The Florida Department of Citrus (DOC) is spending public funds to register an abscission agent compound (CMNP) with the U.S. EPA as part of its effort to enhance the private benefits associated with citrus mechanical harvesting. An abscission agent application should allow existing harvesting equipment to operate through the entire late season orange harvesting period. When estimating costs and benefits through 2018, the net present value of mechanically harvesting 25,000 acres is between $60.8 and $79.9 million, depending on price, production, and fruit loss scenarios. For any of the scenarios considered, the discounted value of abscission benefits with mechanical harvesting fully pays for the costs of registration and development within four years.