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Commercial Citrus Growers Form Local ACP Management Areas

By Charmayne Hefley, Associate Editor

 

Commercial citrus growers are banding together to prevent the spread of the citrus-deadly Huanglongbing (HLB) disease and the pest that spreads it—the Asian Citrus Pysllid (ACP). Beth Grafton-Cardwell, an IPM specialist and research entomologist at UC Riverside and Director of UC ANR Lindcove Research & Extension Center, said growers are forming ACP management areas to prevent ACP from spreading HLB.

Elizabeth E. Grafton-Cardwell

Elizabeth E. Grafton-Cardwell

“ACP management areas are being formed by the citrus industry and community,” Grafton-Cardwell said. “They’re basically saying, ‘Let’s get together. Let’s form these groups of growers—25 to 35 growers in an area. Let’s work together as neighbors to treat across a large area and get more of the psyllids killed than if we each treated individually at different times.’”

HLB is a serious concern to growers, according to Grafton-Cardwell; the disease has already devastated the citrus industry in Florida. “We want to prevent that from happening here,” shel said.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, ACP notices posted thus far in the first quarter of 2016 include the following areas:

            COUNTY                                                                 CITY

   Fresno County    Fresno
   Kern County    Bakersfield, Shafter, Wasco
   Imperial County    Bard, Brawley area, Calipatria, Niland, Winterhaven, Zone 7
   Los Angeles County    La Puente, San Gabriel
   Riverside County    Hemet, Riverside, San Jacinto
   San Bernardino County    Cadiz
   San Diego County    De Luz, Escondido, Fallbrook, Ramona, San Diego
   San Joaquin County    Stockton
   Santa Barbara County    Areawide, Buellton, Casmalia, Garey, Orcutt, Santa Maria, Sisquoc
   Santa Clara County    Milpitas, San Jose
   Stanislaus County    Oakdale
   Tulare County    Porterville, Strathmore