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RESOLUTION URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE RED BAY AMBROSIA BEETLE AND PREVENT THE DESTRUCTIVE SPREAD OF LAUREL WILT DISEASE INTO AVOCADO CROPS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

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WHEREAS, avocados are the largest tropical fruit crop in Miami-Dade County encompassing 7,000 acres; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade�s avocado industry produces $15 million in sales per year and creates more than 1,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the red bay ambrosia beetle is an exotic invasive pest that was illegally introduced into the U.S. through a port in South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, laurel wilt disease is spread by the red bay ambrosia beetle; and
WHEREAS, laurel wilt disease rapidly kills avocado trees and presents a serious threat to all avocado trees in Miami-Dade County and all of the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, federal and state efforts and funding are quickly needed to address the red bay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt disease,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Florida Legislature, and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to provide emergency funding to the University of Florida for research into effective methods of eradicating the red bay ambrosia beetle, preventing the spread of laurel wilt disease into avocados, and treating those avocados crops already affected.
Section 2. Urges the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to provide resources to prevent the movement of the red bay ambrosia beetle into avocado production areas, such as South Florida, and to prevent the movement into these areas of firewood and other plant material that may contain the beetle or its eggs or larvae.
Section 3. Urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to initiate a public information campaign to inform the residents of Florida and other affected states about the threats posed by the red bay ambrosia beetle and ways to combat them, including identification of the beetle, proper movement of plant material that may contain the beetle or its eggs or larvae, and available treatment options.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Governor of Florida, the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 5. Directs the County's federal and state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Sections 1, 2 and 3 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2009 Federal and State Legislative Packages.