ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID AND HUANGLONGBING: A threat to California citrus 

3.6.2013 - "In 2008, the tiny, aphid-sized Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) was first identified in California.  ACP injects a toxin when it feeds on citrus leaves or stems, causing shoot deformation and plant stunting. But its damage isn't the growers' greatest concern.  ACP is a vector of the bacterium associated with Huanglongbing disease (HLB), the most serious citrus disease in the world. HLB causes leaves to yellow and fruit to become small, misshapen, and develop a bitter tast." [Read more from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Department]

UPDATE: ACP RESTRICTED AREA TREATMENT

12.27.2012 - CDFA has developed a program to enable the movement of bulk citrus fruit with stems and leaves out of the Asian citrus psyllid restricted areas in Terra Bella, Strathmore, and Lindsay to approved receivers.  According to CDFA’s memo, “The citrus fruit with stems and leaves must have originated in a grove that was treated with a CDFA approved insecticide, and must be harvested and shipped within seven days after the application and re-entry interval.” Per CDFA, in order to move citrus fruit in bulk containers or bins and any citrus fruit with stems and leaves attached produced in treated groves out of the restricted area, all of the following must occur:

• Obtain, review, and sign the Cooperative Asian Citrus Psyllid Project Compliance Agreement-Restricted Area & CDFA Exhibit T – Grower/Manager.
• Submit both signed documents to the CDFA ACP Project at:

Lists of approved packers/processors in each county can be obtained from the County Ag Commissioner’s office.

CDFA DOCUMENTS 

Instructions for Growers

Cooperative Asian Citrus Psyllid Project, Compliance Agreement - Retricted Area (Required Doc)

Exhibit T - Grower/Grove Manager (Required Doc)

Approved Pre-Harvest Treatment Products

UPDATE: CDFA RELEASES MAPS FOR RESTRICTION & ERADICATION ZONES FOR TULARE COUNTY

Per recommendation made by the Science and Technology subcommittee of the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC), CDFA has declared three separate 800-METERERADICATION ZONES surrounding each of the find sites in addition to the 5-mile RESTRICTION AREAS.  Growers within the 800-M zones and restriction areas are required to treat for the psyllid. CDFA will continue residential trapping and treatment programs within the 800-M zone ONLY if commercial growers within that zone treat.  CDFA Secretary Karen Ross will not issue a spray mandate; however, failure to treat will be considered a public nuisance by public law and the county agriculture commissioner will use statutory abatement authority on any commercial citrus acreage within the 800-M zones that is not treated. The program will only be successful with the support and cooperation by the grower community. Judy Zaninovich (formerly Judy Stewart-Leslie) will serve as the Tulare County Regional Coordinator, overseen by CPDPC, and conduct outreach to the growers directly to ensure treatment is being done and the restrictions are being adhered to.

According to a statement by CDFA, “This is an interim step, permitted under state law, to establish protection against spread of the pest while CDFA and the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner’s office continue to evaluate whether the detections are evidence of an established ACP population, or non-breeding hitchhikers brought into the corridor along State Highway 65 from infested counties in Southern California.”

CDFA INFORMATION PAGE- http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/PE/InteriorExclusion/acp_restrictedareas.html

ACP RESTRICTED AREAS - Tulare County - Lindsay/Strathmore & Terra Bella Areas 

ACP ERADICATION ZONES - Tulare County - Lindsay, Strathmore, Terra Bella Zones

TULARE COUNTY GROWER MEETING DOCUMENTS (December 11, 2012) - 

• ACP Treatment Approach - ACP Treatment Approach - Dr. Beth Grafton-Cardwell, IPM Specialist & Research Entemologist, UC Riverside
• CDFA Response Plan for the detection of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Tulare County 

Other information about citrus pests and diseases - 

• DPR SLN Database Link
• University of California IPM Pest Management Guidelines
• Asian Citrus Psyllid
• Huanglongbing (HLB)
• Citrus IPM Courses