The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of nearly $11 million for research to combat Huanglongbing (HLB), commonly known as citrus greening disease. HLB, caused by an insect bacterium, is the most severe threat to global citrus production. “NIFA’s Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension program brings the nation’s top scientists …

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing two vacancies on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The committee advises the CDFA Secretary on activities associated with the statewide citrus specific pest and disease work plan that includes, but is not limited to, outreach and education programs and programs for surveying, detecting, analyzing, and treating pests and …

A local infestation of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) has been detected in a residential area of Vacaville in Solano County. The pest is primarily a threat to grapevines because it can spread a fatal bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease (PD); however, the pest and disease can also impact susceptible types of citrus crops. Five adult GWSS were found Oct. 1 …

University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences —The American Society for Horticultural Science recently honored University of Florida scientists for new guidelines citrus growers may apply to their operations. The researchers study ‘Valencia’ orange production while trees are under the most serious citrus disease worldwide. “The 7-year study broke new ground on data we provide to local citrus …

Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program — A significant number of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) detections in Kern County – more than 115 since this time last year – is a stark reminder to remain vigilant against the pest and the deadly disease it can spread, Huanglongbing (HLB). Last week, an adult ACP was confirmed from a commercial citrus trap in the …

Taiwan’s peach production for MY2021/22 is forecast to increase to 17,000MT. Peach and nectarine imports are forecast down to 13,500 MT due to reduced demand at peak fruit season caused by Taiwan’s COVID-19 outbreak in May and June. Cherry consumption for MY2021/22 is forecast flat at 12,400 MT. In 2020, total import volume from the United States decreased by almost …

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has declared a quarantine in north San Diego County following the detection of the citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in two citrus trees on one residential property in the city of Oceanside. This is the first time the plant disease, which does not harm people but is deadly to citrus, …

California Avocado Commission — The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat and elevated wildfire risk warnings in California this week beginning Tuesday, July 6 through Sunday, July 11. The conditions will pose a high risk for heat-related illnesses with possible record temperatures for the Antelope Valley area of Southern CA and brief critical fire weather conditions for the interior …

The Citrus Research Board (CRB) has been awarded $3,438,059 in funding from the Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group (HLB MAC) to support its California Focused Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRaFT). The overarching goal of the CRaFT project is to demonstrate additional mitigations to improve psyllid control within commercial citrus groves across the various citrus growing regions in California. This information …