028, Adulteration and 

Misbranding, Honey, became effective, making Florida 

the first state in the nation to pass state statutes defining 

honey and what can be present in products labeled as 

honey. The standard of identity was based on the proposed Codex International Standard for Honey. Other 

states are currently reviewing the regulations passed by 

Florida with the goal of passing rules in those states 

as well that will help make the business of producing, 

packing, and selling honey fair to all involved.

Chemical Residue Laboratories

One of the Department’s major missions is to protect 

the public by monitoring fruits, vegetables, seafood, 

honey, and other foods for the presence of unsafe residues of pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals and 

the enforcement of authorized tolerances. The Bureau 

of Chemical Residue Laboratories analyzes food items 

for the presence of potential chemical contaminants.

Food samples are collected from farms, packinghouses, 

processing facilities, and elsewhere in the distribution 

chain. All foods grown in Florida, and those brought 

into the state to be offered for sale, are subject to unannounced collection and analytical testing to assure 

adherence to the standards for allowable levels of pesticide or other chemicals, freedom from contamination 

or illegally used chemicals and proper representation in 

labeling. The Department also provides pesticide residue data to federal agencies for use in making dietary 

risk assessments and for other purposes. During fiscal 

year 2008-2009, the Department’s laboratories conducted some 429,322 different determinations for residues 

of specifically targeted pesticides and other chemicals on 

3,140 food product samples.

Pesticide Residues

A primary focus of the Chemical Residue Program is the 

analysis of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables. The Department’s regulatory program is one of 

the most comprehensive monitoring and enforcement 

programs in the nation and provides the residents of 

Florida with valuable information concerning the safety 

of the food supply. In addition to assuring the proper 

use of pesticides by Florida growers, a thorough testing 

program enhances the status of Florida-grown produce 

in nationwide and international markets.

Florida is an important producer of fresh fruits and vegetables for the nation. Samples are selected for regulatory surveillance based on several factors. An emphasis 

is put on Florida-grown commodities. Statistics on 

Florida-grown produce, as well as national consumption 

patterns and previous history of pesticide residue findings, are used to develop sampling plans that will target 

products most likely to contain illegal residues.
86 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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During the past year, the Department conducted surveys 

of tomato, strawberry, pepper, cucumber, potato, corn, 

watermelon, cabbage, squash, green bean, blueberry, 

avocado, and eggplant producers early in the growing 

seasons in order to assure proper pesticide use. In support of Florida-grown citrus, 95 samples were analyzed, 

including 54 oranges, 29 grapefruit, 10 tangerines, and 

two tangelos. An additional 57 citrus samples from 

other states and countries were also analyzed, including 15 oranges, five grapefruit, 10 lemons, 20 limes, four 

tangerines, and three tangelos. Grapefruit are exported 

to Japan and growers must meet strict pesticide regulations. Data provided by the Department can help provide assurance of the safety of Florida produce and aid 

its acceptance into foreign markets.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Chemical Residue Laboratories analyzed 1,589 fresh fruit and vegetable samples for pesticide residues in its regulatory surveillance 

monitoring program, 40 seafood samples for melamine, 

and 80 bottled water plus consumer complaint samples 

for organic contaminants. Products sampled in the regulatory program were produced in Florida (895, or 56.3 

percent) or 22 other U.S. states (360, or 22.7 percent), 

or were imported foods from 27 different countries destined for Florida markets (334, or 21 percent). Pesticide 

residue violations in fresh fruits and vegetables led to 17 

incidents of food adulteration in fiscal year 2008-2009. 

Whenever possible, field personnel traced back product 

to its origin and took additional samples. Of the fresh 

fruits and vegetables analyzed in this regulatory surveillance program, 1.07 percent (17 of 1,589) exceeded 

established tolerance levels or contained pesticides not 

approved for use on a commodity. However, in imported produce tested, 2.4 percent (8 of 334) was identified 

with illegal residues, while in U.S. produce only 0.72 

percent (9 of 1,255) was in violation. By agreement 

with the FDA, Florida’s pesticide surveillance focus is 

on domestic products while the FDA targets imports. A 

strong FDA partnership with Florida provides information and resources needed to prevent violative product 

from being distributed.

More than 165 pesticides are screened in the regulatory 

program. New registrations or pesticides of particular 

interest in Florida crops are routinely added to the Department’s analytical capability. The Department continues to support Florida’s citrus industry by continually 

expanding its pesticide analysis screen to include agrichemicals with special-use exemptions as well as those 

of particular interest for citrus export. The Department 

also focused on enforcement of pesticide crisis exemptions which were granted to Florida growers. Of the 

active ingredients with exemptions, all of the fruit, vegetable, and honey exemptions are monitored, including 

novaluron in strawberries. Additional special surveys to 

monitor crisis exemptions for other commodities/pesticide combinations will be continued. 

The Department continues to be active in the USDA 

Pesticide Data Program (PDP), an internationally recognized program that focuses on providing comprehensive 

data on pesticide residues for the purpose of risk assessment. Under contract with the USDA, 1,428 additional 

samples of green beans, kale, collards, spinach, oranges, 

and sweet potatoes were analyzed as a part of this program, which targets very low part-per-billion levels of 

pesticides in commodities most frequently consumed 

by infants and children. Samples include both domestic 

and imported products. Commodities and sampling 

sites are chosen to statistically represent the product 

available for consumption throughout the United States.

Food Laboratories

The Bureau of Food Laboratories uses chemical, microbiological, molecular, and physical methods to analyze 

foods processed or sold in Florida. These analyses help 

to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply by verifying the absence of adulterants, especially microbial food 

pathogens and food allergens, by verifying conformance 

with standards of safety and quality, and by ensuring accurate representation in labeling and nutritional claims. 

Emphasis is placed on current and emerging food safety 

issues, such as microbiological contamination, unapproved food components, filth, chemical and heavymetal contaminants, new food and food-packaging 

technology, dietary supplements, and other label and 

nutritional claims and natural toxicants. The Bureau of 

Food Laboratories is also a national leader in preparations to respond in the event of a terrorist incident or 

emergency event involving the food supply.

Testing of food products using molecular methods, 

especially nucleic acid analyses based on the polymerase 

chain reaction (PCR), continued expansion during 

the year and now includes testing for Escherichia coli
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O157:H7, Shigella, and Salmonella. Molecular methods 

for analysis of Listeria monocytogenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae in shellfish are undergoing 

validation or verification. Testing for specific toxin-producing genes in E. coli continued for the USDA Microbiological Data Program (MDP).

DNA fingerprinting, or pulsed field gel electrophoresis 

(PFGE), is being performed by the Food Laboratories for 

quality assurance, as well as for typing when specific organisms such as Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella are 

recovered from a food product. The patterns produced 

by the PFGE are submitted for inclusion in the national 

PulseNet database. This data can then be used by epidemiologists in search of the causative agent for outbreaks. 

The staff is certified in PFGE by the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC).

Food Analyses

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department performed 47,478 analyses on 9,516 samples. The majority of samples (7,206) were received under Division of 

Food Safety or other Department regulatory inspection 

programs. In addition, 1,470 samples were received 

from the joint state and USDA Microbiological Data 

Program (MDP) and 840 were other special samples. 

Out of 7,206 regulatory samples, 6,651 samples, representing 92.3 percent of state program samples, were 

found to be in compliance with all applicable food 

safety requirements. A summary of regulatory pathogen 

analyses results is shown below:

Summary of Regulatory Pathogen Analyses

Organism Adulterated Samples

Listeria monocytogenes 45 of 2,628 

Salmonella 7 of 2,244 

E. coli (generic) 113 of 2,029

E. coli O157:H7 0 of 621

Staphylococcus aureus 26 of 2,294

Food safety issues remain a major emphasis of the analytical program. With the continued identification of 

food-borne illness outbreaks, increased monitoring for 

pathogens in ready-to-eat food is necessary. Microbiological pathogen analyses focused on Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli O157:H7, 

and generic E. coli. Targeted products for these analyses included ready-to-eat produce, processed meats, 

fresh cut vegetables, sprouts, prepared salads, cheese, 

smoked fish, spices, and sandwiches. As a result of past 

outbreaks, the Department continues to monitor freshsqueezed citrus juices. Additionally, analyses of bottled 

and vended water and ice for adulteration by either 

microbiological or chemical contaminants represented a 

significant component of state surveillance programs.

Summary of Water/Ice Analyses (Microbiological)

Sample type Adulterated/Misbranded

Vended and Bottled Water 13 of 684 

Ice 26 of 513 

In its ninth year, the USDA MDP, which is designed to 

determine the frequency that potential pathogens are 

detected in fresh produce, required Florida, Colorado, 

Michigan, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and 

Wisconsin to systematically monitor fresh produce commodities by testing for Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli

(STEC/ETEC), and E. coli O157:H7. Shigella was tested 

for in 2008 and then discontinued in 2009. One thousand four hundred and seventy (1,470) samples were 

analyzed by the Department this year. Commodities 

tested in 2008-2009 include alfalfa sprouts, peanut butter, cantaloupe, lettuce (loose and bagged), spinach, hot 

peppers, green onions, and tomatoes. Further expansion 

of this program is expected, in types of organisms, commodities tested, numbers of samples, and technology 

used. 

In August 2002, the Bureau of Food Laboratories was 

certified by the FDA for microbiological testing of shellfish in support of the National Shellfish Sanitation 

Program (NSSP). The laboratory was re-inspected in 

spring of 2007 and is maintaining competency for this 

certification.

Other areas of emphasis in public health and consumer 

protection include monitoring juices, honey, syrups, 

and vanilla for fraudulent formulations or adulteration; 

ground meats for fat claims and species identification; 

candy for lead; and candy, sodas, and bakery products 

for artificial colors. Bakery products are also monitored 

for insect filth and rodent contamination, as well as 

nutritional claims. Dietary supplements continue to 

be monitored for the presence of ephedra alkaloids. 
88 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Unsafe or misrepresented products are removed from 

sale by the Bureau of Food and Meat Inspection.

Florida’s fresh seafood is monitored by the Department 

in response to concerns regarding species substitution, 

decomposition (histamine in scromboid species and indole in shrimp), and safe levels of mercury. Fish tested 

by the Department include tuna, grouper, mahi-mahi, 

red snapper, salmon, swordfish, mackerel, blue marlin, 

amberjack, and catfish. A DNA-sequencing method 

for species authentication was validated and is in use; 

updating to an FDA method will occur in the next fiscal 

year.

The Department continues its extensive surveillance 

of products making nutritional claims such as “low 

carbohydrate” and “fat free.” Products making “sugar 

free” claims have been under particular scrutiny due to 

their potential impact on diabetics and other consumers. Monitoring of undeclared food allergens continues 

with particular focus on milk, egg, and peanut allergens. 

With the passing of the Federal Food Allergen Labeling 

and Consumer Protection Act, the Department continues to ensure appropriate and understandable food 

allergen labeling. The requirement for trans-fat labeling 

was effective beginning last year. The Department has 

extensively surveyed the market for accuracy in trans-fat 

declarations, as well as correctness in labeling.

The Molecular Laboratory also modified and tested 

food sample preparation methods for the national Food 

Emergency Response Network (FERN) protocols for realtime PCR and conventional PCR detection for certain 

pathogens on food samples.

ISO 17025 Accreditation

On May 21, 2007, both laboratory bureaus attained 

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation 

(A2LA) accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, 

General Requirements for the Competence of Testing 

and Calibration Laboratories, for the specific tests listed 

in certificates 2534.01, 2534.02, and 2534.03. On 

May 14, 2009, A2LA renewed the accreditation of both 

laboratories following a rigorous five-day onsite audit by 

A2LA assessors. Renewal of accreditation is required every two years and ensures that the laboratories continuously implement and improve their policies, procedures, 

and testing activities. The ISO/IEC 17025 standard is 

recognized internationally as the standard for assessing 

the quality and competence of analytical testing activities, and the two bureaus attained accreditation after 

undergoing a rigorous four-day audit by A2LA assessors. 

Accreditation to this standard provides the Department 

with international credibility, showing that analytical data produced by the two bureaus meets rigorous 

standards for quality and laboratory competence. This 

accomplishment came after a lengthy, intense process of 

developing and implementing policies and procedures 

governing virtually all aspects of laboratory operations, 

a process that required the dedication of considerable 

resources, a high level of commitment by all laboratory 

staff, and the continued backing and support of senior 

management. Ongoing work now will include auditing 

of the system, corrective actions, and preventive actions 

for improvement, all combining to ensure the results 

generated by the laboratories meet the Department’s 

needs.

Information Technology

The Food and Chemical Residue Laboratories, along 

with division staff, have been planning for a new Laboratory Information System. With this system, better 

integration of laboratory testing information, quality 

assurance parameters, and reporting is anticipated to be 

achieved using technology to move the division’s laboratories to another level of quality and data integrity. 

National Databases

Both the Food and Chemical Residue Laboratories continue to provide data to the FDA-supported eLEXNET 

national data system, which allows real-time exchange 

of information concerning potential or suspected food 

supply problems. Staff members use eLEXNET for reporting results for FERN projects. Data is exported from 

the laboratories database to the eLEXNET system. 

Results from PFGE testing on contaminated food product bacterial isolates are being submitted into the national PulseNet database, to allow for comparison of 

food product isolates with patterns from human outbreaks.

An application was also developed which provides direct 

export of data collected for the Pesticide Data Program 

from the laboratories database to the PDP Oracle data-
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base in Washington, D.C.

Education and Training

Educational opportunities for laboratory personnel were 

emphasized in order to remain on the leading edge of 

science and technology. Department scientists have 

been active on several national committees, and attended training workshops in order to update knowledge in 

the areas of analytical chemistry, microbiology, and new 

technologies. Staff members also participated as trainers 

for national training programs for FERN. 

Responding to Food Emergencies and Terrorism

The Food and Chemical Residue Laboratories continue 

their initiatives to enhance capability to respond to 

a terrorism incident involving the food supply. Both 

laboratories are members of the FERN and participate 

in federal cooperative agreements both in microbiology 

and chemistry to enhance capabilities and participate in 

national surveillance assignments. FERN was formed to 

respond specifically to national food emergencies and 

the threat of terrorism in foods. In addition to biological capabilities, the laboratories have expanded counterterrorism capabilities to include testing foods for chemical agents. The FERN laboratories were activated in late 

June 2008 after the Salmonella outbreak associated with 

fresh produce continued even though warnings were 

put out for one commodity. Because of the activation, 

state and federal laboratories found a culprit in jalapeño peppers, and in addition, found other Salmonella 

contamination associated with imported produce. The 

Food Laboratory conducted testing to assure the safety 

of Florida tomatoes and to detect contaminated produce 

to ensure the safety of the food supply.

The Division of Food Safety and the laboratories maintain strong partnerships with other state and federal 

agencies, including the Florida DOH, FDA, USDA, and 

the CDC. The Food Safety Laboratories, together with 

other state agencies, have developed a statewide laboratory response plan to assure a coordinated and effective response to emergencies. Representatives of the 

Department’s and DOH’s laboratories meet quarterly to 

enhance the abilities of both agencies to respond in the 

event of an emergency. 

The Food Laboratories have undergone inspections by 

the FDA, CDC, and USDA regarding the capability to 

safely handle and securely protect highly dangerous select agents and toxins, and the laboratories have satisfied 

all requirements. This has allowed the Department to 

be one of the few state agricultural departments to have 

a food laboratory as a member of the national Laboratory Response Network (LRN) for public health protection. A member of the laboratory staff participates on an 

Operational Work Group for the LRN. 

Accomplishments in this domestic/food security initiative include operation of an active Biosafety Level-3 

laboratory, the acquisition and use of sophisticated analytical equipment and substantial ongoing training of 

staff in procedures for processing and analyzing samples 

suspected of containing terrorist threat agents. Staff attended training on FERN and LRN protocols at FDA and 

USDA laboratories, technical meetings with other laboratories, and workshops and teleconferences. Laboratory 

staff gave lectures and presentations on issues in domestic/food security at conferences throughout Florida. 

Food Laboratories staff have been instructors at FERN 

workshops on real-time PCR as well as microbiological 

analysis for potential threat agents.

Previously renovated laboratory space in both the 

Chemical Residue and Food Laboratories provides 

areas for safe and secure preparation and analysis of 

foods for presence of hazardous chemical agents. The 

renovated space includes separate chemical extraction 

areas with chemical fume hoods for both organic and 

metals sample preparation. Laboratory space for eight 

instrument bays is equipped with overhead ventilation 

hoods and house gas. Liquid mass spectrometers and 

other instrumentation are dedicated to counterterrorism 

work in the Chemical Residue laboratories. Upgrades to 

computer capabilities and electricity, purified water, and 

analytical gas supplies have been added to support this 

new technology.

Through FERN cooperative agreements, both the Food 

and Chemical Residue Laboratories are performing 

extensive testing and verification of FERN methods and 

protocols to be used in the event of national food emergencies. Funds and instrumentation received under the 

cooperative agreements have enabled the laboratories to 

develop complex microbiology and molecular analysis, 

as well as toxin screening techniques utilizing gas, liquid, and inductively coupled mass spectrophotometry. 
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FERN methods have been developed and validated in 

several high-risk commodities. Instrument and method 

training for analysts, as well as participation in FERN 

surveillance exercises and proficiency check samples, 

has significantly improved the laboratories’ ability to 

detect agents of concern in complicated food matrices. 

The collaborative contributions of these two state food 

laboratories to national food security exercises are making Florida a national leader in food safety and security. 

The laboratories participated in FDA or FERN counterterrorism surveillance exercises and several FERN and 

LRN proficiencies during 2008-2009.

Division of Dairy Industry

The Department’s Division of Dairy Industry ensures 

that dairy products purchased by Florida consumers are 

wholesome, produced under sanitary conditions, and 

correctly labeled. The division regulates the production, transporting, processing, distribution, and labeling of milk and milk products. It establishes standards 

for these products, whether they originate in Florida or 

other states.

The division issues permits and conducts inspections for 

Florida dairy facilities. As of June 30, 2009, these facilities included:

143 Dairy Farms

 18 Milk Processing Plants

 8 Cheese Plants

 67 Frozen Dessert Manufacturers

 16 Single-service Milk Container Manufacturers

 31 Milk Distribution Depots

 7 Milk Receiving, Transfer, and Wash Stations

 15 Milk Hauling Services

In addition to its inspection program, the division collects and tests samples from dairy farms and processing 

plants for compliance with established product quality 

standards. These samples are collected by field inspectors and tested in a division laboratory for excessive 

bacteria and somatic cells and for the presence of antibiotics, added water, and other impurities.

The programs administered by the Division of Dairy 

Industry are part of a uniform national dairy sanitation 

program outlined in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance 

(PMO) published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Likewise, most of the dairy product 

quality standards enforced by the division are part of 

the PMO or the Code of Federal Regulations. As in all 

states, both the PMO and the relevant sections of the 

Code of Federal Regulation have been adopted in state 

statute or rule.

The fact that all states have adopted uniform regulations 

makes it possible to ship dairy products from state to 

state with a minimum amount of interstate regulatory 

interference. The interstate shipment of dairy products 

is coordinated through the Interstate Milk Shippers 

Conference (IMS), an organization that includes representation from FDA, the dairy producing and processing 

industry, and all state dairy regulatory agencies. 

An IMS Rating Officer routinely performs surveys for the 

purpose of determining compliance with the PMO. In 

addition, the FDA will conduct periodic check ratings 

to determine if both the industry and state regulatory 

agency are in compliance with the requirements in the 

PMO. A state that fails its FDA inspection can be denied 

the right to ship Grade A milk across state lines. During 

fiscal year 2008-2009, IMS Rating Officers performed six 

plant surveys, 10 single- service containers manufacturer 

audits, and nine farm group surveys, involving 106 dairy 

farm inspections. FDA conducted three plant check ratings, two single-service container manufacturer audits, 

and one farm group check ratings, involving one farm.
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The Florida Dairy Industry

Florida dairy farms are large, milking an average of 

about 840 cows each. In spite of the hot, humid climate, these cows average about 17,200 pounds of milk 

per year or about five gallons per day per cow. Even 

though the state’s 120,000 dairy cows rank it first in the 

Southeast and 17th nationally, Florida still imports approximately 30 percent of its milk and the proportion 

of imported milk is growing. Florida’s 18 Grade A milk 

processors include four Dean Food plants, two Publix 

plants, one Winn-Dixie plant, and two plants owned by 

National Dairy Holdings Group, LP. 

Dairy Inspections

The division’s 12 field inspectors are stationed from 

Miami to Pensacola. They make regular visits to dairy 

farms and processing plants to inspect, consult, and 

collect samples. During the past year, dairy inspectors 

performed 1,643 inspections at dairy farms and plants 

in Florida. They also collected 8,273 samples of milk 

and milk products. They made 1,517 inspections of 

milk transport tankers and bulk milk haulers.

Monitoring Antibiotics in Milk

The industry has established a rigorous program to 

monitor milk for contamination with residues of antibiotics commonly used to treat cows on dairy farms. 

During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, 58,921 transport tankers, representing more that 2.7 billion pounds of milk, 

were checked for antibiotics in Florida. Only five (one 

in 11,784) of these tankers were found to contain traces 

of antibiotics; all five loads were dumped. Nationally, 

about one in 3,512 tankers of milk is found to have antibiotic contamination. These statistics show that Florida 

dairymen do an exceptional job of preventing antibiotic 

residues in their milk.

Division of Aquaculture

Florida has the most diverse number and type of animals and plants in production and production systems 

of any state in the country and ranks seventh in overall 

farm-gate sales. Floridians have also been aquacultural 

innovators dating back to the establishment of the 

first alligator farm in 1893, the planting of dried oyster 

cultch to support oyster farming in 1889, the shipping 

of farm-raised tropical fish and aquatic plants from 

Miami by railroad during the 1920s, experimental hard 

clam farming in 1958, and the first global air shipment 

of tropical fish in the mid-1960s.

Innovation continues today with research-and-development farms that are proving the feasibility of culturing 

microalgae for biofuels; state-of-the-art, indoor production systems producing sturgeon meat and caviar; 

and ornamental fish farms culturing the only commercially sold transgenic animal in the United States and a 

puffer fish with the shortest genome of any vertebrate 

sequenced to date (a perfect candidate for genetic research). 

The Division of Aquaculture was created in 1999 by the 

Florida Legislature and is responsible for implementing 

the provisions of Chapter 597, F.S., through six programs: aquaculture certification, leasing of sovereignty 

submerged land for aquacultural purposes, shellfish 

resource development, shellfish processing plant certification, shellfish harvesting area management, and 

technical support. The Act also provides for an advisory 

council to the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Aquaculture Review Council, and a state agency council to 

resolve aquacultural issues. Information about the division’s programs is available at www.FloridaAquaculture.

com.

Aquaculture Certification Program 

An Aquaculture Certificate of Registration was established by law to recognize the culture of aquatic species 
92 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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(fish, plants, reptiles, mollusks, and crustaceans). Aquaculture facilities are required to be certified annually and 

to attest that they will comply with Aquaculture Best 

Management Practices provided in Chapter 5L-3, Florida 

Administrative Code. The Aquaculture Certificate of 

Registration is used to identify aquaculture producers 

as members of Florida’s agricultural community and to 

identify aquacultural products produced in the state. 

Aquaculture Best Management Practices encompass farm 

location, design, animal and plant species, operation, 

and management to achieve Florida’s environmental 

conservation and preservation goals. Farm inspections 

are conducted to ensure compliance with the Aquaculture Best Management Practices and the responsibilities 

assumed by the farmer when accepting the Aquaculture 

Certificate of Registration.

The division certified 922 aquaculture facilities during 

fiscal year 2008-2009. Forty-three percent of certified 

farms produce shellfish, 24 percent produce ornamental 

fish and plants, and 19 percent produce food fish, with 

the remainder producing live rock, alligators, and bait. 

Certified farms are found in 62 of the state’s 67 counties, with the highest number of certified farms occurring 

in Levy County (21 percent). Hillsborough County is 

next with 10 percent, followed by Brevard, Dade, Dixie, 

Franklin, Indian River, Lee, Polk, and Volusia counties 

with 4 to 5 percent each.

Sovereignty Submerged Lands Leasing Program

The division is responsible for the Aquaculture Lease 

Program under the provisions in Chapter 253, F.S. 

Currently, the Department administers 533 aquaculture 

leases containing about 1,217 acres and 71 shellfish 

leases containing about 1,184 acres. Aquaculture leases 

are located in Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, Dixie, Franklin, 

Indian River, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Palm Beach, 

Pinellas, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

In response to its statutory mandate, the division identifies tracts of submerged lands throughout the state that 

are suitable for aquacultural development. Twenty-one 

Aquaculture Use Areas have been identified by the Department and authorized by the Governor and Cabinet 

in nine coastal counties: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, 

Dixie, Franklin, Indian River, Lee, Levy, and Volusia.

Oyster Culture and Shellfish Resource 

Development Program

Under the mandate that began in 1913 to improve, 

enlarge, and conserve the oyster and clam resources of 

the state, the division is actively engaged in enhancing 

shellfish resources and restoring oyster reefs on public 

submerged lands. During fiscal year 2008-2009, the 

division collected 117,336 bushels of processed oyster 

shell from processors in Franklin County and 3,216 

bushels from processors in Levy County. In addition 

to planting cultch, the division rebuilt a small barge to 

carry out oyster reef creation or restoration in very shallow inshore waters or waters that could not be accessed 

by the division’s large barge and push boat.

Oyster resource development projects are conducted on 

an annual basis in cooperation with local oystermen’s 

associations in four coastal counties. A total of 255,310 

bushels of live oysters was replanted on public reefs in 

Franklin, Wakulla, Dixie, and Levy counties. 

Restoring Public Oyster Reefs

The division is involved in a comprehensive multi-county project to restore oyster reefs that were damaged by 

recent hurricanes. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 1,099.2 

tons of fossilized shell was collected and 142,080 bushels of shell planted. This project is designed to enhance 

oyster production, facilitate recovery of the oyster business, and provide significant resource restoration benefits. The project promotes the development of selfsustaining reef communities, which, in turn, perform 

ecological services that contribute to fisheries habitat, 

ecosystem stability, nutrient cycling, and improved water 

quality. Functioning oyster reefs are recognized as an es-
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sential component in stabilizing and sustaining ecological relationships in almost all Gulf estuarine ecosystems.

Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification and 

Management Program

This program seeks to classify and manage Florida 

coastal waters for maximum use of shellfish resource, 

protection of public health, and promotion of a healthy 

coastal environment. The program is audited each year 

by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure 

compliance with the provisions of the National Shellfish 

Sanitation Program.

A total of 39 shellfish harvesting areas are currently 

classified and managed statewide. During fiscal year 

2008-2009, the required annual update reports and 

triennial reappraisal reports were completed for all 39 

shellfish harvesting areas. The data and reports support 

current classification and management for all shellfish 

harvesting areas. During fiscal year 2008-2009, a total of 

669 sampling excursions were conducted to collect and 

analyze 13,392 water samples for fecal coliform bacteria. There were 405 closures and re-openings of shellfish 

harvesting areas. Shellfish harvesting area maps, and 

their harvest status (open or closed), are posted on the 

division’s web site.

Shellfish Processing Facility Program

This program seeks to ensure wholesome shellfish products through inspection, education, and enforcement of 

state regulations and national guidelines. The program 

is audited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to 

ensure compliance with the provisions of the National 

Shellfish Sanitation Program. A total of 105 Shellfish 

Processing Plant Certifications were issued during fiscal 

year 2008-2009. A total of 401 regulatory processing 

plant inspections were conducted. Based on fiscal year 

2008-2009 inspection results, 45 warning letters and 

11 settlement agreement letters were issued. Action 

was taken to destroy shellfish products when they were 

found to be adulterated, contaminated, unwholesome, 

mislabeled, or exceeding the product shelf life.

The division assisted Florida oyster processors in developing and implementing post-harvest processing (PHP) 

technologies to reduce human health risks associated 

with naturally occurring Vibrio bacteria in shellstock 

oysters. Four Florida firms are currently validated for 

freezing and frozen storage, with two actually doing 

so, and another Florida firm is gearing up for freezing 

validation studies. The division has facilitated the adoption of PHP technologies by: (1) updating regulations 

to incorporate these new technologies; (2) working with 

research laboratories that conduct the validation studies; 

and (3) working with PHP processors on appropriate 

PHP labeling and required recordkeeping.

Technical Support Programs

The division provides substantial technical and administrative support for a variety of initiatives to support 

aquaculture development and conserve Florida’s natural 

resources:

– Creating or revising Aquaculture Best Management 

Practices through the formation of technical advisory 

committees composed of producer, agency, extension, 

and environmental representatives that write initial 

drafts that are then subject to the public administrative 

rule development process.

– Completing theoretical and applied research to create 

and release sterile invasive species (e.g., tilapia and apple 

snail) that will lead to population collapse in natural 

systems.

– Supporting the Statewide Clam Industry Task Force 

that addresses issues of interest to clam farmers on the 

Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

– Administering industry development project grants to 
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provide answers for production, technical, or economic 

challenges that are recommended by the Aquaculture 

Review Council to the Commissioner of Agriculture for 

funding through legislative appropriations.

– Organizing and conducting workshops, seminars, 

and problem-solving activities to resolve environmental 

issues or provide information to Florida farmers. For 

example, two risk analyses were completed concerning 

Florida’s marine ornamental trade and the stocking of 

sterile grass carp to improve agency and farmer efforts 

to prevent the establishment of nonnative species in 

Florida.

– Producing the Florida Aquaculture Plan in concert 

with the Aquaculture Review Council as a planning 

document to coordinate the efforts of state agencies, the 

public and private research community, the Legislature, 

and other interested parties.

– Producing “Florida Aquaculture,” a quarterly newsletter for all certified aquaculturists, shellfish processing 

houses, and other interested parties to communicate 

timely technical information, state and federal regulatory updates, grants and aids programs, or event announcements.

– Producing technical bulletins to provide in-depth 

information on topics like red tide, red tide regulations, 

cultured hard clam handling and harvesting, shellfish 

net coatings, aquatic preserves, apple snails, hurricane 

preparedness, shellfish harvest area management, and 

the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.

– Aquaculture Review Council projects, environmental 

analyses, the Florida Aquaculture Plan, “Florida Aquaculture” newsletter, and technical bulletins are posted to 

the division’s web site, and free copies are available by 

contacting the division at (850) 488-4033.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 95

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Division of Agricultural 

Environmental Services

Scientific Evaluation Section

The Scientific Evaluation Section (SES) in the Bureau 

of Pesticides is staffed by scientists with expertise in the 

disciplines of chemistry, toxicology, ecological and human health risk assessment, environmental modeling, 

geology, endangered species biology, and soil science. 

The section’s primary task is to use sound science to conduct environmental fate and health risk assessments on 

pesticide products and to provide technical support to 

the other bureaus in the Division of Agricultural Environmental Services. The section also works with the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sister government agencies, pesticide registrants, stakeholder groups, 

and the public on matters related to the regulation of 

pesticides to protect human and ecological health (including endangered species), and the quality of surface 

water, ground water, and air. 

Registration Reviews 

During fiscal year 2008-2009, SES conducted environmental fate and effects assessments on 39 active ingredients in 55 product brands seeking registration in Florida. 

Although these products were previously reviewed by 

the EPA, the section’s assessments consider many unique 

Florida conditions (e.g., excessive rainfall, permeable 

soils, and multiple growing seasons) that may not have 

been covered in detail in the federal assessment. SES 

recommended acceptance for almost all registration 

requests after determining that the products would 

introduce no unacceptable risk to humans or non-target 

species when used according to the product label. In 

some cases, SES recommended that additional mitigation measures be applied via revision of the product 

label to address Florida-specific concerns. In one case, 

SES recommended denial of the registration for two formulations of a rodenticide, difenacoum, due to concerns 

of unacceptable risk to wildlife. The decision for denial 

was upheld in an informal administrative hearing. 

Of greatest significance this fiscal year was the section’s 

role in reviewing and ultimately approving four Special 

Local Need registrations (diflubenzuron, fenpropathrin, 

spinetoram, and zeta-cypermethrin) for low-volume 

applications to control the insect pest that vectors citrus 

greening. SES worked closely with the Registration Section, the citrus industry, the University of Florida IFAS 

and the registrant to assess the critical elements (droplet 

size, equipment, application volume, etc.) of this unique 

application technique and to understand how pesticide 

drift and, ultimately, risks could be impacted. 

Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document on 

the Organic Arsenical Herbicides

During this last year, the EPA neared finalization of its 

reregistration decision on the organic arsenical herbicides. The agency is canceling all uses of DSMA, CAMA, 

and cacodylic acid by 2009 in Florida. By the end of 

2010 only MSMA use on cotton will remain. In addition, EPA is mandating a setback from water bodies 

to mitigate risks through surface water, which was the 

driver for this decision. The Department had been very 

active throughout this process and submitted comments 

to the EPA on multiple occasions supporting the EPA’s 

decision and expressing concern over the risk to Florida’s 

particularly vulnerable ground water. The Department 

remains in contact with the EPA to ensure that the concerns of the Department are considered in the phase-out 

of these products.

Ground Water Protection

Lake Wales Ridge Monitoring Network

Staff from the Department and the Southwest Florida 

Water Management District conducted the 38th through 

41st quarterly sampling events of the 30 wells in the network. Each monitoring well is situated in the region’s 

shallow aquifer, which is overlain by sandy soils that are 

extremely prone to leaching. The analytes detected during these four events are consistent with those detected 

in prior sampling events and are reflective of pesticides 

used in citrus production in the area. This year staff 

began rotating in the sampling of eight additional wells 

not located in citrus areas to assess the potential impacts 

of other land-uses on ground water quality. 

The network continues to provide valuable information 

on the environmental fate and persistence of citrus-agrichemicals in one of the most vulnerable regions of the 

nation. In addition, the network serves as an early warning system for potential potable water threats. Details 

are available at http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/Lake_Wales_Ridge/

index.html.
96 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Thiamethoxam Retrospective Ground Water Study

In June 2005 Syngenta Crop Protection initiated a retrospective ground water study of the insecticide thiamethoxam. The study was conducted at 12 vegetable fields 

located in Hamilton, Suwannee, and Manatee counties 

with each field instrumented with a shallow and a deep 

ground water monitoring well. The study reported relatively consistent low-level detections of thiamethoxam 

and its degradates. The residues were at levels well 

below those posing a risk to humans. The Department 

received and reviewed the final report for this study 

which reflects almost three years of data collection and 

interpretation. The Department accepted the report and 

the study was closed.

1,3-Dichloropropene Ground Water Study

During this fiscal year, Dow AgroSciences and its consultant continued to evaluate the long-term risks that the 

soil fumigant Curfew (1,3-dichloropropene) may pose 

to ground water quality. The registrant’s study is being 

conducted at the Department’s request to determine 

whether the label-mandated 100-foot setback from potable wells is sufficient to protect drinking water resources. 

The site was instrumented with monitoring wells after 

site characterization was complete. The initial sampling 

event occurred in the fall of 2007 and quarterly ground 

water sampling is continuing. The Department has received progress reports which contained data on site instrumentation and the first seven sampling events. SES 

will continue to track and evaluate the ongoing work. 

In addition to the ground water study, SES and staff 

from the Bureau of Compliance Monitoring have been 

involved in the review of an existing Special Local Need 

label for use of 1,3-dichloropropene on golf course and 

sports turf. The review focuses on provisions for ground 

water protection and on measures to address prevention 

of bystander exposure to airborne residues. A number 

of label changes are being considered for final submission to the EPA. 

Iodomethane Retrospective Ground Water Study

As a condition for the Florida registration of the soil 

fumigant iodomethane, the registrant Arysta LifeScience 

has agreed to conduct a small-scale study to monitor air 

and ground water quality at sites in Florida. Staff of SES 

and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have reviewed and commented on the registrant’s 

final draft protocol for the ground water and air sampling study. Site identification, characterization, and 

instrumentation have begun, and the study is scheduled 

to begin in early fall of 2009. The Department will 

continue to work with the registrant to ensure that this 

study produces meaningful data to enhance its assessment of this fumigant. 

Surface Water Protection 

Endosulfan in South Florida

In the summer of 2008, representatives from the Department met with staff from the National Park Service 

(NPS) and other stakeholders regarding detections of 

endosulfan in canals on the eastern border of Everglades 

National Park. The NPS is concerned that endosulfan 

and its degradate may impact aquatic organisms when 

water from the C-111 canal, which runs adjacent to vegetable production, enters the park. Although detections 

of endosulfan (a combination of alpha and beta endosulfan) in local surface water have rarely exceeded surface water standards in the past eight years, the chemical 

degradate, endosulfan sulfate continues to be detected at 

levels greater than the parent compound. This is important since the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs now 

considers the sulfate degradate as equivalent in toxicity 

to the alpha and beta parents. Moreover, the NPS and 

scientists at Florida International University recently 

reported detections of endosulfan in fish collected both 

inside and near the park and they have raised concerns 

about potential impacts to fish-eating organisms such as 

wading birds. The park subsequently submitted a letter 

of significant concerns to the EPA regarding potential 

acute and chronic ecological risks associated with exposure to the product. At this point, the EPA has not made 

a regulatory determination regarding the future of endosulfan, but one is anticipated in the coming year. 

Water Quality Issues Involving Copper

Several segments of surface water in the Florida recently 

have been determined to be impaired due to the presence of elevated concentrations of copper. Such impaired water bodies are destined for further review by 

the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to 

establish total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a 

water body can receive and still safely meet water quality 

standards. Copper-based pesticides are among a number of potential man-made sources of copper that may 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 97

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be contributing to detections in Florida surface water. 

SES plans to work with others in the Department, water 

quality agencies, and stakeholders when TMDLs are being considered for copper-impaired waters. 

NPDES Decision from the 6th Circuit Court 

of Appeals 

In January 2009, the United States 6th Circuit Court 

of Appeals vacated the EPA’s 2006 rule that exempted 

pesticide applicators that make applications to, on, or 

near water from having to obtain a National Pollutant 

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The 

EPA argued that pesticides sprayed on water are not pollutants and consequently these applications would not 

be subject to the NPDES permitting program. The court 

did not agree with EPA’s interpretation of the Clean 

Water Act (CWA) and found that pesticide residues 

constitute point source discharges. Under this decision, 

persons applying pesticides to, on, or near water bodies would need to obtain an NPDES permit prior to use 

(the full scope of applications potentially subject to the 

permitting requirement has not been established). The 

permitting requirement is expected to significantly affect 

pesticide applicators, pesticide regulators, and NPDES 

permitting agencies, at a minimum. In April, the court 

granted a two-year stay on this mandate to allow federal 

and state programs to prepare permitting programs. 

Since the court’s decision, the Division of Agricultural 

Environmental Services has worked at both the national 

and state level to promote a constructive dialogue on 

how to move forward with a permitting system that 

protects water resources while minimizing disruptions 

to vital pest control operations. In Florida the division 

is working closely with the Office of Agricultural Water 

Policy, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 

Commission to develop a cooperative approach.

Endangered Species Protection 

Program 

Subcommittee on Imperiled Species

The Subcommittee on Imperiled Species (formally 

known as the Miami Blue Butterfly Subcommittee) was 

created by the Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control (FCCMC) to provide recommendations to 

the council regarding conduct of mosquito control that 

will: 1) allow for management and recovery of imperiled 

species by state and federal agencies and 2) allow the 

Mosquito Control Districts to continue to provide mosquito control as required under Chapter 388, F.S. The 

subcommittee meets at least semiannually. Two meetings occurred since the last report; the first on October 

20, 2008, and the second on February 11, 2009. The 

following topics were discussed: 1) Update on the MOU 

between USFWS and FEMA concerning endangered species consultation during emergency mosquito control; 

2) Population status of imperiled butterflies in the Keys; 

3) Final report on the Miami blue field trials; 4) Update 

on the USFWS funded studies on laboratory and field 

trials in the Keys; 5) Mosquito control on State lands; 

and 6) Update on policy issues between the National 

Key Deer Wildlife Refuge and the Keys Mosquito Control 

District.

Workshop for FDACS and the Florida Fish and 

Wildlife Conservation Commission 

On May 15, 2009, the Department hosted a “Wildlife 

and Pesticides” meeting for the Florida Fish and Wildlife 

Conservation Commission (FWC). These annual meetings serve as a venue to discuss issues concerning pesticide use and potential impacts to wildlife in Florida. 

Topics of this year’s meeting included: 1) EPA’s final 

rodenticide risk mitigation decision; 2) Difenacoum denial of registration; 3) Avitrol (4-aminopyridine) permitting process; 4) Intentional (illegal) wildlife poisoning 

with pesticides; 5) Certification of commercial wildlife 

trappers; and 5) Permitting aquatic herbicide applications. 

Miscellaneous

Termiticide Efficacy Reviews

In March 2003 the Department adopted the Termiticide 

Efficacy Rule (5E-2.0311 Florida Administrative Code), 

which requires that any product registered as a preventative treatment against termites in new construction in 

Florida must satisfy specific efficacy criteria. Since the 

rule’s adoption, staff continues to: 1) work with registrants to finalize their submissions to satisfy the efficacy 

requirements of the Department; and 2) review progress 

reports from registrants actively gathering the necessary 

efficacy data. To date, 27 registrants and 72 registered 

products are included on the table of “Termiticides 

Registered in Florida for Preventive Treatment of New 

Construction.” 
98 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Mosquito Control Incident Response Team 

Activation

The Mosquito Control Incident Response Team (MCIRT) 

was activated twice during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. 

The first activation was on August 26, 2008, in response 

to severe flooding in North Florida after Tropical Storm 

Fay. During the three weeks that the team was activated, seven counties were aerially treated using naled 

to control adult mosquitoes. The second activation 

occurred on May 1, 2009, in response to severe flooding 

along the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers in North 

Florida. That incident involved aerial spraying of naled 

(approximately 150,000 acres) and ground spraying of 

permethrin (approximately 900 road miles). The Endangered Species Protection Program Coordinator serves 

as the planning deputy of the MCIRT and is charged 

with mapping spray zones in counties receiving mosquito adulticide applications. He also serves as the liaison 

to other state agencies by providing maps of the areas to 

be sprayed and notifying them concerning applications 

made to state-protected lands. These maps are also submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA) to be used in their consultation with U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service (FWS) concerning possible impacts 

to federally listed threatened and endangered species.

Good Neighbor Practices Grant

As urban development continues amid lands that were 

predominantly rural and agricultural in nature, the use 

of agrichemicals on farms can raise questions among 

new neighbors. Concerns about pesticides drifting off 

farms and into neighboring property can be especially 

heightened when new schools are built next to existing 

farms. To develop practices that can reduce conflicts 

between agricultural pesticide application operations 

and neighboring schools, SES worked with IFAS on a 

grant proposal that would promote “Good Neighbor 

Practices.” As a result, the National Association of State 

Departments of Agriculture in cooperation with the EPA 

has provided funding for a two-year IFAS pilot study. 

SES and the Pesticide Laboratory will assist in the project. 

Pesticide Registration Section

The Pesticide Registration Section registers pesticides 

that are distributed, sold, or offered for sale in Florida. 

During fiscal year 2008-2009, 15,287 pesticide brands 

were registered for sale and distribution in Florida. 

Registration fees totaling $10,168,300 were collected 

to support the Department’s pesticide programs. This 

larger fee collection effort reflects the Department’s initiation of a biennial registration process effective January 

1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. The new program 

is intended to maximize long-range budget planning 

activities and assist in maintaining efficient customer 

service despite limited staffing resources.

Pesticide Registration Evaluation Committee

Included in pesticide registration activities were reviews 

for special registration actions such as Experimental Use 

Permits, Special Local Need, New Active Ingredient, and 

Significant New Use registrations. These special registrations are reviewed by the Department and other affected 

state agencies through the Pesticide Registration and 

Evaluation Committee (PREC), a consensus-determining group that is responsible for evaluating pesticides, 

advising the Department of risks associated with the 

proposed use of the pesticides, and proposing solutions 

or actions for reducing risks to acceptable levels. The 

Registration Section’s professional staff serves as both 

liaison and active participants in the PREC process. 

During this reporting period the committee convened 

on 12 occasions to evaluate the following: 19 Special 

Local Need registrations, 10 Experimental Use Permits, 

10 Significant New Use, and 20 New Active Ingredient 

registrations.

Emergency Exemptions

Florida’s diverse agricultural system, mild climate, and 

tourism/trade activities make the state particularly susceptible to the introduction and proliferation of pests. 

When an emergency condition arises and no effective 

registered pesticides are available to control a new pest 

or avert an anticipated significant economic loss due to 

an urgent and non-routine pest problem, the Department may submit petitions to the EPA for emergency 

exemptions from registration. Pest emergencies often 

involve introduced pest species of foreign origin, such as 

invasive insects, weeds, and plant diseases with the potential to inflict millions of dollars of losses in affected 

crops and commodities. Exemption requests frequently 

seek the use of new, low-risk chemicals that may actually decrease the total use of chemicals on the affected 

crops through their compatibility with integrated pest 

management programs and by eliminating or reducing 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 99

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repeated applications of broad-spectrum pesticides of 

limited efficacy. Further, these new chemistries usually 

have better environmental fate and non-target toxicity profiles than many of the older chemicals they are 

replacing. 

The review of emergency use exemptions is a critical part 

of the Department’s efforts to promote the long-term 

viability of Florida’s continued agro-economic development while assuring that pesticide tools will not pose 

unreasonable risks to human health and the environment. With the Department’s technical support (including review of draft Florida petitions pursuant to new federal economic models), the EPA issued five emergency 

exemptions for pesticide use in Florida during fiscal year 

2008-2009. 

The Department requested that the EPA recertify Florida’s exemptions for the use of the fungicide thiophanate-methyl to control Fusarium “hardlock” in cotton, 

postbloom fruit drop in citrus, and white mold in fruiting vegetables. The cotton use request was later withdrawn by the Department when another fungicide class 

received federal registration to control hardlock. Cotton 

growers and their field researchers documented sustained efficacy from this new product during the 2008-

2009 production season. Upon a request by the Department, the EPA agreed to extend the thiophanate-methyl 

fruiting vegetable use petition from December 31, 2008, 

to April 24, 2009. Since the April 2009 petition expiration date, the Department has communicated frequently 

with the EPA regarding the need to recertify for this fruiting vegetable use until the FIFRA Section 3 label is approved in mid-2010. In early January 2009 Department 

staff informed the citrus industry of the EPA’s decision 

not to recertify the postbloom fruit drop uses in grapefruit after the March 19, 2009, expiration. The EPA cited 

risk cup issues as the driver for its decisions.

In late spring 2008, the Commissioner of Agriculture issued a crisis declaration to assist the sugarcane industry 

in a strategy for controlling orange rust (Puccinia kuehnii). This fungal pest was affecting a specific variety of 

sugarcane known for its high sugar content; control had 

a direct positive impact on crop yield. The Department 

had previously submitted to the EPA a three-year quarantine petition request for the use of both pyraclostrobin and metconazole to control this pest. 

The Department reviewed a request from a representative of minor crop industry to assist in applying to the 

EPA for the use of metaldehyde to control snails in 300 

acres of floating watercress. This petition to the Department was the first to incorporate EPA’s new tiered economic approach to show a “significant economic loss” 

under the revised Section 18 guidelines. The petition 

was granted by the EPA in October 2008.

Novaluron was identified by researchers as the active 

ingredient best suited to provide Florida strawberry 

growers relief from significant crop damage by the sap 

beetle. The EPA granted the Department’s petition on 

their behalf effective December 31, 2008.

On September 25, 2008, the EPA granted the Department’s request for the recertification of the three-year 

quarantine exemption for naled to control fruit flies in 

non-crop areas of the state. This exemption is necessary 

to assist the Department’s Division of Plant Industry in 

its responsibilities to eliminate fruit fly outbreaks.

Soil Fumigant Reviews

Soil fumigation is a key component in the production 

of many crops in Florida. This year, two significant and 

related developments involving soil fumigants resulted 

in intensive review and evaluation by the Department:

1. The EPA released Re-registration Eligibility Decision 

documents on a group of soil fumigants (methyl bromide, chloropicrin, metam sodium/potassium, methyl 

isothiocyanate, and dazomet). The federal review of 

these fumigants determined that a wide array of additional restrictions was needed to protect workers and 

bystanders from exposure to fumes. Examples of the 

new requirements are large buffer zones, posting and 

notification requirements, air quality monitoring measures, increased worker protection measures, fumigation 

management plans, good agricultural practices, training programs, community outreach, etc. These safety 

measures are expected to reduce fumigant exposures to 

bystanders (people who live, work, attend school, or 

spend time near agricultural fields that are fumigated) 

and increase overall safety of fumigant use by requiring 

greater planning and compliance. The new changes will 

have significant impacts on industry and state regulatory programs. During a public comment period, the 

Department provided extensive comments to the EPA, 
100 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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many of which were geared toward revising the requirements to enhance clarity, cost effectiveness, and enforceability. The Department was concerned that, aside from 

potentially taking much of Florida’s acreage out of traditional production, the requirements would place a large 

unfunded burden on its regulatory programs. Based on 

public comment and the results of new soil emission 

studies, the EPA has subsequently indicated that it will 

ameliorate some of the requirements. The Department 

intends to continue its dialogue with the EPA to stress 

the need for additional federal funding for new regulatory program costs.

2. The fumigant iodomethane (methyl iodide) received 

federal registration, and several new formulations were 

submitted for registration in Florida. This is a new active ingredient; the first for soil fumigation to appear in 

decades. It is marketed as a potential replacement for 

methyl bromide, a longstanding industry standard that 

is being phased out due to concerns for ozone depletion. Iodomethane was registered by the EPA under 

risk assessment and management approaches similar to 

those being considered for the fumigants covered in the 

Re-registration Eligibility Decision. As such, the Department faced the challenge of reviewing new air exposure 

monitoring and modeling studies, innovative toxicological studies, and complex and lengthy label instructions 

that radically departed from existing soil fumigant labels. The Florida registration was conditionally accepted 

after an exhaustive eight-month review that included 

regular dialogue with the EPA. 

Registration Tracking System (RTS)

The Pesticide Registration Section successfully completed the process of updating the 2007-2009 product brand 

registration information into the Registration Tracking 

System (RTS). The section completed RTS training for 

headquarters staff and enforcement field staff. 

The section continued its assistance to the Bureau of 

Compliance Monitoring in the creation of their Pesticide 

Use Permitting System (PUPS). A module was added to 

RTS to assist their efforts. The PUPS focuses on tracking notifications of intent to apply for a single pesticide 

active ingredient, but it will have the capability to track 

other active ingredients whenever the need to do so is 

identified by the Department.

During this reporting period the Department’s new egov credit/debit card system was fully implemented and 

successfully utilized by a number of pesticide registrants 

for payment of both new and renewed product brands. 

In a related effort to improve services, the Registration 

Section continued its participation in a national e-label 

pilot project entitled ALSTAR (Accepted Label State 

Tracking and Repository). This e-label project is being 

coordinated with six other state registration programs 

through the National Pesticide Information Retrieval 

System and is designed to make pesticide labels available online. Current participation in the ALSTAR project 

has grown to 25 state agencies and 25 pesticide companies. Also, the RTS was upgraded to allow for the collection and posting of biennial registrations beginning in 

November 2008. 

Pesticide Laboratory Section

The Department’s Pesticide Laboratory analyzes a variety 

of official samples, including formulated pesticide products, pesticide application tank mixes, and environmental samples to support compliance investigations and 

pesticide management activities. Formulation analyses 

are performed in accordance with Florida Statutes for 

label guarantee, and tank-mix sample analyses are performed to assess the use percentages of the active ingredient. In fiscal year 2008-2009, a total of 96 formulation and/or tank-mix samples were analyzed, requiring 

3,673 sample determinations to verify whether the 

percentages of guaranteed active ingredients were within 

allowable tolerances. The rate of violations encountered 

for product formulations testing this past year was 10 

percent. 

In support of registration, compliance, and technical 

assessment activities, 580 environmental samples were 

analyzed, requiring 65,095 determinations. To ensure a high quality of analysis, the laboratory analyzed 

1,305 quality control samples, requiring 35,301 determinations. Quality assurance samples were analyzed 

for method development and validation as well as for 

control of routine sample analyses. Overall, during fiscal year 2008-2009 the laboratory reported 3,589 more 

sample determinations than were reported for the previous fiscal year. The continuing trend for increases in 

the number of determinations is driven primarily by the 

quantity of pesticide screens requested by the pesticide 

program areas.
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The laboratory responded to a wide variety of method 

development requests and increased its screening capabilities during the past year. Method development work 

for individual compounds and related analytes was 

conducted in a variety of environmental matrices (e.g., 

soil, water, vegetation). In addition, method development work continued in the area of fumigant and air 

quality analysis techniques utilizing purge/trap sample 

introduction techniques with gas chromatographic/mass 

spectrometric capabilities. 

The laboratory’s technical training program continues 

to include in-house proficiency samples. In addition, 

in 2008-2009, the laboratory successfully participated 

in two external check sample programs: the Association 

of American Pest Control Officials formulation check 

sample program and the EPA/Wisconsin residue check 

sample program. Further, the laboratory is actively 

involved in revising and preparing all of its standard 

operating procedures to work toward ISO 17025 Laboratory Accreditation.

The laboratory implemented changes to its Laboratory 

Information Management System (LIMS), which allowed for the elimination of paper recordkeeping logs 

for sample preparations. All sample preparation records 

are now entered directly into the LIMS. This change 

has eliminated the need to perform manual sample 

result calculations. The automation of sample result 

calculations has resulted in improved data accuracy by 

eliminating manual calculation, transcription errors, 

and consequentially reduced staff time devoted to data 

processing and quality assurance review. The laboratory 

is currently developing additional LIMS enhancements 

to continue to improve overall laboratory efficiency.

Pesticide Certification and Licensing

The Pesticide Certification and Licensing Program helps 

to ensure a safe food supply, healthy environment, and 

the protection of workers and the public through training and competency testing of pesticide users. This 

program is coordinated with the EPA and the University 

of Florida (UF) with the 67 county Institute of Food 

Agricultural Services (IFAS) Extension Offices to ensure 

consistency in educational efforts and certification standards. EPA has approved the Department’s program as 

meeting federal pesticide applicator certification requirements, and EPA staff provides limited guidance and program assistance as needed. UF-IFAS assists by developing training manuals and certification exams, providing 

training classes and workshops, and administering the 

majority of the certification exams.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department issued or 

renewed 2,965 pesticide applicator licenses and 387 

pesticide dealer licenses. The total number of active 

licenses as of June 30, 2009, was 11,837. Department 

staff approved 1,429 pesticide training programs to 

issue continuing education units (CEUs) for pesticide 

applicator recertification and license renewal, making 

available 8,951 CEUs for license renewal. An online 

CEU class search is available to help pesticide applicators locate training opportunities that provide CEUs. 

Department staff also monitored 29 programs for a total 

of 75.5 hours of training classes throughout the state 

and gave six presentations on pesticide laws and regulations, licensing requirements, and procedures relevant to 

pesticide use.

Aldicarb Permit Program

The Aldicarb Permit Program tracks the use of the 

restricted-use pesticide aldicarb (Temik) in Florida to 

ensure protection of ground water from contamination 

with aldicarb residues. All uses of aldicarb must be approved prior to application and soil type and wells must 

be identified for each application site before permits 

are issued. In fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department 

issued permits for aldicarb to be applied to 3,098 sites 

in Florida, including 318,995 acres of citrus, 16,941 

acres of potatoes, 30,845 acres of peanuts, 19,832 acres 

of cotton, and 433 acres of soybeans. Permit applications may be submitted by fax or mail or online at www.

flpesticidepermits.org. Information about the aldicarb 

program and permit applications are available on the 

Department web site www.flaes.org.

Aircraft Registration Program

The Department administers a registration program for 

aircraft used to apply or dispense pesticides, fertilizer, 

and seed. Aircraft owners/operators are required to register all aircraft used and must also report to the Department all sales, purchases, leases, and other transactions 

involving these aircraft. As of June 30, 2009, there were 

144 aircraft registered. The number registered to apply 

each of the following products is as follows: 102 for public health pesticides, 51 for agricultural pesticides, 26 for 
102 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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fertilizer, 24 for seed, 11 for bait, and 10 for burn agents. 

Worker Protection Program

The Department uses a multifaceted approach to protect 

agricultural workers from pesticide hazards. Certification and licensing is required of individuals who use 

restricted-use pesticides to ensure they are aware of 

pesticide safety requirements and are competent to use 

pesticides properly. Since the inception of the program, 

the Department has certified and licensed over 7,500 

individuals to use restricted-use pesticides in agricultural 

sites, and there are currently over 11,000 individuals licensed. Also, licensed pesticide applicators are required 

to train their unlicensed assistants on pesticide safety 

before restricted-use pesticides are handled.

The Department enforces the federal Worker Protection 

Standard (WPS) in Florida, which requires pesticide 

safety training for all agricultural pesticide handlers and 

agricultural workers who work at agricultural sites where 

pesticides have been applied in the last 30 days. The 

training must include information on how pesticides 

might enter the body and how to prevent pesticide exposure. Since the inception of the program, approximately 

3,000 individuals have been certified to conduct WPS 

pesticide safety training. A total of 61,950 EPA worker 

cards and 11,587 EPA handler cards have been issued to 

certified trainers to issue to individuals they train. The 

EPA card system is voluntary and the numbers do not 

represent the total number of individuals trained. This 

year a new database/training program for the train-thetrainers was implemented to provide better reporting 

information.

The Florida Agricultural Worker Safety Act (FAWSA) is 

also enforced by the Department and requires agricultural employers to provide a fact sheet or Material Safety 

Data Sheet (MSDS) to agricultural workers upon request 

so workers will know the hazards of pesticides they may 

be exposed to in the workplace. Under FAWSA requirements, the Department also makes available a pesticide 

safety sheet in English, Spanish, and Creole/Haitian 

with illustrated instructions on preventing pesticide exposure and a toll-free telephone number for the Florida 

Poison Control Centers. To date, over 50,000 pesticide 

safety sheets have been distributed by the Department to 

assist pesticide safety trainers. The safety sheet can also 

be downloaded from the Department’s web site at www.

flaes.org/complimonitoring/workersafety/index.html.

During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the Department conducted 1,188 WPS inspections at farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. One hundred sixty-one, or 14 

percent, of these inspections identified violations of the 

WPS, and a total of 276 violations were identified for 

the year. 

In addition to enforcing the WPS set out under state and 

federal law, the Department conducts education and 

outreach programs for agricultural workers. Sessions 

are conducted to educate workers about pesticides, and 

a bilingual outreach educator is available to meet with 

workers as needed. In addition, the Department conducts train-the-trainer programs in order to reach more 

workers through the help of other workers and worker 

organizations. 

The Department strongly encourages workers to seek 

immediate medical attention if they believe they have 

been harmed by pesticides while working. Workers are 

also encouraged to promptly report potential violations 

of the WPS to the Department for investigation and response. Under the WPS, workers must be notified about 

treated areas so they may avoid inadvertent exposures; 

handlers and workers must be supplied with water, soap, 

and towels for routine washing and emergency decontamination; transportation must be made available to 

a medical care facility if a worker or handler may have 

been poisoned or injured; and information must be provided about the pesticide to which the worker may have 

been exposed. Additionally, personal protective equipment must be provided and maintained for handlers 

and early-entry workers; safety training is required for 

all workers and handlers; a pesticide safety poster must 

be displayed; handlers and workers must be informed 

of pesticide label requirements; and central posting of 

recent pesticide applications must be displayed. 

Pesticide Regulation

The Pesticide Compliance Section helps ensure that pesticides are used correctly and according to the rules and 

laws developed to protect consumers, the environment, 

and the food supply. For the 2008-2009 fiscal year, 341 

specific complaints, tips, and allegations were investigated. Samples were collected of various pesticides to 

assure that they were formulated correctly and contained 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 103

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precisely what their labels guaranteed. Allegations 

concerning pesticides drifting from a targeted area onto 

other non-target areas were investigated, and samples of 

soil, water, and vegetation were collected from the areas 

in question and analyzed. Fish, bird, and animal deaths 

allegedly caused by pesticides were investigated. Claims 

of pesticide exposure were investigated, including claims 

of pesticide exposure to farm workers. Section staff 

worked to ensure that the WPS was followed on various 

agricultural establishments throughout the state. Investigations were also conducted to ensure that pesticides 

imported into Florida were properly registered and allowed to be used. 

For the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the Department conducted 

1,943 pesticide inspections at agricultural, non-agricultural, and product-related establishments. Two hundred 

fourteen, or 11 percent, of these inspections identified 

391 violations of the Florida Pesticide Law. The Department issued 491 enforcement actions during the 2008-

2009 fiscal year, 59 of which were administrative fines. 

The Department assessed $35,000 in fines and collected 

$28,425 in fine money during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

Some of the more common violations identified during 

the 2008-2009 fiscal year include 276 violations of the 

Worker Protection Standard, 32 violations for lack of 

personal protective equipment, 42 unregistered pesticides, 13 misbranded pesticides, 14 incomplete applicator records, 16 restricted-use/purchase violations, and 

two pesticide drift violations.

Pesticide Use Regulation Program

The Pest Control Enforcement Section investigated 451 

consumer complaints and conducted 2,847 licensed 

business inspections. Enforcement activities for the year 

resulted in the issuance of 372 enforcement actions and 

the imposition of $100,975 in fines. In addition to the 

fines that were issued, the bureau also revoked three Pest 

Control Operator certificates, suspended one certificate, 

issued 81 warning letters, 67 advisory notices, 83 ceaseand-desist orders, and conducted 34 informal hearings. 

The bureau litigated two different cases against one 

South Florida Company since 2005. The bureau’s first 

complaint concerned a denial of a certificate and identification card to an employee of this company. During 

the period in which the first case was being litigated, the 

operator was caught conducting pest control without 

any Department credentials. The bureau then issued 

a second complaint in 2006 against the operator for 

illegal pest control. The cases were heard separately in 

2008 and the decisions in both the denial and charge of 

illegal pest control upheld the Department’s actions. 

In 2008 the bureau added a second officer to further 

assist field enforcement staff with illegal pest control 

activities in South Florida as well as protect consumers against criminal pest control perpetrated by illegal 

operators or licensed pest control companies. Due to 

difficulties in recruiting officers in South Florida, and 

the subsequent unanticipated resignation of the South 

Florida officer, the bureau restructured its law enforcement functions and is now utilizing only one officer. 

The proactive participation of the new officer resulted in 

two physical arrests and eight notice-to-appear citations 

being issued to illegal pest control operators in the state. 

The bureau also implemented a new field inspection 

procedure that would allow real-time testing for the 

presence of fumigant warning agent (chloropicrin) in 

structural fumigations. This new procedure was developed at the University of Florida and was supported by 

funds from fines issued to pest control violators. The 

procedure was also implemented with the cooperation 

of the Florida Fumigation Advisory Council. The new 

testing procedures will enhance the Department’s efforts 

to ensure fumigations are conducted safely and in compliance of the fumigant label. 

In an effort to streamline further field operations, the 

bureau developed a web-based Fumigation Notification 

System (FNS), which will simplify the requirement for 

prior notification of a structural fumigation. This system 

will eliminate the use of paper notices and facsimile 

machines that were used to send the notices to each 

inspector. It will also eliminate the need for two fulltime clerical positions in two different field offices. The 

bureau’s inspectors will be able to better utilize electronic access in real-time, to log onto the Department’s 

web site and obtain notification of fumigations in their 

vicinity. This system also maintains an electronic record 

of the fumigation notice and thereby enhances the accuracy of enforcing the 24-hour notification period. 

The Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control’s Document Issuance Section is responsible for issuing docu-
104 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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ments such as licenses, permits, certificates, and identification cards to approximately 40,000 members of the 

pest control industry. The bureau issued 3,441 business 

licenses, 4,536 certified operator’s certificates, 25,272 

employee identification cards, 573 limited governmental/private applicators, and 1,971 limited lawn maintenance certificates. Additionally, certification examinations were administered to 2,218 applicants. 

Recent statutory changes have required the bureau to 

develop a new limited fertilizer applicator certificate. 

This certificate will be required of all persons who make 

fertilizer applications on a commercial basis (for hire). 

The licensing program will not be fully implemented 

until 2012, but the division is expecting approximately 

150,000 applicators to need this certificate.

Operation Cleansweep

The Bureau of Compliance Monitoring also coordinated 

with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to conduct Operation Cleansweep, a mobile pesticide collection program that provides a safe way to dispose of cancelled, suspended, and unusable pesticides at 

no cost. This program collected a total of 81,717 pounds 

of pesticides in fiscal year 2008-2009 from farms, nurseries, golf courses, and pest control firms throughout the 

state.

Mosquito Control Program

The Department held three meetings of the Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control during fiscal 

2008-2009. Some of the issues included field trials and 

final findings on mosquito control impact on the Miami 

blue butterfly, white paper updates, arthropod control plans for conducting emergency mosquito control 

operations, mosquito control on wildlife refuges, the 

Department mosquito control research grants, and fiscal 

impacts on mosquito control districts.

There were 16 Public Health Pest Control certification 

training sessions provided throughout the state, and 395 

certificates were issued or renewed. Active licenses for 

the section include 1,349 Public Health Pest Control 

certified applicators and 126 Aerial Public Health applicators. The Department awarded $1,802,000 in mosquito control aid to the districts in fiscal year 2008-2009, 

and allocated $248,050 for mosquito control research 

through its competitive grants program.

Operational Support – Dog Fly Program

The Dog Fly Program was officially closed June 30, 

2008, after the Legislature voted to discontinue the program during the 2008 Legislative Session.

Mosquito Control Incident Response Team

The Mosquito Control Incident Response Team (MCIRT) 

was activated twice during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. 

The first activation was on August 26, 2008, in response 

to severe flooding in North Florida after Tropical Storm 

Fay. During the three-week activation, 622,323 acres 

in seven counties were aerially treated using naled to 

control adult mosquitoes. The second activation occurred on May 1, 2009, in response to severe flooding 

along the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers in North 

Florida. That incident involved aerial spraying of naled 

over 152,344 acres in two counties, and ground spraying 

of permethrin over approximately 900 road miles. 

Commissioner’s Agricultural 

Environmental Leadership Awards

The 2008 Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental 

Leadership Awards were presented on October 10, 2008, 

to two agricultural operations in recognition of their 

leadership in promoting progressive environmental 

practices. The awards program is in its 15th year and has 

recognized a total of 47 winners. The 2008 winners are 

Carroll Brothers Nursery in Clearwater, and Brock Family Farm in Jefferson County. 

Each year, nominations for the awards are reviewed by a 

screening committee composed of scientific and technical experts with the Department, which selects the finalists. The winners are selected from the group of finalists 

by a selection committee made up of representatives 

from The Nature Conservancy, the state’s Water Management Districts, the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida 

Cattlemen’s Association, the Florida Dairy Association, 

the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 

the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida 

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida’s 

Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Florida Citrus 

Mutual, the Florida Forestry Association, and the Florida 

Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 105

CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Division of Forestry

Forestry Programs

Wildfires

Throughout the 2008-2009 fiscal year there were 3,240 

wildfires, compared to 3,222 wildfires during the previous year. The number of human-caused fires was up 

from 2,002 in the 2007-2008 fiscal year to 2,609 during 

the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The spring of 2009 was extremely dry and the entire state was experiencing persistent drought conditions. This, along with large amounts 

of frost-killed vegetation from the winter months, led to 

volatile fire conditions.

Even though the number of human-caused fires was up 

from the previous year, 64,000 fewer acres were burned. 

The number of human-caused fires and amount of acreage burned could have been higher without the implementation of the Division of Forestry’s (DOF) aggressive 

fire prevention public awareness campaign. The campaign messages were advertised through the use of radio 

public service announcements, billboards, and movie 

advertisements.

April, May, and June are usually the most active months 

of Florida’s fire season. From April to June 2009, 372, 

or 60 percent, of the wildfires were caused by lightning. 

Debris-burning was the second most common cause of 

fire, accounting for 101 fires.

The Forest Protection Bureau dispatched over 300 individual resources within the state during the fiscal year. 

Early in the year, two Florida hand-crews were deployed 

to the western United States as part of the southern area 

module. In early September the DOF Red Incident Management Team (IMT) was deployed to Galveston, Texas, 

for support in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. The DOF 

Blue Incident Management Team assisted with wildfire 

suppression activities on the Indian Lake Fire in the 

Bunnell District and in the Orlando District during the 

Orlando-Volusia Complex fires. Along with the IMTs, 

numerous dozer strike teams and engine strike teams 

were dispatched throughout the state to assist where 

needed. 

Forest Protection 

DOF personnel made 15,576 media contacts during this 

fiscal year as local field units made the public aware of 

the extremely dry conditions existing in the state. Public 

information concerning Florida’s extended drought and 

the increasing wildfire risk throughout the state was the 

topic of local news releases, presentations, and workshops.

While informing the public about wildfire risk, mitigation specialists and other local personnel took the 

opportunity to increase efforts to expand the division’s 

Firewise Communities USA program and develop local and countywide Community Wildfire Protection 

Plans. Forty-six communities began the planning process to become recognized as a Firewise Community 

USA. Three communities completed the process and 

received national recognition. Each of these communities, whether they were at the beginning of the planning 

process or at the end, took local responsibility for evaluating their wildfire risk and taking steps to lower that 

risk. Mitigation Specialists and other local personnel 

provided these communities with technical support and 

encouragement. Forty-six Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) were initiated during the fiscal year. 

The CWPP planning process brings together the DOF, 

local fire service representatives, local elected officials, 

and homeowners to develop a realistic assessment of 

community wildfire risks and strategies to lower those 

risks. As a planning document, the CWPP becomes the 

basic background for the application for federal funds, 

including FEMA hazard mitigation grants. The CWPP 

also assists with the update of the local Legal Mitigation 

Strategy.
106 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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During this fiscal year, Florida experienced significant 

dry conditions and high potential for wildfire activity. 

However, messaging about wildfire risk and increasing 

awareness of wildfire prevention significantly impacted 

the number of human-caused wildfires during the year. 

Human caused wildfires dropped 23 percent below the 

state’s 18-year average – 2,609 this year compared to the 

average of 3,428.

The following is a capsule of the accomplishments of 

the Mitigation Specialists:

 

Total Media Contacts 15,576

Radio Contacts 3,539

TV Contacts 5,944

Newspaper Contacts 5,108

Web-based Contacts 985

Media Releases Prepared 270

Homes Visited Door to Door 3,561

Presentations and Local Workshops 212

Participants 8,859

Arson Alert Signs Posted and Cards Distributed 6,555

Brochures/Flyers Distributed 28,530

Home and Community

Wildfire Risk Assessments Completed 844

 

From March through June, DOF ran an intensive statewide radio campaign using three wildfire prevention 

announcements. Two additional PSAs were created and 

aired locally, one featuring the University of Florida’s 

soccer coach and another featuring Miss Florida Forestry. 

These radio spots focused on fire prevention and encouraged actions to make a home Firewise. These PSAs 

were aired in English and Spanish. The radio spots were 

broadcast during the most active portion of Florida’s 

wildfire season on more than 67 affiliate radio stations, 

reaching an estimated 3 million people. Video versions 

of these PSAs were also run by local cable affiliates during the peak of fire season.

The four regional fire management teams and the local field units worked on 270 fuel reduction projects 

throughout the state during this fiscal year. These projects used prescribed fire and mechanical methods to 

reduce the fuel load on 20,751 acres. These projects 

directly contributed to the wildfire risk reduction for 

4,388 homes valued at over $1.3 billion. The cost for 

these projects was approximately $1.11 million, which is 

less than $253 per home. 

The first-ever in-depth wildfire prevention study was 

conducted by the U.S. Forest Service Research Station 

in North Carolina using data from the DOF’s wildfire 

prevention and mitigation program. Preliminary results show that the DOF has spent an average of $0.6 

million per year from 2000 to 2005. The losses averted 

during this same period totaled $123 million per year. 

This study is in the process of going through committee 

review for publication in the fall of 2009.

Despite a dry spring, prescribed burning acreage remained steady in fiscal year 2008-2009, with DOF authorizing prescribed burning of nearly 2.3 million acres. 

Prescribed burning is an important land management 

tool in Florida. It increases forest health, improves wildlife habitat, and reduces the risk and severity of wildfires.

DOF administered the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) 

Grant Program to volunteer fire departments that serve 

rural communities. Approximately $225,100 was awarded to 59 fire departments. This was a 50 percent matching grant fund, which enabled the fire departments to 

purchase approximately $450,200 worth of equipment, 

communication devices, fire engine parts, hoses, nozzles, and firefighter protective gear. In addition, there 

are currently 42 fire Department-approved VFA grants 

that will pay out $226,445 when they are completed. 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 107

CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

DOF also screened over $8.9 million in federal excess 

property in support of the fire program. A good portion 

of that equipment was in the form of military trucks 

that went to rural fire departments. The majority of the 

134 trucks that were provided were 6x6, 2.5-ton military 

trucks with automatic transmissions and super-single 

tires. Fire departments convert these units to brush 

engines to assist DOF with wildfire suppression. There 

were 55 generators distributed for emergency response. 

Without the assistance from rural volunteer fire departments, the wildfire problems in Florida would be much 

more severe.

There have been 934 trainees that have taken part in the 

one-day Certified Pile Burner program since it started in 

October 2006. During this past year the program held 

10 classes across the state and five more are planned by 

the end of 2009. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed 

on February 17, 2009, provides a wide range of public benefits, including $250 million to the U.S. Forest 

Service nationally for state and private forestry activities. 

These activities include hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, and ecosystem improvement. On March 11, 

2009, DOF was awarded $900,000 through the Recovery 

Act. Of the several grant requests that were submitted, 

the Florida Communities Fuels Management Program 

was approved for funding. The program will provide 

funding for DOF to conduct prescribed burning and 

other hazardous fuel reduction activities such as roller 

chopping, mowing, and mulching to minimize the impact of wildfires. Community information and education projects will also be targeted at Florida residents living in and in close proximity to high wildfire risk areas.

Land Acquisition

Land acquisition closings for fiscal year 2008-2009 

through the DOF Florida Forever program Additions 

and Inholdings totaled 1,274.86 acres at a value of 

$6,075,081. A total of 10,065 acres were added to the 

state forest system during the year under Florida’s Conservation Land Acquisition Program. All of these lands 

are managed to provide as many compatible uses and 

benefits to the public as possible while still providing protection for threatened or endangered species of 

plants and animals. 

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program 

(RFLPP) is a land acquisition program designed to 

acquire perpetual easements over working agricultural 

lands (preference to ranch and timber lands) to ensure 

natural resource protection and the continued economic viability of agricultural activities on those lands. 

The program was created in 2001, but did not receive 

funding until this year. In 2008, RFLPP received $10.5 

million for the purchase of perpetual conservation easements. In late 2008, the program received 35 qualified 

applications that were subsequently reviewed, evaluated, 

and submitted to the RFLPP Selection Committee to 

be prioritized. After the RFLPP Prioritized Acquisition 

list was approved by the Board of Trustees, the RFLPP’s 

first conservation easement, 690 acres of Evans Ranch, 

was approved in July 2009. The project was submitted 

as a 50-50 partnership with St. Johns River Water Management District. As such, the Board of Trustees paid 

$1,374,825 of the total purchase price of $2,749,650. 

As lead agency, DOF is responsible for administering the 

Federal Forest Legacy Program (FLP), whose purpose is 

to protect environmentally important forest areas that 

are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses and, 

through the use of voluntary conservation easements 

and fee simple purchases, to promote forestland protection and other conservation opportunities. In fiscal year 

2007-2008, no project applications were submitted. In 

fiscal year 2008-2009, two applications were submitted and DOF’s FLP Coordinator served on the National 

Ranking Panel.

The Land Acquisition Section is responsible for coor-
108 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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dinating land management planning for all 35 forests 

through the Acquisition Restoration Council (ARC) and 

the Board of Trustees (BOT). Additionally, the unit will 

perform 31 land management reviews on various statemanaged conservation/recreation properties in fiscal 

year 2009-2010.

Natural Resource Management

DOF manages natural resources by providing technical 

and financial assistance to private landowners and communities, and operating programs on State Forests and 

other state lands. DOF employs multiple-use principles 

to ensure a sustained healthy forest for 1,043,860 acres 

on 35 state forests. The most current scientific knowledge is used to ensure good stewardship and the practice 

of silviculture based on sound ecological principles. All 

of these lands are managed to provide as many compatible uses and benefits to the public as possible while still 

providing protection for threatened or endangered species of plants and animals. Public recreational opportunities on these lands include fishing, hunting, hiking, 

picnicking, canoeing, camping, swimming, bird watching, off-highway vehicle use, bicycling, and horseback 

riding. Approximately 834,466 visitors participated in 

these activities during the year. During the 2008-2009 

fiscal year, the management of State Forests generated 

revenues of $7,625,399.27. This revenue is derived from 

timber sales, miscellaneous forest products sales, and 

recreation fees. Approximately 15 percent of the total 

State Forest revenues are returned to Florida counties. 

State Forest revenues generated in fiscal year 2008-2009 

were in the following specific categories:

State Forest Timber Sales $5,711,418.64

Miscellaneous Products 476,365.72

Other Public Lands (DOF Share) 236,139.40

Recreation 1,201,475.52

Total $7,625,399.27

(Miscellaneous products revenue category includes cabbage palms, palmetto fronds, pine straw, apiaries, grazing, fuel wood, crooked wood, grove leases, etc.)

DOF continues to move forward with forest community ecosystem restoration activities on the state forests 

across the state. In fiscal year 2008-2009, 6,476 acres of 

reforestation was completed on State Forests, with over 

60 percent of the total acres being reforested with longleaf pines. DOF supports other state agencies with the 

Other Public Lands (OPL) Program. In fiscal year 2008-

2009, the OPL Program generated $2,184,454 in timber 

revenue for other government agencies that include the 

Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida 

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Water 

Management Districts, Department of Corrections, and 

various counties and municipalities. In addition the 

OPL Program gave valuable advice to other state agencies on how to successfully restore forested uplands and 

increase the value of the state’s timber asset.

Andrews Tree Nursery

The DOF’s Andrews Nursery produced and sold 5.7 million bare root pine seedlings and 4.6 million containerized pine and wiregrass seedlings to 617 customers, 

generating more than $1,084,000 in revenue.

The DOF seed orchards at Blackwater River State Forest 

and Withlacoochee State Forest had a phenomenal cone 

collection season during the fall of 2008. DOF personnel collected over 15,455 bushels of longleaf pine cones, 

which yielded 16,895 pounds of longleaf pine seed. In 

addition to these, cone collection contracts were bid that 

allowed three companies to also collect cones at Blackwater State Forest with a percentage of their resulting 

seed returned to DOF. These contracts allowed the collection of an additional 16,120 bushels of longleaf pine 

cones, from which DOF received another 3,770 pounds 

of longleaf seed. The total amount of longleaf pine seed 

added to the DOF supply during fiscal year 2008-2009 

was 20,665 pounds. In addition to the longleaf seed, 

1,906 pounds of slash and loblolly pine seed were also 

added. 

Technical Assistance

DOF provides technical assistance to help private landowners and communities make informed decisions to 

develop and achieve their objectives in forest land management. 

The Forest Stewardship Program, part of a national 

initiative that encourages private forest landowners 

to manage properties for multiple uses, provided 149 

Forest Stewardship Plans on 58,084 acres. Sixty-three 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 109

CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

landowner properties were certified as Stewardship Forests. DOF received 155 new applications for the Forest 

Stewardship Program. The applications covered more 

than 64,000 acres. In addition to Forest Stewardship 

Plans, county foresters provided 3,359 forest management recommendations to landowners owning more 

than 224,000 acres. Forestry education workshops were 

presented to more than 2,300 adults and nearly 5,000 

youths.

During this fiscal year, the Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share Program approved a total of $624,622 

for 246 landowners to conduct thinning and prescribed 

burning treatments on 29,445 acres of pine forests.

DOF awarded $333,815 in federal Urban and Community Forestry Grants to 30 non-profit organizations, local 

governments, and educational institutions to enhance 

their ability to carry out effective urban forest management programs in their respective communities. 

DOF also provided technical assistance support to 

landowners in cooperation with other USDA agencies, 

including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). 

During the past year, DOF foresters provided 393 landowner assists on 9,982 acres of private non-industrial 

forest lands under the CRP program. Additionally, the 

2008 Farm Bill provided expanded opportunities for 

incentive payments to private non-industrial forest landowners under the Environmental Quality Enhancement 

Program (EQIP). In Florida to date, 60 landowners have 

been pre-approved in 18 counties for $700,000 that the 

Florida Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) 

set aside specifically for forestry practices under EQIP.

DOF technical assistance also included completing 

two hurricane recovery assistance programs provided 

through the USDA Forest Service for recovery from 

the 2005 hurricane season. The two programs include 

the Urban and Community Forestry Hurricane Wilma 

Recovery Program, through which 26 communities were 

approved for a total of $704,429 to plant 5,427 trees, 

repair 641 trees, conduct three community forest assessments, and conduct three mitigation/remediation 

projects. This program ended on September 30, 2008. 

Additionally, the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP) provided cost-share assistance to 

53 non-industrial private forest landowners in two counties owning 4,997 acres damaged by Hurricane Dennis. 

During this fiscal year, DOF foresters provided landowner assistance under this recovery program in the form of 

cost-share plans, prescribed burning plans, tree planting 

and survival inspections, and general landowner assistance. Landowners have received $742,858 to date for 

cost-share and lump sum payments under EFCRP.

Forest Health

The ongoing federally funded Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program continues to be popular. During this 

fiscal year, nearly $938,000 in assistance was provided 

to 304 private non-industrial landowners in northern 

Florida for silvicultural practices reducing the risk of 

serious losses to the southern pine beetle. Nonnative 

invasive pest plants continue to be a serious and growing threat to Florida’s forest resources. Federal funds 

totaling $225,000 annually are divided among several 

State Forests and the multiagency Central Florida Lygodium Strategy in strategic support of management activities. This past year also saw the development of a new 

$400,000 federally funded, two-phase initiative directed 

at cogongrass treatments in northern Florida: 1) costshare assistance to private non-industrial landowners, 

and, 2) direct assistance to county road/public works 

departments. Cooperative efforts continue with the 

University of Florida’s School of Forest Resources and 

Conservation for projects such as the development of 

age-specific forest health educational materials for public schools and/or Future Farmers of America programs, 

and assessments of oak diseases and urban tree decay. 

Monitoring of laurel wilt disease in redbay populations 

and annosum root disease in partially harvested pine 

stands continues.

Forest Inventory and Utilization

DOF, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service Forest 

Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program, conducts annual 

forest timber inventory and other resource studies for 

all forest lands in Florida. The most recent FIA data are 

available on the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research 

Station web site. A fact sheet describing Florida forests 

based on the 2007 FIA data has also been developed, 

and a full analytical report will be published in 2010. In 

addition, DOF collected data on wood use in primary 

mills, and the final report titled “Florida’s Timber Industry: An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 
110 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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2007” has been published. The “Forest Harvest and 

Utilization Study, 2008” has also been published. All 

three components of the FIA process – FIA plot data, 

TPO mill data, and utilization study – will allow for an 

updated and complete picture of Florida timber resources and forest industry.

Field Operations Hydrology

DOF is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of Silviculture Best Management 

Practices (BMPs) that protect the state’s water resources, 

and for implementing hydrologic and wetland restoration on state forests.

Silviculture BMP training included 26 workshops to 

continually update landowners, loggers, and foresters on 

recent changes. Six hundred and ninety-seven individuals participated in these training sessions.

Voluntary Silviculture BMP courtesy checks were performed for 47 individual landowners throughout Florida where bona fide ongoing forestry operations have 

occurred. 

The Silviculture BMP Implementation Survey was initiated in 1981 and has since been conducted biennially. 

The principal purpose of the survey is to determine the 

level of implementation (compliance) with Florida’s 

Silviculture BMPs. The survey is conducted on a random 

sample of recent forestry operations throughout the 

state. Both public and private forest lands that meet the 

selection criteria are eligible for the survey. Considering 

all practices in all BMP categories, statewide implementation in 2007 was 98.6 percent. The results of the 2009 

implementation survey will be forthcoming during fiscal 

year 2009-2010. 

Wetland restoration efforts continued on Florida’s State 

Forests in fiscal year 2008-2009 with cooperation and 

assistance from other state and federal agencies. During 

the past 12 months, four restoration projects were initiated and one completed. This enhanced wetland values 

and restored approximately 1,377 acres of impaired 

wetland functions on three State Forests (Withlacoochee, 

Tate’s Hell, and Lake Wales State Forests). Ongoing 

work includes exotic plant (melaleuca) treatments 

within the Regional Off-site Mitigation Area (ROMA) on 

the Picayune Strand State Forest and project effectiveness 

monitoring. 

Total estimated cost for wetland restoration activities on 

State Forests during fiscal year 2008-2009 was $261,950. 

Funding for the implementation of these projects was 

provided through Florida Department of Transportation 

mitigation funding, federal grants, and the state’s compensatory wetland mitigation program administered by 

the Water Management Districts. DOF’s share of all fiscal 

year 2008-2009 project costs was approximately $5,000 

in the form of in-kind services, representing 1.9 percent 

of the fiscal year total.

Since the initiation of the DOF’s Wetland Restoration 

Program in 2000, 64 projects have been initiated on 

18 State Forests. Thirty-two of these projects have been 

completed, with a projected ecological benefit to over 

67,000 wetland acres. The total expenditure for all 

restoration projects on State Forests to date is approximately $1,450,950, of which DOF’s share is $173,268, 

or 11.9 percent of the total. 

Also in fiscal year 2008-2009, DOF completed Wetland 

Restoration Needs Assessments for six tracts on four 

State Forests, covering over 4,655 acres. Since 2007, 19 

assessments have identified over 400 potential restoration project sites, spanning almost 165,000 acres over 29 

forest tracts on 14 State Forests.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 111

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Forest Resource Planning 

and Support Services

Information Technology

The Forestry Information Technology (IT) Section supports microcomputers, applications, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Global Positioning Systems 

(GPS) for DOF throughout the state. Related functions 

include: hardware and software acquisition; installation 

and maintenance; Intranet/Internet web page management; application development and maintenance; ongoing upgrading of computer networks; and spatial analyses. These activities are in support of land management 

and wildfire prevention and management activities.

The application support group focused on the following 

projects: refactored Fire Management Information System (FMIS) application; Silviculture Best Management 

Practices (BMP) Survey; and Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) Tracking. The refactored FMIS 

application was deployed in the second quarter of fiscal 

year 2008-2009. The deployment included the software 

installation, replacement of five servers, and upgrade 

of the Oracle database and ArcIMS mapping tools. The 

BMP survey was redesigned and rewritten to facilitate 

customer-driven survey changes. The CIMC tracking 

web application provides an online application process 

to the CIMC course for students and will replace a paper 

system. It will be available in the second quarter of 

fiscal year 2009-2010. The student applications will be 

reviewed online by the CIMC steering committee, and 

data from the application process will be made available 

to those presenting the courses.

DOF web support includes three public web sites and 

the intranet. With closures and other safety concerns 

during the spring flooding and wildfire events across 

the state, the web sites provided timely information. 

The web sites also provided alerts to wildfire locations, 

county burn bans, and other emergency response information. Additional pages were added detailing information about three new State Forests: John M. Bethea, Ross 

Prairie, and Four Creeks. New pages were created with 

details of the new grants for controlling southern pine 

beetles and invasive cogon grass. The state’s Champion 

Tree Program information was also added this year. Ongoing activities include web site maintenance, updates, 

public requests, and development of a restructured 

intranet site. Visits to the public web sites exceeded 1.5 

million.

The GIS/GPS support group provides assistance for a variety of projects. The GIS section updated dispatch maps 

and incorporated the U.S. National Grid Coordinates. 

The initial phase of a Champion Trees database for a 

web mapping application was completed. Work continued from the prior year on the forestry data model, and 

individual State Forest geo-databases were completed 

and updated. A red cockaded woodpecker geo-database 

was created, as timber landowners and State Forests are 

critical to the conservation efforts for this endangered 

species. The GIS section provided ongoing coordination 

to update statewide fire occurrence areas data and to develop statewide tree canopy characteristics. The data will 

be implemented into the wildland Fire Risk Assessment 

System (FRAS). The section also coordinated the move 

of Florida’s FRAS from a costly standalone application to 

a cost-effective and more widely accessible Internet service. Hard-copy and web-based maps depicting wildfire 

progression, fire perimeters, point locations, fires over 

100 acres, burn bans, and wildfire complex maps were 

provided for wildfire support

The desktop support group participates in a variety of 

projects including reviewing new desktop technology, 

installing computers and printers, and upgrading desktop applications. The support group is in the process of 

installing 65 ruggedized laptops with vehicle mounts for 

the asset tracking program. The Forest Area Supervisors 

will be able to use the laptops in their offices and have 

them securely mounted in their vehicles. The support 

group has replaced 66 outdated desktop computers 

and 20 laptops statewide. The support group has also 

replaced 14 heavy-duty color printers that were 10 years 

old with newer, more efficient models. Replacing the 

older printers will eliminate the cost of frequent repairs. 

The group is currently assisting in the testing of virtual 

desktop technology. If the testing proves to run the 

FMIS program more efficiently, the remaining 28 dispatch computers may be replaced with the PANO virtual 

machines. 

Planning

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Bureau of Forest 

Resource Planning and Support Services Planning Section compiled data for reporting DOF accomplishments 
112 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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related to legislatively approved performance measures. 

The bureau also coordinated the development of forestry 

field unit and bureau annual operational plans, submitted the long-range program plan as part of the legislative 

budget request, and conducted reviews of county comprehensive planning documents, utility siting applications, and clearinghouse projects on an ongoing basis.

The section administers the Florida Forestry Discovery 

Center, which is part of the Florida State Fair and receives over 30,000 visitors annually. The section also 

issues quarterly fiscal reports of operating capital outlay, 

motor vehicle, and fixed capital outlay status for DOF. 

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the section also assumed the 

additional responsibilities of coordinating property inventory and insurance issues as well as the Time Allocation and Accomplishment Reporting System (TAARS). 

Construction

The Construction Section provides complete project 

management for DOF’s fixed capital outlay projects, 

including construction and maintenance programs 

statewide. During fiscal year 2008-2009, an estimated 

46,000 square feet of building space was contracted 

to be constructed at a cost of approximately $5.8 million. The 20,000-square-foot Wacassassa Forestry Center Headquarters complex in Gainesville was recently 

completed at a cost of $2.7 million. The new facility 

improves the division’s capabilities for firefighting, and 

forest management and provides better access to the 

general public. The Construction Section coordinates 

design, engineering, bid specifications, and construction 

management for each project. Current major projects 

include construction of the Belle Glade Forestry Site 

with a budget of $350,000, and the Penney Farms and 

Sebring Forestry Stations, both budgeted at $600,000 

each.

Equipment 

The Equipment Section of Forest Resource Planning and 

Support Services has statewide responsibility for fleet 

management for DOF. The Equipment Section’s major 

task is the purchase of specialized firefighting and land 

management equipment and motor vehicles. In fiscal 

year 2008-2009, DOF received approximately $7 million 

in budget allocations and grants to purchase forestry 

equipment. With this allocation, the Equipment Section 

replaced 33 crawler tractors (dozers), 13 transports, 15 

engines, eight pickups, and 25 replacement plows, and 

added one bulldozer, one transport, two engines, two 

pickups and five plows to the DOF inventory of equipment. Additional fleet items were also added. 

The section is also responsible for motor vehicle and 

equipment specification development for bids and 

acquisition, equipment inventory, and warranty issues. Certain purchases, such as transports and engines, 

receive custom fabrication to meet firefighting and land 

management specific requirements at DOF’s Lake City 

Central Shop.

The following list illustrates the range and scope of projects that the Equipment Section completed during the 

2008-2009 fiscal year:

– Acquired new fire-suppression crawler tractors (dozers) to specifically replace existing open-cab dozers with 

closed-cab dozers for improved safety.

– Spearheaded the re-engineering of the fire-suppression 

system on the newest model John Deere crawler-tractors.

– Facilitated the addition of quick-release levers to plow 

hoses for quick disconnect in emergency situations.

– Coordinated the sale at auction of 361 pieces of replaced equipment for a total of $974,200.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 113

CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

– Received CDL test facility approval for one additional 

test site and one new CDL examiner.

– Completed a cleanup of equipment information data.

– Streamlined ordering of Comdata fuel cards and tags.

– Coordinated with the Florida Department of Management Services to revise statewide replacement criteria for 

automobile and light-truck replacement.

– Revised preventative maintenance procedures for 

DOF fleet vehicles and equipment to reflect new vehicle 

manufacturers’ specifications.

– Compiled auction history (2001 to present) and 

posted on shared drive for field unit review.

– Obtained a safety maintenance and operator training to cover newly purchased crawler tractors from John 

Deere for each field unit.

– Obtained delayed warranty start for almost 80 trucks 

for fabrication lead time.

Safety

DOF’s mission is to manage forest resources and protect 

Florida and its people from the dangers of wildland fire. 

The duties and tasks involved in accomplishing this mission are both numerous and hazardous, which is why 

the safety of employees is a high priority. 

DOF’s safety program is a proactive program designed 

to ensure the safety of everyone by foreseeing potential 

issues and addressing them through training and education. To create the safest work environment possible, 

DOF utilizes employee safety committees, provides 

safety training, and has implemented a division-wide 

health and wellness program. In addition, it has implemented a mandatory defensive driving program for all 

employees and launched a seatbelt pledge initiative. 

Florida Center for Wildfire and Forest

Resource Management Training

Fiscal year 2008-2009 marked the 11th year of operation 

for the Florida Center for Wildlife and Forest Resources 

Management Training in Brooksville. The center provides classes in Basic Fire Control Training (BFCT) to 

DOF’s new firefighters. The seven-week training program is offered twice per year. This year, 70 new candidates received certification as wildland firefighters in 

Florida.

The center also provided 60 open-enrollment training 

courses during the fiscal year. These included courses in 

wildland firefighting, incident management, computer 

training, instructional development, vehicle repair and 

maintenance, domestic preparedness, leadership, health 

and safety, and natural resource management. These 

courses were attended by 1,081 DOF employees and 715 

non-division (cooperator) students.

 

The center also provided environmental education to 

teachers and students through the division’s Future 

Farmers of America and Envirothon programs. In addition, the DOF also co-hosted the annual Florida Forestry 

Teachers’ Tour in mid-June to provide Florida educators 

the opportunity to learn more about forestry. By visiting public, private, and industry timber lands and forest 

products manufacturing plants, the 38 teachers were 

able to gain hands-on knowledge of the forestry profession to take back to their classrooms. The three-day tour 

is supported primarily by donations from the forestry industry, and is offered free of charge to the teachers, who 

may also earn 30 CEUs.
114 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Division of Consumer 

Services

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Division of Consumer 

Services continued its broad mission of serving as Florida’s complaint and information clearinghouse. Division staff adequately provided consumer information, 

processed written complaints, and promoted consumer 

protection. During this period, the division’s Consumer 

Assistance Call Center handled approximately 299,700 

telephone calls and 7,630 email requests to assist consumers and businesses. Additionally, the division received 39,874 written complaints, recovered $6,895,711 

in consumer refunds and property, and provided 

285,696 brochures, pamphlets, and booklets for distribution to consumers. 

The division continued to increase public awareness 

through its consumer outreach program by providing 

speakers and offering consumer education programs 

to civic groups, community organizations, and high 

schools throughout the state. The speakers provided 

general consumer information, and the latest news on 

scams, fraud, and deception. They also provided educational materials on a variety of topics. In addition, 

the division utilized its web site www.800helpfla.com 

to educate consumers and businesses. The web site 

served as a valuable source for information on the many 

services provided by this agency and other government 

and non-government offices. Businesses have access to 

licensing and registration information, as well as the 

forms necessary to comply with applicable regulations. 

Online services are available, making it more convenient 

to do business with the Department. Some businesses 

can renew their registrations and submit filings and purchase lists, and consumers can file a complaint online to 

have their dispute mediated. 

The Department also functions as the U.S. Consumer 

Product Safety Commission’s liaison in Florida regarding product recalls, inspections, and investigations.

Consumer Assistance Call Center

The Consumer Assistance Call Center maintains and 

operates the Department’s toll-free consumer hotline, 

1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352), and the Spanish 

hotline, 1-800-FLAYUDA (1-800-352-9832). The Call 

Center is staffed with trained personnel who respond to 

a wide variety of consumer questions about Florida laws 

and other consumer-related issues. They assist callers 

in locating the appropriate governmental office they are 

seeking and then transfer the caller to that office. They 

provide up-to-date information and educational brochures. 

Consumer questions cover various areas the Department regulates, such as business opportunities, dance 

studios, game promotions, health studios, intrastate 

moving, motor vehicle repair, Florida’s Do Not Call 

program, pawnshops, sellers of travel, solicitation of 

charitable contributions, telemarketing, and the motor 

vehicle “Lemon Law.” The Consumer Assistance Call 

Center staff also responds to inquiries on a multitude of 

subjects that are not regulated, such as landlord/tenant 

issues, buying clubs, and retail store regulations. Staff 

utilizes the Department’s computer database to develop 

statistical information on the frequency and type of calls 

received. Each call is logged under a specific subject 

category in the database, which allows the Department 

to track and analyze the most prevalent consumer issues. 

This record enables consumer education efforts to be 

tailored to the specific needs of the public.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, staff provided 518,412 assists to consumers and businesses by providing information, brochures, and complaint and registration forms. 

Eighty-nine percent of callers responding to surveys 

ranked the Consumer Assistance Call Center’s service as 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 115

SAFEGUARDING FLORIDA’S CONSUMERS

outstanding. Also during fiscal year 2008-2009, as part 

of the Division of Consumer Services COOP (Continuity of Operation Plan), Consumer Assistance Center 

staff, with the assistance of division IT and Department communications staff, made it possible for the 

Consumer Assistance Center to operate at virtually any 

location with high-speed Internet access in case of an 

emergency or pandemic. Additional testing has been 

conducted, proving the feasibility that most Consumer 

Assistance Center staff will be able to work from home, 

in the event of an emergency or pandemic.

Consumer Complaints

Complaints are received online and via mail, and deal 

with a variety of subjects. The Bureau of Mediation and 

Enforcement processes all consumer complaints filed 

with the Division of Consumer Services. Division staff 

reviews each complaint for violations of applicable laws. 

If the complaint falls within the jurisdiction of the Department or if it is a non-regulated complaint, staff will 

attempt to resolve disputes through formal or informal 

mediation. Complaints that fall under the jurisdiction 

of another federal, state, or local governmental agency 

are referred to that office for processing. The top five 

complaint categories during fiscal year 2008-2009 were: 

telephone sales solicitations (Do Not Call), travel and 

vacation plans, telemarketing, credit and banking, and 

price-gouging. During fiscal year 2008-2009, the division received 16,031 complaints filed against entities 

regulated by the division and recovered $3,884,650 

in monetary refunds and property for consumers. In 

addition, another 23,843 complaints filed against 

non-regulated businesses were received, which resulted 

in $3,011,061 in monetary refunds and property to 

consumers. The division also assisted in recovering an 

additional $280,800 in consumer refunds from security 

instruments (bonds, letters of credit, or certificates of 

deposit) filed with the Department for the protection of 

consumers from a breach of contract.

Motor Vehicle “Lemon Law”

The Department administers the Florida Motor Vehicle 

Warranty Enforcement Act, commonly known as the 

“Lemon Law.” Personnel respond to consumer complaints and inquiries, provide information about the 

Lemon Law, and determine whether claims are potentially eligible for state arbitration before the Florida New 

Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board.

The Department also provides certification to motor 

vehicle manufacturers who establish informal dispute 

settlement procedures in compliance with applicable 

federal and state statutes. In fiscal year 2008-2009, the 

Department recertified informal dispute settlement 

procedures for General Motors (GM), Honda/Acura, 

Nissan/Infinity, Bentley, Volkswagen/Audi, AM General, 

Isuzu, Hyundai, Kia Motors, Mazda, and Ford Motor 

Company. These manufacturers utilize the Better Business Bureau Auto Line to administer their programs. 

Toyota and Lexus were also recertified. These manufacturers utilize the National Center for Dispute Settlement 

(NCDS) to administer their programs. Porsche changed 

administration of its certified program from NCDS to 

DeMars and Associates, CAP-Motors, effective June 1, 

2009. Each of these programs is audited throughout the 

year for compliance.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the division answered 

10,454 telephone calls on the Lemon Law hotline, 

1-800-321-5366. The division also processed 624 requests for state arbitration and approved 529 of these 

for referral to the Attorney General’s Office. In addition, 

division staff reviewed 2,169 consumer cases that were 

processed through the manufacturers’ informal dispute 

settlement programs. Every year millions of dollars are 

recovered for consumers through the manufacturers’ 

informal dispute settlement programs. During this fiscal 

year consumers received approximately $13,660,560 in 

refunds. 
116 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Regulated Programs

The Department is responsible for regulating a variety 

of industries operating in Florida, including business 

opportunities, dance studios, game promotions/sweepstakes, health studios, intrastate moving, motor vehicle 

repair shops, Florida’s Do Not Call program, pawnshops, sellers of travel, solicitation of contributions, and 

telemarketing. These programs are designed to protect 

consumers and the integrity of each industry. Industry 

members must submit a registration/license application 

or similar filing and, in some cases, a surety bond, certificate of deposit, or letter of credit to ensure consumer 

refunds in the event a business defaults.

Business Opportunities

The Business Opportunities Program requires individuals who sell or lease any products, supplies, or services 

for the purpose of starting a business to register and 

disclose certain information to prospective purchasers. 

Some sellers must also submit a $50,000 surety bond, 

certificate of deposit or letter of credit. In fiscal year 

2008-2009, there were 2,306 sellers of business opportunities and franchises registered with the Department, 

and staff processed 338 written complaints and enforcements. Additionally, as a result of the division’s mediation efforts, consumers received $445,632 in refunds.

Dance Studios

The Dance Studio Program requires all ballroom dance 

studios to register with the Department. In some instances, registrants are required to post a surety bond, 

certificate of deposit, or letter of credit. For fiscal year 

2008-2009, there were 204 dance studios registered with 

the Department, and staff processed 32 written complaints and enforcements. Additionally, staff recovered 

$8,505 in consumer refunds and collected $8,000 in 

administrative fines.

Game Promotions

The Game Promotions Program requires operators who 

conduct contests, games of chance, or gift enterprises in 

connection with the sale of consumer products or services in which the total announced value of prizes offered 

is greater than $5,000 to file with the Department. Unless they have been granted a waiver, operators are also 

required to establish a trust account or obtain a bond 

in an amount equivalent to the total value of all prizes 

offered. During this fiscal year, the Department started 

using e-commerce to allow game promoters to conduct 

online transactions when filing promotions. Game promoters filed 1,316 promotions using the Department’s 

e-commerce system. During fiscal year 2008-2009, staff 

processed 2,978 game promotion filings and 889 written complaints and enforcements. Additionally, staff 

recovered $5,216 in consumer refunds and collected 

$314,400 in administrative fines.

Health Studios

The Department regulates health clubs that offer health 

club activities or physical exercise equipment. Some 

health studios are required to post a $50,000 surety 

bond, certificate of deposit, or letter of credit to satisfy 

consumer claims that may result from violations of 

Florida law. During fiscal year 2008-2009, there were 

1,879 health studios registered with the Department, 

and staff processed 1,158 written complaints, investigations, and enforcements. Additionally, staff recovered 

$62,381 for consumers and collected $74,600 in administrative fines.

Intrastate Moving

The Department regulates intrastate moving companies 

operating in Florida. This law requires a written estimate be given to consumers before the mover provides 

any moving or packing services. During fiscal year 2008-

2009, there were 888 intrastate moving companies registered with the Department, and staff processed 1,189 

written complaints, investigations, and enforcements. In 

addition, as a result of the division’s mediation efforts, 

staff recovered $55,594 in consumer refunds and services and collected $68,566 in administrative fines.

Motor Vehicle Repair Shops

The Motor Vehicle Repair Act requires an estimate and 

invoice form be provided to consumers for repair work 

exceeding $100. During this fiscal year, the Department 

continued using e-commerce to allow motor vehicle 

repair shops to conduct online transactions when renewing their registration. This fiscal year, 1,309 motor 

vehicle repair shops renewed their registration using the 

online renewal process. There were 22,413 motor vehicle repair shops registered with the Department. Department staff processed 5,317 written complaints, investigations, and enforcements. Additionally, as a result of the 
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division’s mediation efforts, staff recovered $654,314 in 

refunds for consumers and collected $233,856 in administrative fines.

Do Not Call

The Florida Do Not Call Law is a privacy law enacted 

to protect consumers from unwanted telephone solicitations and pre-recorded messages. Consumers can 

subscribe to the Do Not Call List for an initial fee of 

$10, with a $5 annual renewal fee. Subscribers may file 

a complaint with the Department for any unwanted 

phone calls they have received from non-exempt businesses. Consumers may also file a complaint if they 

receive pre-recorded messages. At the end of fiscal year 

2008-2009, the Department had processed 8,268 new 

subscriptions and 86,889 renewals for a total of 95,197 

subscriptions. The program processed 5,722 written 

complaints and enforcements. A total of $20,000 was 

collected in civil penalties.

Pawn Shops

The Department licenses all pawnshops operating 

in Florida pursuant to the Florida Pawnbroking Act. 

Each pawnshop must maintain a net worth of at least 

$50,000 or file a $10,000 security in the form of a surety 

bond, certificate of deposit, or letter of credit. During 

fiscal year 2008-2009, there were 1,169 pawn shops licensed with the Department, and staff recovered $6,286 

in consumer refunds and collected $540,900 in administrative fines.

Sellers of Travel

The Department regulates travel agencies that maintain 

a business location in Florida or who offer to sell to persons in Florida for compliance with the Sellers of Travel 

Act. Non-exempt sellers of travel must register and, in 

some cases, submit a performance bond, certificate of 

deposit, or letter of credit in an amount not to exceed 

$25,000, or $50,000 if they sell vacation certificates. A 

seller of travel that has been in business for at least five 

years and meets certain other requirements may apply 

for a security waiver. In addition, independent agents 

must submit annual filing statements to the Department. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 6,173 sellers of 

travel and independent agents were registered with the 

Department. Staff processed 3,712 written complaints, 

investigations, and enforcements. Additionally, as a 

result of the division’s mediation efforts, staff recovered 

$1,661,492 in consumer refunds and collected $15,550 

in administrative fines.

Solicitation of Contributions

The Solicitation of Contributions Act requires charitable 

organizations, sponsors, professional fund-raising consultants, and professional solicitors to register with the 

Department. During fiscal year 2008-2009, there were 

14,607 charitable organizations, sponsors, professional 

solicitors, and fundraising consultants registered with 

the Department. The Department processed 856 written 

complaints, investigations and enforcements. Additionally, the Department collected $61,617 in administrative 

fines.

Telemarketing

The Florida Telemarketing Act requires non-exempt telemarketers to obtain a license from the Department and 

submit a $50,000 surety bond, certificate of deposit, or 

letter of credit. During fiscal year 2008-2009, there were 

10,648 businesses and individuals licensed with the 

Department. Staff processed 3,108 written complaints, 

investigations, and enforcements. In addition, staff 

recovered $990,344 in consumer refunds and collected 

$111,500 in administrative fines.

Investigations

The Investigations Section conducts investigations of 

businesses (both regulated and non-regulated) and 

responds to consumer complaints. The priority for this 

section is to ensure businesses operate in compliance 

with applicable laws. This section also investigates businesses suspected of fraud and deceptive trade practices. 

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Investigations Section 

worked 4,482 enforcements and initiated 1,199 investigations covering a variety of topics. The high-volume 

cases for investigations were pawnshops, telemarketing, 

and motor vehicle repair. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 

the Investigations Section conducted a sweep of pawnshops in 17 counties which resulted in the collection of 

$437,750 in administrative fines.

Consumer Education

The Division of Consumer Services continued to promote its educational outreach programs aimed at in-
118 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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creasing public awareness of consumer protection issues 

among Florida citizens. During fiscal year 2008-2009, 

the division provided 2,525,283 assists to consumers 

and businesses statewide through a variety of formats, 

including the web site, newspaper articles, newsletters, 

brochures, and public presentations.

Division representatives gave public presentations on 

consumer-related topics to 10,647 consumers representing various groups and organizations throughout the 

state. The division’s web site was monitored and updated on a regular basis to include relevant information 

to businesses and consumers on various laws as well as 

current frauds and scams. The web site received a total 

of 1,678,625 web visits during fiscal year 2008-2009. 

At the end of fiscal year 2008-2009, the subscription 

list for the monthly e-newsletter for Florida consumers 

contained more than 73,000 subscribers. The newsletter provides quick tips on important consumer-related 

issues and lists resources for finding additional information. Additionally, the division continued to submit 

articles on consumer-related issues to the “Elder Update,” a newsletter published by the Florida Department 

of Elder Affairs. More than 70,000 copies per issue were 

distributed to senior citizens on a bi-monthly basis. 

Consumer education is the main focus of the division. 

The division’s educational efforts focus on helping individuals become wiser consumers and empowering them 

to make informed decisions when purchasing products 

and services and signing contracts. 

During this fiscal year the division continued its efforts 

to Florida’s high schools through “Consumer Survival 

Skills 101,” an outreach program designed to educate 

high school students about their rights and responsibilities as consumers. The program provides them with 

the necessary tools to make intelligent and informed 

decisions in a global marketplace. The program was 

presented to more than 7,000 teachers and students. 

The Department continued sponsorship of the Florida 

LifeSmarts program for the 13th year. LifeSmarts is an 

innovative competition that tests students in grades nine 

through 12 on their knowledge of personal finance, 

health and safety, the environment, technology, and 

consumer rights and responsibilities. The Florida online 

competition involved more than 1,300 students from 

public and private high schools, FFA and 4-H clubs, 

and home-school settings throughout the state. Students competed online to be among Florida’s finalists 

to compete for the state title. The 2009 national LifeSmarts competition sponsored by the National Consumers League was held in St. Louis. State champion teams 

from across the nation traveled to the national competition to compete to become the national LifeSmarts 

champions.

Division of Standards

Petroleum Inspection

The Department regularly conducts inspections of the 

petroleum distribution system and tests samples of alternative and petroleum fuels to ensure compliance with 

state quality standards. Inspections and testing ensure 

that consumers are being offered quality products at fair 

measure.

The Department’s three petroleum testing laboratories 

routinely test the quality of gasoline, kerosene, alternative fuels, diesel and fuel oil through octane rating, 

distillation, vapor pressure, sulfur content, oxygenate 

content, lubricity, flash point, and other related analytical laboratory tests.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, 97.2 percent of the products 

collected and tested met state standards, which are considered among the strictest in the nation. The samples 

represent more than 10.4 billion gallons of alternative 

and petroleum fuels distributed throughout Florida. 

During this period, the Department issued 744 stop-sale 

orders to prevent the sale of more than 3,048,662 gal-
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SAFEGUARDING FLORIDA’S CONSUMERS

lons of substandard or improperly labeled fuel.

During this fiscal year, the petroleum laboratories, 

located in Tampa, Tallahassee, and Port Everglades, 

conducted 143,670 tests on petroleum and alternative 

fuels and antifreeze and brake fluid products. Department petroleum field inspectors also conducted 223,885 

inspections on retail motor fuel dispensers at approximately 9,107 retail motor fuel facilities throughout Florida. Petroleum field inspections included calibrating 

tests, proper installation and maintenance of measuring 

devices, price gouging investigations, testing for water 

and debris, verification of alternate generated electricity 

wiring and equipment, and correct labeling of motor 

fuel dispensers. As a result of these inspections, 3,962 

motor fuel pumps were cited for improper calibration 

and 39,445 correction notices were issued for improperly maintained pumps.

The Department is also responsible for registering and 

monitoring antifreeze and brake fluid products sold in 

Florida. Laboratory personnel analyze antifreeze products for corrosion, freezing point, boiling point, and 

chemical content, and brake fluid products for boiling 

point, elastomer swelling, and chemical content before 

registering such products as suitable for sale to the public. During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department registered 313 brands of antifreeze and 222 brands of brake 

fluid as acceptable products to be marketed throughout 

Florida.

The Department also handled 7,494 petroleum-related 

consumer- and pricing-related complaints as a result of 

posting the 1-800-HELP FLA consumer hotline decal on 

motor fuel dispensers. Complaints were concentrated 

primarily on fuel quality, meter accuracy, and price. The 

petroleum inspection field staff works to respond to 

these complaints within 24 to 48 hours. 

This past year the Department continued to inspect 

and monitor the more than 1,000 wholesale and retail 

motor fuel facilities that were required to have alternate 

generated power equipment and/or wiring installed to 

operate designated facility functions during an electrical 

outage. Affected facilities were required to install electrical transfer switches capable of connecting to backup 

electricity generators, which may be used to supply 

electrical power to facilities and supply available fuel to 

consumers during a disaster. 

Renewable and alternative fuels continue to migrate 

further into Florida’s motor fuel marketplace. Following 

years of preparation for such products, the Department’s 

petroleum testing laboratories are now able to test such 

fuels entering the marketplace, ensuring compliance 

with state fuel quality standards and providing maximum consumer protection for consumers purchasing 

these new products. Revised standards have also been 

evaluated and adopted to ensure maximum consumer 

protection when purchasing these fuels.

The Department uses numerous fraud investigation 

techniques, including the deployment of undercover 

vehicles, to ensure that consumers receive fair measure 

from petroleum pumps. The unmarked vehicles have a 

specially designed and calibrated gasoline tank that enables a trained inspector to determine a pump’s calibration without a service station operator’s knowledge. The 

undercover vehicles have confirmed that most petroleum pumps in Florida are accurate and consumers are 

receiving fair measure.

Weights and Measures

The Department conducted over 72,000 inspections 

and accuracy tests on commercial weighing and measuring devices. Staff ordered 4,812 devices to be corrected 

because they were found to be out of compliance with 

adopted standards. Another 2,078 devices were taken 

immediately out of service because they were found to 

have excessive measuring errors. Commercial weighing 

and measuring devices include retail scales, prescription 

balances, livestock scales, truck scales, and taximeters. 
120 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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Department inspectors check the accuracy of net contents and labels of packaged goods, including food 

products, dry goods, household items, building and 

construction materials, gardening products, and hundreds of other products purchased daily by consumers 

and businesses in the state. In fiscal year 2008-2009, 

inspectors sampled lots representing more than 146,000 

packages. Stop-sale orders were placed on over 26,000 

packages that contained less than the stated contents or 

failed to provide the required information on the label. Many more packages were recalled or relabeled by 

producers as a result of Department inspections. A risk 

assessment procedure is employed that enables inspectors to more efficiently evaluate packages for compliance 

and target packages more likely to be in violation.

Inspectors randomly tested 11,727 items for price accuracy in 205 businesses, primarily grocery, department, discount, drug, building supply, and other retail 

stores. Overall results showed that 1.68 percent scanned 

at more than the posted price and less than 1 percent 

scanned at lower than the price advertised. Violations 

were corrected immediately, and 24 businesses that 

failed to meet the 98 percent national accuracy standard 

faced additional sanctions and testing.

In the state metrology laboratory, the state primary 

standards of mass, length, and volume were used in 

comparing and calibrating more than 8,190 mass standards used by state inspectors, laboratories, high-tech 

industries, and commercial scale repair agencies, as well 

as 744 test measures used to check the accuracy of gas 

pumps and wholesale meters. The laboratory maintained its National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation 

Program accreditation for providing traceable calibration services. The lab was one of the first state metrology laboratories to achieve this accreditation. In addition 

to providing Florida citizens, industries, and government 

agencies with calibration services, the lab performs special tests such as standardizing grain samples for use in 

testing moisture-determining equipment at commercial 

grain elevators. It also fabricates specialized measuring 

equipment needed by field staff in performing tests of 

devices and packages throughout the state.

Fair Rides Inspection

The Department has an amusement ride inspection 

program which, by reputation, is the most comprehensive of any state in the country. All amusement rides, 

except those at theme parks, which are exempt by law, 

are inspected and permitted each year by the Bureau of 

Fair Rides Inspection. Permanent amusement rides – 

those located at a fixed site – are inspected twice each 

year. Temporary amusement rides, such as those used by 

carnivals, are inspected each time they are moved or set 

up. Currently, there are 203 permanent locations and 

161 temporary or traveling amusement ride companies 

operating in Florida. 

To handle this workload, the Department has 15 inspection specialists who are stationed statewide to inspect 

and permit amusement rides. Department inspectors 

are constantly trained with recurring on-the-job training. 

Structured training seminars developed by the Depart-
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ment keep inspectors abreast of the latest information 

on over 1,000 different rides currently permitted for 

operation. In addition, continuing education seminars 

sponsored by the amusement industry, amusement ride 

manufacturers, safety organizations, and engineers or 

other subject matter experts keep inspectors current on 

the latest inspection techniques. 

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the Department issued permits for 1,568 amusement rides and conducted 9,820 

inspections statewide. Those inspections identified 

20,380 deficiencies on those amusement rides, all of 

which were corrected before the rides were allowed to 

open for public use. The Department issued 306 stopoperation orders for unsafe, uninsured, or un-inspected 

amusement rides and 26 administrative complaints for 

violations and non-compliance. The Department also 

investigates accidents and mechanical failures involving 

amusement rides and, when appropriate, closes and impounds unsafe amusement rides. There were over 165 

reportable accidents in fiscal year 2008-2009 that were 

fully investigated, analyzed, and used to develop preventive measures. Recently, the bureau revised and updated 

its database to compile accidents, violations, mechanical 

defects, and consumer complaints in order to provide a 

comprehensive amusement ride company profile for use 

by the public.

The Florida Amusement Device and Attraction Advisory 

Committee was created in 1991 by the Commissioner of 

Agriculture to advise and consult with the Department 

on amusement ride issues. The committee, which is appointed by the Commissioner, includes a cross-section 

of members from the amusement industry, fair industry, 

amusement parks, and technical or subject matter experts. This committee holds at least two public meetings 

annually to discuss safety issues, ride inspections, ride 

equipment, industry concerns, and other matters in support of the Department’s inspection program.

Each year, the Department participates in a consultation 

program with the large theme parks in Florida on safety 

issues. Department staff visits each of the parks and 

reviews safety, maintenance, and operation procedures 

of the park rides. Furthermore, the theme parks file an 

affidavit of annual inspection on all their rides. The Department is a member of the American Society of Testing 

and Materials, Committee F-24, which develops standards for the manufacture, fabrication, performance, and 

testing of amusement rides and devices. The Department is also a member of the Council for Amusement 

and Recreational Equipment Safety (CARES), which is a 

national association of government regulatory officials 

that shares information among members and works 

with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission on 

amusement ride issues. 

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Inspection 

The Bureau of Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas Inspection 

is charged with the regulation of LP gas usage, storage, 

distribution, handling, and transportation from the 

time the product enters the state until it reaches its final 

point of consumption. There are over 3,500 storage and 

distribution facilities in the state which handle approximately 400 million gallons of propane annually. At any 

given time, there is approximately 20 million gallons of 

storage contained in these facilities.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the bureau conducted 

10,733 facility inspections and issued 12,970 licenses. 

The numbers in these categories are nearly double what 

they were 10 years ago. The bureau investigated 26 LP 

gas-related accidents (down from 44 the prior fiscal 

year), and took 4,313 enforcement actions to ensure 

compliance with safety regulations (as compared to 

over 8,000 during fiscal year 2007-2008), including 

the issuance of 1,154 notices of noncompliance and 

2,597 cease-and-desist notices. Reductions in these 

latter numbers are testament to the dedicated work being performed by the bureau’s staff, including 11 field 

inspectors, who work closely with both consumers and 
122 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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industry professionals to increase awareness of, and 

compliance with, applicable laws, rules, and safety regulations.

 

In carrying out its goal of ensuring that LP gas is utilized 

safely, the bureau continues to develop and administer competency examinations to persons interested in 

engaging in LP gas-related activities. Over 935 examinations were administered during fiscal year 2008-2009. 

In addition, the bureau conducted over 51 classes dealing with safety training for dispensing unit operator 

personnel, building officials, and pipeline distribution 

system operators. In May 2009 the bureau co-sponsored 

the annual Ocala Safety School, which had 87 participants. Each year this weeklong school draws attendees from all over the world. Five bureau personnel, 

including four of its inspectors, taught classes at the 

Safety School. The school covers, in only one week, the 

procedures, equipment, testing, safety codes and laws, 

rules, and regulations needed to pass the state licensure 

examination, which is administered at the end of the 

week. This year, 24 of 49 students, or 49 percent, passed 

all parts of the examination on the first test administration. In 2008, 48 of 94 students taking the examination, 

or 51 percent, passed all parts of the exam upon initial 

administration. Although this year represents a slight 

decline in the percentage of students passing the exam 

the first time, the large decline in the overall number of 

attendees may have contributed to this result. Each year, 

students are asked to comment on the quality of the 

instructors and course content. As in past years, the bureau’s inspectors garnered the highest instructor marks, 

with most attendees commenting on the inspectors’ professionalism, knowledge, and ability to communicate in 

the classroom setting. 

In addition to carrying out the regulatory duties prescribed in Chapter 527, F.S., the bureau is charged with 

administrative oversight for the Florida Propane Gas, Education and Safety Research Act. Under this Act, a regulatory monetary assessment is collected annually from 

the propane gas industry to fund programs for training, 

education, consumer safety, marketing, research, and development programs relating to the propane industry in 

Florida. In conjunction with this program, the Department maintains a consumer information web site and 

publishes and distributes thousands of consumer safety 

brochures relating to home heating safety, safe grilling, 

general safety practices, and the reporting of gas system 

changes to gas suppliers. For example, the bureau distributed detailed alerts warning consumers as to the use 

of LP gas cylinders that may have been contaminated via 

contact with anhydrous ammonia, which is utilized in 

the production of methamphetamine. Alerts were sent 

to consumers both through mail-outs and the bureau’s 

web site.

Other activities of note during the 2008-2009 fiscal year 

include the following: 

– Participated in multiagency meetings to address 

Chinese drywall issues plaguing many Florida homes 

and provided guidance and expertise on remediation of 

drywall problems in regard to propane systems. 

– Continued to improve on and promote the e-commerce web site for online licensing, training, and examination registrations. The web site has allowed the 

bureau to shorten by at least two weeks the typical time 

frame involved in processing licensure renewals. This 

is important because all licenses expire on the same day 

each year, creating a bottleneck. 

– Worked with local building and permitting officials to 

enforce statutory guidelines and ensure code compliance 

in the growing home and commercial generator market.

– Participated on the Florida Propane Gas Association’s 

Codes and Standards Committee and the Safety and 

Education Committee, to address safety code and training issues in Florida. 

– Conducted training of fire safety officials and building officials in counties throughout Florida. Included 

were individuals from the North Florida Fire Prevention 

Association, whose members represent the fire marshals’ 

offices in fifteen counties.

– Conducted gas systems and operations seminar at 

Nova University for the South Florida Builders’ Association.

– Conducted inspections of approximately 300 cylinder 

installations at the Florida State Fair. 

– Worked with industry officials in establishing standards to allow Temporary Emergency Distribution Sites 

(TEDS), or temporary emergency staging areas, to be 
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set up where propane can be purchased immediately 

following an emergency situation, such as a hurricane. 

TEDS will be set up in populated areas directly impacted 

by natural disasters and other emergencies to ensure that 

consumers are able to purchase propane for emergency 

generators and other important home uses. 

– Conducted LP gas safety seminar at the annual Florida 

Spa/Pool Association meeting. 

– Trained county public school maintenance staff in 

Orange and Osceola counties and provided licensure 

examinations for all maintenance staff in the Duval 

County School System; continued to co-inspect LP gas 

systems on school properties with various county school 

board technicians. 

– Conducted inspections with Walt Disney World officials and provided training to Disney staff in regard to 

LP gas safety and operations.

Division of Licensing

Overview

The Division of Licensing safeguards consumers and enhances the general welfare of the citizens of the State of 

Florida through its administration of two distinct licensing programs. 

Under the authority of Chapter 493, F.S., the division 

regulates the private investigative, recovery, and security professions in Florida. The licensees who work in 

these regulated professions serve in positions of public 

trust. Therefore, it is in the public interest that individuals seeking employment as private investigators, recovery agents, or security officers be properly trained and 

undergo criminal history background checks prior to 

licensure, and that the business practices of the agencies 

in these industries be consistent with the public good. 

The division’s licensing and regulatory controls provide 

for ongoing compliance by individuals and agencies in 

the regulated professions.

Under the authority of Section 790.06, F.S., the division administers the provisions of Florida’s concealed 

weapon licensing law, issuing licenses to qualified, 

law-abiding individuals to carry concealed weapons and 

firearms for purposes of lawful self-defense. Implemented in October 1987, Florida’s concealed weapon licensing program is the oldest such program in the nation. 

In carrying out its statutory responsibility, the division 

applies the statewide uniform standards enacted by the 

Legislature for the issuance of concealed weapon licenses, and ensures that no honest, law-abiding citizen who 

qualifies for a license is denied his or her constitutional 

right to bear arms for self-defense.

Benchmarks and Achievements

Despite the challenges that affected Florida’s economy 

throughout the past fiscal year, there was growth in the 

regulated professions. Individual and agency licensees 

totaled 152,507 at the end of the fiscal year, up from 

142,476 licensees a year ago. 

An astonishing increase was seen in the number of applications received for the Florida Concealed Weapon or 

Firearm License. The division received 295,970 new and 

renewal applications during fiscal year 2008-2009. In 

fiscal year 2007-2008, the division had received 191,840 

applications, and in the year prior to that the division 

received 176,937 applications. By the end of the year, 

the total number of valid licenses was just under three 

quarters of a million.

In the 22 years since the inception of the concealed 

weapon-licensing program, the demand for concealed 

weapon licenses has generally trended upward, and 

the number of concealed weapon license holders has 

steadily grown each year. However, in recent years, the 

demand for concealed weapon licenses and the number 

of citizens holding valid licenses has risen to unprecedented levels, as indicated by the statistics below.

– Ten years ago, in fiscal year 1998-1999, the Division of 

Licensing issued 26,807 new concealed weapon licenses. 

The total number of valid license holders at the end of 

that fiscal year was 235,532.

– In fiscal year 2008-2009, the division issued 103,699 

new concealed weapon licenses. As of the end of last 

fiscal year, there were 591,830 concealed weapon license 

holders in the division’s records. 
124 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

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With so many incoming applications, the division’s 

Public Inquiry Section responded to a record number of 

telephone calls last year. Incoming calls totaled 389,431 

for the year, an average of almost 7,500 telephone calls 

weekly, compared with 301,427 incoming calls the previous year. The division’s Compliance Section received 

40,834 calls last year, very close to the previous year’s 

total of 43,507 calls. Unfortunately, staffing levels were 

insufficient to adequately handle the number of incoming telephone calls in either the Public Inquiry Section 

or the Compliance Section, resulting in long wait times 

and many dropped and abandoned calls.

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

0

FY1999 FY2000 FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009

NEW CONCEALED WEAPON LICENSES ISSUED

The following charts depict the surge in the demand for concealed weapon licenses and the rise in the number of 

concealed weapon licensees, particularly in the last five years.

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

FY1999 FY2000 FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009

CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE HOLDERS
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 125

SAFEGUARDING FLORIDA’S CONSUMERS

In its efforts to prevent unlicensed and unlawful activity in the regulated industries, the division’s Bureau of 

Regulation and Enforcement (BRE) conducted 1,447 

complaints against individuals and agencies. BRE investigators also performed 3,983 compliance inspections. 

Because the division had no additional staff and resources to devote to these investigative activities, the number 

of complaints investigated and compliance inspections 

conducted remained relatively unchanged from the previous fiscal year. 

The division’s Legal Section completed 30,431 administrative actions in fiscal year 2008-2009. This number 

is almost unchanged from the 29,841 administrative 

actions completed in fiscal year 2007-2008.

Improving Levels of Service

The division’s level of service declined in 2008-2009 

because of the workload and staffing challenges that persisted throughout the year. However, by the end of the 

year the division had made significant progress in reducing the backlog of pending applications. This progress 

can be attributed to several causes. 

First, the division was granted budget authority to hire 

additional temporary staff beginning in November 2008 

and to begin working overtime hours in January 2009. 

A large pool of temporary employees had been brought 

on board by early spring, and division employees responsible for application processing began regularly 

working six days a week in January, a rigorous schedule 

that was to continue for the remainder of fiscal year 

2008-2009. Moreover, other divisions within the Department graciously lent some of their employees to the 

Division of Licensing to assist in opening and sorting 

the dozens of tubs of incoming mail that were arriving 

weekly during the early part of 2009.

As the fiscal year ended, the division was making plans 

to continue improving its level of service in 2009-2010. 

Division staff was testing and refining a new program 

scheduled for implementation in the fall of 2009. 

Under the new program, the division’s eight regional 

offices will provide full intake service for new concealed 

weapon license applications, in addition to providing 

their usual services to the applicants and licensees in the 

regulated industries. Thus, a person wanting to apply 

for a new concealed weapon or firearm license can make 

an appointment at a regional office and complete the 

entire application submission process at that facility. 

This service will dramatically reduce the number of errors or omissions that frequently occur when the application is submitted and which lengthen the time it takes 

to finalize the process. 

Moreover, the division was proceeding with its plan to 

integrate an interactive voice response (IVR) into the 

Public Inquiry Section’s telephone service. The Legislature appropriated funds for the implementation of 

an IVR system during the 2009 session. The IVR is an 

automated system that will give an applicant or licensee 

the ability to obtain current information concerning 

the status of an initial or renewal application simply 

by calling the division’s telephone line and supplying 

identifying information to the system. The caller will be 

able to enter his or her identifying information by way 

of the telephone keypad or by voice. This will benefit 

concealed weapon licensees and applicants, as well as 

licensees and applicants in the regulated professions.
126 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

ENSURING EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

Training and Development

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer 

Services provides Florida’s citizens and agriculture industry with service and protection by means of its highly 

qualified employees. To maintain that level of quality, 

the Department provides its employees with numerous training, educational, and recognition opportunities. The result is a superior workforce that performs by 

the motto of “personal commitment and professional 

pride.” 

Training

Upon hiring, and throughout an employee’s career with 

the Department, training is made available to increase 

the employee’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. This 

year, a total of 810 employees participated in Department-wide training classes. These classes included 

fundamental and critical topics such as New Employee 

Orientation, Team Building, Stress Management, Time 

Management, Diversity, Leadership, Department Supervisory Standards, Conflict Resolution, Meetings Management, Train-the-Trainer, Advanced Train-the-Trainer, 

CPR/AED, and various software titles. The Training 

and Development Section also assisted other divisions 

with their training design, development, and evaluation 

needs.

Intranet and online (via WebEx) training sessions were 

implemented to supplement classroom attendance. 

Initially this enabled the Department to provide more 

immediate access to training for its new employees and 

newly appointed supervisors. With the advent of travel 

restrictions, additional topics were incorporated, providing employees with a format to continue their work 

skills development. 

The Training and Development Section works in conjunction with the Bureau of Personnel Management to 

provide many of the training sessions identified above, 

especially New Employee Orientation and Supervisor 

Skills training. In addition, the Bureau of Personnel 

Management also trains staff in a variety of topics on an 

ad-hoc basis as needed. Topics include performance appraisals, attendance and leave, Americans with Disabilities Act, and benefits.

Education

The Department encourages and supports continued education and personal development. This past fiscal year, 

13 employees continued their education by taking workrelated classes that qualified for tuition reimbursement 

from the Department. An additional 134 employees 

participated in the state’s tuition waiver program. These 

employees further developed their ability to contribute 

to the Department by taking classes at universities, community colleges, and technical centers throughout the 

state.

A total of 28 Department managers participated in the 

Certified Public Manager Program. This two-year program is a systematic approach to training and developing governmental administrators in order to improve 

their performance and the performance of government. The Center for Public Development has revised 

its graduation schedule so that it will occur in August 

2009. The Department continues to have 188 managers 

on staff that have successfully completed the program 

and received the designation of Certified Public Manager. There are an additional 30 employees who have 

completed Phase II and qualified to join the ranks of 

CPM graduates in August 2009. The knowledge gained 

by these managers provides a framework for continued 

quality leadership throughout the Department.

Awards

The Department not only encourages lifelong learning, 

it rewards those who make exemplary achievements. 

Fifteen nominations were successfully submitted for a 

Prudential Financial Davis Productivity Award, detailing 

the extraordinary efforts of 99 individuals. The dollar 

benefit to the state and its citizens is estimated to have 

been approximately $62.7 million, all as a result of 

these employees’ initiative and hard work. 

The Department also recognizes employees for their 

length of service. Approximately 585 employees were 

awarded certificates for their continued service to the 

Department.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 127

ENSURING EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

Minority Businesses

The Department spent approximately $8.9 million with 

certified minority businesses during the 2008-2009 

fiscal year. The Department continues to be one of the 

leading agencies in minority spending. As a state agency 

the Department strives to make minority business 

spending a priority.

Agriculture Management 

Information Center (AGMIC)

Disaster Recovery Planning and Testing 

AGMIC performed its annual exercise of the recovery of 

computer applications residing on hardware platforms 

which AGMIC maintains. This Disaster Recovery Plan 

(DRP) test was performed May 15-17, 2009, at SunGard’s Carlstadt, New Jersey, facility, the same hot site 

utilized for the last four DRP tests. This was a coordinated effort between AGMIC and division staff that 

tested the applications remotely in Tallahassee. As in 

past exercises, Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology 

was utilized to prevent an interruption of production 

processing. This allowed for remote testing between the 

New Jersey facility and the Disaster Recovery Lab located 

in the Nathan Mayo Building. The production VMware 

environment, which has been utilized to virtualize 

Department servers, was restored during this test. This 

year’s test included the recovery of the following applications:

– Administration: E-Gov System (EGC)

– Office of Ag Water Policy: Best Management Practices 

Tracking System (BMPTS)

– Office of Ag Water Policy: Contract Management 

System (CMS)

– Office of Ag Law Enforcement: ACISS Case Management System (ACISS)

– Office of Ag Law Enforcement: Commercial Transport 

Imaging System (CTIS) 

– Animal Industry: Virtual Laboratory System (VLAB)

– Consumer Services: Consumer Services E-Commerce 

System (CS-EGOV)

– Forestry: Forestry Management Timber Sales Contract 

System (FM SALES)

– Marketing and Development: Simmons/Food Distribution System (SIMMONS)

– Marketing and Development: License and Bond 

System (LBL)

All of these applications had documented recovery plans 

and had been either tested in the test laboratory or previously restored in a prior test. This practice allowed for 

additional findings and remediation, along with properly documenting the application’s recovery steps. These 

recovery materials and documentation were then put to 

test under disaster recovery conditions in the SunGard 

New Jersey hot site during the annual test. Division 

users performed a documented verification from the 

Disaster Recovery Lab in the Nathan Mayo Building. All 

applications were fully recovered; however, one application could not be verified during testing due to issues 

with the application. This application was retested successfully in the Disaster Recovery Lab after the test.

Technology Policy Compliance Project 

Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, a joint consulting 

project was formed between the Division of Administration and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to assess 

compliance with select Department information technology (IT) policies and procedures. A methodology 

was established for assessment of these critical policies 

and the identification of key vulnerabilities. 

Phase One of the project identified the key vulnerabilities by obtaining input from the divisions’ Information 

Security Administrators (ISAs) and the Department’s 

Information Security Manager. After vulnerabilities were 

identified, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)/Ad-
128 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

ENSURING EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

ministration presented these findings to the Information 

Technology Resource Steering Committee (ITRSC). After 

the briefing at the ITRSC, the project team from OIG 

and Administration presented executive management 

with the list of vulnerabilities and received buy-in for 

the vulnerabilities selected for review. The next step for 

the project team was to request volunteers to assist in reviewing the policies and procedures associated with the 

vulnerabilities. This group of staff had several meetings 

to review policies and recommend changes to existing 

policies. The review of policies is continuing, with some 

policies such as the change management policy requiring significant restructuring. After all policies have been 

reviewed, the next step will be to brief the division ISA 

with the recommended policy changes. The last step of 

phase one will be to brief the ITRSC on the recommended modifications to policies and procedures.

Phase two will occur in fiscal year 2009-2010. The first 

step will be to assess the Department’s status of policy 

compliance for the selected key areas of vulnerability. 

Next, a timeline will need to be established with the 

divisions to fix vulnerabilities based on the assessment 

results. The ITRSC and executive management will 

need to be briefed again on the timelines established to 

fix vulnerabilities, and to obtain approval of proposed 

timelines. The next step will be to reassess the Department’s status on the key areas of vulnerability and report 

the results of the assessment. During this phase it will 

be necessary to have more frequent reporting to the 

ITRSC and the executive management regarding the status of fixes applied to identified vulnerabilities.

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)

The Division of Administration conducted a multi-day 

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) exercise in June 

2009, including notification of employees, deployment 

of the division’s Emergency Management and Division 

Response Teams to the Local Alternate Facility (LAF), 

and validation of its LAF operating plans. The Division 

of Administration’s operational readiness is vital to the 

Department in the event of a COOP emergency since 

the Division of Administration is the personnel, fiscal, 

contracting and information technology support branch 

for the entire Department. 

Each COOP exercise reinforces the importance of ensuring that business operations can continue unabated 

despite an event rendering a COOP facility unusable. 

All business areas were able to perform to expectations 

without any disruption of services to the Department.

Office of Inspector 

General

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is established in 

accordance with Section 20.055, Florida Statute. The 

OIG provides a central point for coordination of and 

responsibility for activities that promote accountability, 

integrity, and efficiency in government. 

The mission of the OIG is to protect and promote public 

integrity and accountability within the Department 

through audits that detect fraud, waste, and abuse and 

through investigation of administrative and criminal 

violations. The goal of the OIG is to decrease the reoccurrence of such violations through employee awareness 

and cooperation while providing the Department with a 

timely, accurate, objective and useful work product. The 

OIG also strives to enhance public trust.

The OIG is comprised of two sections to accomplish 

these responsibilities. The following provides detailed 

information about each section’s responsibilities: 

Auditing Section

The internal auditing activity provides independent, 

objective assurance and consulting services to add value 

and improve the Department’s effectiveness at risk management, control, and governance processes. An assurance service is an objective examination for the purpose 

of providing an independent assessment or opinion in 

regard to the particular engagement’s objectives. A consulting service is an advisory and client-assistance service, the nature and scope of which is agreed upon with 

the client for each particular engagement.

Internal audit activities are performed in accordance 

with the General Principles and Standards for Offices of 

Inspector General and International Standards for the 

Professional Practice of Internal Auditing as published 

by the Association of Inspectors General and the Institute of Internal Auditors, respectively. Audit projects 

involving information technology are also conducted in 
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009 129

ENSURING EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

accordance with the Information Systems Auditing Standards as published by the Information Systems Audit 

and Control Association.

During fiscal year 2008-2009, 10 assurance engagements 

were conducted covering performance measures, the 

Florida State Fair, fraud data analysis, and regulatory enforcement actions. The Auditing Section also participated in 13 consulting services and coordinated 17 external 

audits or reviews by federal and other state agencies.

Investigation Section

The investigation section conducts inquiries and investigations into administrative and criminal complaints. 

These complaints are received from a wide variety of 

sources, both inside and outside the Department. OIG 

cases are categorized into three types:

1. Preliminary inquiries, which may be conducted in 

circumstances when it is necessary to determine the 

validity of a complaint prior to the initiation of a formal 

investigation.

2. Inspector General investigations, which are formal 

investigations conducted in accordance with Florida 

Statute and/or Department policy and procedures.

3. Assist other agency cases, which involve investigative 

assistance to agencies or law enforcement officers external to Department operations.

The key investigative responsibilities of the OIG are to 

initiate, conduct, supervise, and coordinate investigations designed to detect, deter, prevent, and eradicate 

fraud, waste, mismanagement, misconduct, and other 

abuses in state government by:

– Receiving complaints and coordinating all activities of 

the agency as required by the Whistle-blower’s Act pursuant to Sections 112.3187-112.31895, F.S. 

– Receiving and considering the complaints which do 

not meet the criteria for an investigation under the 

Whistle-blower’s Act and conducting, supervising, or 

coordinating such inquiries, investigations, or reviews as 

the Inspector General deems appropriate. 

– Conducting investigations and other inquiries free of 

actual or perceived impairment to the independence of 

the Inspector General or the Inspector General’s Office. 

This shall include freedom from any interference with 

investigations and timely access to records and other 

sources of information. 

During fiscal year 2008-2009, the Investigation Section 

carried 11 cases over from the previous year, opened 92 

new cases, closed 93 cases, and carried forward 10 cases 

to the next fiscal year. 
130 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services • Annual Report 2008-2009

SUPPORTING FLORIDA AGRICULTURE

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