CDFA
Extends Citrus Threat Prevention
Today, the
California Department of Food and Agriculture extended the California Citrus
Pest and Disease Prevention Program for an additional four years. The extension
came after several public hearings and a comment period that confirmed
overwhelming support for continuing the program among stakeholders.
The program was created
by legislation in 2009, establishing a process for the self-assessment of
citrus producers to support ongoing protection efforts against threats such as
the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). ACP is a pest that spreads the bacteria causing
huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, a fatal disease of citrus trees for which
there is no cure. Producer assessments this year are expected to generate $15
million for the program.
“We are
grateful to the citrus industry for its partnership in this program,” said CDFA
Secretary Karen Ross. “We believe that working together gives us the best
chance to protect commercial and residential citrus trees throughout
California.”
The
legislation authorizing the citrus program, AB 281 (De Leon), required the
re-evaluation of the program this year. The legislation also requires the program
to be reviewed in 2017, once again, with stakeholder input through a public
process to determine its continuation.
ACP has
been detected in nine California counties. Quarantines (existing and proposed)
to help control its spread cover more than 45-thousand square miles. HLB was
detected just once in California – last year on a single residential property
in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County.
Labels: AB 281, ACP, Asian Citrus psyllid, California Citrus, CDFA, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, Hacienda Heights, HLB, Huanglongbing, Pest and Disease Prevention Program, quarantine