Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Plant Industry

For assistance, call 1-888-397-1517 or visit https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry

What is the purpose of the division?

The Division of Plant Industry detects, intercepts, and controls plant and honey bee pests that threaten Florida's native and commercially grown plants and agricultural resources.

How is the division organized?

The division is organized into five bureaus. 
  • Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration administers a program to assist growers and nurserymen in producing citrus trees that are believed to be free of virus and bud-transmissible diseases.
  • Bureau of Entomology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology identifies plant pests and diseases from soil and plant samples received from inspectors and Florida citizens. The bureau maintains a library and a collection of specimens.
  • Bureau of Methods Development and Biological Control investigates and implements new methods for the detection, control, and eradication of plant and honeybee pests. The bureau is also involved in chemical control methods, biological control activities, sterile insect technique (SIT), quality control, environmental concerns, and irradiation.
  • Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection is responsible for protecting Florida's agricultural industry and the public from the introduction and spread of serious plant and apiary pests. The bureau is composed of a plant inspection section and an apiary inspection section. The bureau enforces state laws and departmental rules pertaining to the movement of plants, plant products, honey bees, and beekeeping equipment. The bureau also conducts routine surveys for the early detection of plant and apiary pests.
  • Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control responds to the introduction into Florida of any plant pest or disease of economic significance for the purpose of regulating the movement of or initiating control or eradication measures against such pests.

What are some of the measures of division activity?

Each year, the division responds to the discovery of new pests and diseases as well as the recurrence of old ones. In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the division

  • performed 1,408,749 plant, fruit fly trap, and honeybee inspections, above the performance standard of 800,000;
  • surveyed 211,459 commercial citrus acres for citrus diseases, above the performance standard of 150,000; 
  • released 4.1 billion sterile Mediterranean fruit flies, above the performance standard of 3.75 billion;
  • processed 732,465 plant, soil, insect, and other organism samples for identification or diagnosis, above the performance standard of 300,000; and
  • certified 308,074 cartons of fruit as fly-free for export, below the performance standard of 1,000,000.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2023-24
Fund Salary Rate/ Position General Revenue Trust Funds
SALARY RATE
POSITIONS
SALARIES AND BENEFITS
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM CITRUS INSPECTION TRUST FUND
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM CITRUS INSPECTION TRUST FUND
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
EXPENSES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM CITRUS INSPECTION TRUST FUND
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
OPERATING CAPITAL OUTLAY
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
ACQUISITION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCIES (MEDFLY PROGRAM)
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
GRANTS AND AIDS - BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
APIARIAN INDEMNITIES
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES
FROM LAND ACQUISITION TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
CITRUS HEALTH RESPONSE PROGRAM
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
CITRUS BUDWOOD NURSERY
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
PLANT PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
CONTRACTED SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM CITRUS INSPECTION TRUST FUND
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
TRANSFER TO UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA/INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES FOR INVASIVE EXOTICS QUARANTINE FACILITY
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
TRANSFER TO DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES - HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES PURCHASED PER STATEWIDE CONTRACT
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FROM CITRUS INSPECTION TRUST FUND
FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND
FROM AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY ERADICATION TRUST FUND
FROM PLANT INDUSTRY TRUST FUND
TOTAL
17,782,585
32,412,769

Updates

Giant African Land Snail. The giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world and consumes at least 500 different types of plants. In June 2022, the division confirmed the detection of the giant African land snail (GALS) in Pasco County, and in Lee County in December 2022.

These snails could devastate Florida agriculture and natural areas as they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments. The snails also pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans. Therefore, importing or possessing GALS is illegal without a permit in the United States.

GALS have been eradicated twice in Florida. The first detection was in 1969, and the eradication was in 1975. The most recent eradication of this pest was in 2021 from first detection in 2011 in Miami-Dade County. 

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
Plant Industry Publications, Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry

Websites of Interest
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Plants Database
Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey Program

Performance Information


Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Chapters 581, 586, and 593, and ss. 20.14, 570.32, and 570.33, Florida Statutes

Whom do I contact for help?

Division of Plant Industry, 1-888-397-1517
Website