Trump Admin Grants $340M for Florida Citrus Recovery

The Trump administration announced a $340 million block grant to support Florida's citrus recovery in the aftermath of last year's Hurricane Irma.

The monies will help with "reimbursement for the cost of buying and planting replacement trees – including resetting and grove rehabilitation, and for repair of damages to irrigation systems," the Department of Agriculture wrote in a statement Monday.

"The Florida citrus industry was likely hit the hardest, and with such a high-value crop, they face a steeper financial burden and as a whole, have less coverage through our traditional insurance options," Agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue sad in the statement.

"Under the direction of President Trump, my office has been working . . . to put a process in place that will ensure the Florida citrus industry maintains its infrastructure and can continue to be the signature crop for the state," Perdue said.

The grant for Florida is part of a $2.36 billion recovery package approved by Congress to help recovery of agricultural operations in at least nine states, the agency said.

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