[FedCom] Agricultural inspectors

[Tom Hirsch]

For 2 reasons, we're all interested in the discovery of citrus canker in
Palm Bay, Florida.   Palm Bay is in the south part of Brevard County
(the county from which space shuttles launch at the Kennedy Space
Center, and unmanned rockets launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station).
   The first reason for our interest is the USDA is inspecting trees in
a sizeable area, along with the Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer
Services.   This provides opportunity for federal monitoring.  Has
anyone logged any frequencies for citrus canker, medfly or other
agricultural pest operations?   I have found about 19 frequencies for
the USDA & its Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service listed in the
ARTSCI federal frequency directory.
   Second, if the citrus canker is not quickly stopped, it will cause
the destruction of thousands of orange, grapefruit, and tangerine
trees.  That will make those healthy, delicious fruits (and fruit
juices) perhaps a bit more expensive and a bit less abundant.  The area
of the citrus canker find is one of the top grapefruit-producing areas.