Imperial County

First Psyllid in Imperial County Tests Positive for HLB Bacteria

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Psyllids

An adult Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample collected from a rural residential property in Imperial County has tested positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacteria that causes huanglongbing (HLB). The ACP sample was collected from a citrus tree on Oct. 30 and was confirmed positive for CLas on Nov. 13. This is the first confirmed CLas-positive adult ACP found …

expanded

HLB and Medfly Quarantines Expanded

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

California’s huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) quarantine and its Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine were recently expanded. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the quarantines. HLB The HLB-quarantined area in Riverside County was expanded by 3 square miles. …

technology

See Citrus Technology in Action

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Events, Technology

Citrus agricultural technology will be showcased on Dec. 5 in California. Six companies will demonstrate their technology during a VINE Connect Field Day at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Lindcove Research and Extension Center (REC) in Exeter. VINE Connect is a statewide commercialization program that helps proven ag tech companies bring their technologies to market …

California citrus

Packer Upbeat About California Citrus Season

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Packing

Jesse Silva, vice president of Kings River Packing, recently gave an upbeat outlook on the California citrus season. Silva termed it “a high-quality, high-demand year.”  Kings River and its affiliated companies, including Cobblestone Fruit and Jireh Packing, are operating at full capacity across their four facilities in Sanger, Reedley and Orosi, Silva said. “We’re running 24/7 right now,” he said. …

Medfly

Medfly Quarantine Expansion

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Federal and state agriculture officials expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine twice in late October in California’s Alameda and Santa Clara counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) enacted the expansion. On Oct. 21, the agencies expanded the quarantine in response to …

medfly

Several Expansions to Santa Clara Medfly Quarantine

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Over the past month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in California three times. Their actions resulted in the inclusion of a portion of Alameda County in the quarantine while also expanding the quarantine area …

fruit fly

California Medfly and Oriental Fruit Fly Updates

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in September took quarantine actions regarding Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) and Oriental fruit fly (OFF) in California. MEDFLY On Sept. 15, APHIS and CDFA expanded the Santa Clara Medfly quarantine in Santa Clara County. The action was in response …

California citrus

California Mandarin Forecast Issued

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The 2025–26 California forecast for Tango and W. Murcott Afourer mandarin varieties, released Sept. 12, is 33 million 40-pound cartons. The forecast came from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS). The forecast is based on the results of the 2025–26 Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey, which …

Navel

California Navel Orange Forecast Announced

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The initial 2025–26 California navel orange forecast is 80 million cartons, up 6% from the previous year. It was issued Sept. 12 by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. The forecast is based on results of the 2025–26 Navel Orange Objective Measurement Survey, conducted from June 12 …

citrus greening

Citrus Greening Quarantine Expanded in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

Federal and state agriculture officials have expanded the quarantine for citrus greening in the Perris area of Riverside County in California by 33 square miles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the quarantine. The measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that CDFA established …

medfly

New Medfly Quarantine in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

A portion of Santa Clara County has been placed under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) following the detection of two wild female flies in the city of San José. If not stopped, Medflies can devastate fruits and vegetables by reproducing and leaving larvae in produce. The invasive flies can then spread to other regions. A quarantine is a …

Citrus mealybug

Citrus Mealybug Activity Peaking in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

An August citrus mealybug (CMB) pest memo released by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources warned that CMB activity typically peaks during the summer months. Highlights from the memo follow: In August, it is critical to access both pest pressure and natural enemy activity. This is a crucial period for making informed decisions that support biological control and avoid …

trip

Highlights From California Ag’s Trip to Brazil

Daniel CooperBrazil, California Corner

A recent Citrus Industry article reported on Brazil’s Fundecitrus hosting a delegation of agriculture leaders from California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) also reported on the trip, which included other venues in addition to Fundecitrus. Highlights from the CDFA report follow. During the trip to Brazil, the California delegation visited farms, packinghouses, research facilities and business incubators …

medfly

Medfly Eradicated From California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

A Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation centered in and around the city of Fremont, California, has been eradicated. The eradication ends a 213-square-mile quarantine that began Sept. 6, 2024. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Alameda County agricultural commissioner’s office accomplished the eradication. CDFA used the release of sterile male …

delegation

Fundecitrus Hosts California Delegation

Daniel CooperBrazil, California Corner, International

Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently hosted a delegation of approximately 20 agricultural leaders from California. Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, led the delegation. The group visited Brazil to learn more about Fundecitrus’ research, education, training and sustainability initiatives focused on citrus farming. The Californians participated in technical discussions with researchers and took a tour of Fundecitrus’ …

citrus greening

Citrus Greening Quarantines Expanded in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

Federal and state agriculture officials recently expanded the areas quarantined for citrus greening disease in California. They expanded the quarantined area in the Coto de Caza area of Orange County by 11 square miles, the Rancho Santa Margarita area of Orange County by 93 square miles, the Perris area of Riverside County by 37 square miles, and the Rancho Cucamonga …

Argentine ant

Argentine Ant Management Innovations

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

Native to South America, Argentine ants were introduced to California in 1905. Today, 90% of Southern California and coastal orchards are infested with ants. Some trees experience up to 1 million ant visits per day. Ivan Milosavljević, Citrus Research Board (CRB) entomologist, presented that information in a June 17 webinar that was part of CRB’s Grower Seminar Series. His presentation …

netting

Netting for Seedless Mandarins in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Mandarins

Jesse Silva of Kings River Packing recently discussed with AgNet West’s Nick Papagni the increasing use of netting in California citrus orchards. This practice is used for seedless mandarin production in particular. “There’s really been a push for seedless mandarins in the industry,” Silva said. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve all worked diligently to find the very best varieties …

Oriental Fruit Fly

Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine Lifted

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The Oriental fruit fly quarantine in California’s Orange County has been lifted following the eradication of the invasive pest. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Orange County agricultural commissioner, announced the action. The Oriental fruit fly is known to infest more than 250 types of fruits and …