California Citrus Mutual (CCM) has welcomed the allocation of US$2.5m in this year's state budget to prevent a wide-scale outbreak of Asian Citrus Psyllid/Huanglongbing (ACP/HLB).
ACP/HLB has had a devastating impact on Florida's citrus production, with some sources suggesting there has been a 70 per cent reduction in the state’s crop as a result of the disease.
While over 200 trees have been found to have the disease in Californian backyards, CCM president Joel Nelsen said commercial scale growers in the state “have been lucky to date.”
“We were able to put a programme together before the disease and the bug had a chance to gain a foothold in commercial groves,” Nelsen explained.
“Unfortunately, the disease is spreading in the backyards of Los Angeles, Orange County, and locales South. Finding the disease before it finds the industry has always been the goal, and this budget allocation once again recognizes the scope of the fight.'
Nelsen said the state funding augments the US$15m-$18m put forth by growers annually.
“Once again Governor [Jerry] Brown indicates his support for the California citrus industry with the sustained financial commitment to the Asian Citrus Psyllid/Huanglongbing battle being waged in California,” Nelsen added.
Californian state policy requires all trees carrying the disease to be removed so they do not become a reservoir for additional inspection.
An industry advisory committee has worked with California's Department of Agriculture to successfully create a response programme that is being copied in other production areas.
