pollinator

Grant to Enhance Pollinator Habitat in Groves

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, soil

The California Farm Bureau and its partners have received $5 million from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to implement climate-smart farming practices in citrus groves in 11 counties. The project, part of CDFA’s Healthy Soils Block Grant Pilot Program, will focus on hedgerow planting, carbon sequestration and soil management practices. All of those practices create a safe …

cycle 2

California’s CRaFT Accepting Cycle 2 Applications

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Psyllids

California’s Citrus Research and Field Trials (CA-CRaFT) program is now accepting Cycle 2 applications from commercial growers. This initiative aims to showcase the efficacy of additional control measures against the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). ACP is the carrier of the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacterium causing huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus. For Cycle 2, applications will be accepted until program capacity …

fruit fly

Expansion of Medfly and Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantines

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Federal and California officials have expanded a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in Los Angeles County and an Oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantine in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The expansion of both …

Yellow Vein Clearing Virus Spreads in California

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Diseases

Positive identifications of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) have been found in the Hacienda Heights area of Los Angeles County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the identifications during the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) routine multi-pest survey. This is the second area in California where CYVCV has been detected. The …

CRDF

California Researchers Seek HLB Tolerance

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Research

University of California, Riverside (UCR) has received three federal grants totaling more than $11 million for research focused on instilling HLB-tolerance in citrus trees. The grants are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The funding was enabled by the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act, which authorized the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development …

acreage

New Neonicotinoid Regulations in California

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Pesticides, Regulation

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) has adopted new regulations to protect pollinators from the hazards associated with exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides containing the active ingredients clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The regulations affect the application of these pesticides on certain food and feed crops, including citrus. Product labels will not be updated with these requirements. CDPR suggests that …

fruit fly

California Fruit Fly Quarantines Continue to Expand

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Federal and state officials have expanded Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; Medfly), Zeugodacus tau fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni; QFF) quarantines in California. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The Medfly and tau fruit fly quarantines …

frost season

Frost Season Arrives in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Weather

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) recently reported that the 2023 frost season is underway for the state’s San Joaquin Valley citrus growers. “That means growers will be closely monitoring weather forecasts to prepare for any cold spells that may sweep through the valley in the coming months,” the citrus growers’ trade association stated.  Although long periods of below-freezing temperatures are of …

requirements

HLB Quarantine Requirements Updated for California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

California’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (CPDPD) has officially updated the requirements for moving bulk citrus fruit within and from a huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine area to a packer/processor. CPDPD is part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Here’s an overview of the newly updated requirements, per the CPDPD’s Citrus Grower/Grove Manager Information page: All fruit, no matter …

quarantine

New HLB Quarantine Area for California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

A newly established quarantine area has been declared following the detection of HLB in five trees in the Valley Center area of California’s San Diego County. The trees were located on a residential property with non-commercial citrus acreage. This is the first time the disease has been confirmed in Valley Center, marking the third area in San Diego County to …

phytophthora

Phytophthora Diseases in California Citrus

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases

Greg Douhan with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) recently wrote about phytophthora diseases in California citrus. Edited excerpts follow: There are at least four species of Phytophthora species (P. citrophthora, P. parasitica, P. syringae and P. hibernalis) associated with citrus in California. The three diseases in citrus caused by these fungal-like pathogens are phytophthora root rot, phytophthora …

Oriental fruit fly

Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine Expanded in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The Oriental fruit fly (OFFor Bactrocera dorsalis) quarantine in San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California was expanded in October and November by federal and state agriculture authorities. The actions were taken on Oct. 12, Nov. 3, Nov. 9 and Nov. 17 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of …

medfly

Medfly Quarantine Expanded

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Federal and state authorities in early November expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly) quarantine in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles County, California. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) on Nov. 1 and again on Nov. …

navel oranges

Congressmen Urge USDA to Buy California Navels

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Fresh

Four California congressmen recently asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack to have the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) buy $100 million worth of California navels. The orange purchase would help alleviate the impacts of storms. The letter from Congressmen Jim Costa, David Valadao, Doug LaMalfa and Josh Harder follows: We write in support of the Section 32 request submitted …

Medfly

Updates on Medfly and Psyllid Quarantines in California

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Agriculture officials recently established a Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly) quarantine and expanded an Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) quarantine, both in California. MEDFLYFederal and state agriculture officials on Oct. 18 established the Medfly quarantine in California’s Los Angeles County. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and …

tour

Measuring California’s Citrus Environmental Benefits and Impacts

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Survey

Major retailers have been asking questions about the citrus industry’s sustainability efforts. In response, a California citrus industry life cycle analysis project will quantify the net environmental benefits and impacts of citrus production in a typical year. The information will be gathered from a survey developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), with support from the …

MRL Compliance Crucial for Citrus Exporters

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Fresh, Regulation

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) are a constant concern for growers. MRL issues can create a variety of obstacles depending on which market citrus exports are destined for. While the industry generally complies well with MRLs, caution is crucial as they can be a significant hurdle. Jim Cranney, president of the California Citrus Quality Council, said certain markets can be more …

California Fruit Fly Quarantines Expanded

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Federal and California agriculture officials have expanded the Tau fruit fly quarantine in Los Angeles County and the Oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantine in San Bernadino and Riverside counties. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). TAU FRUIT FLYThe agencies expanded …

fruit fly

Queensland Fruit Fly Quarantine in California

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Portions of Ventura and Los Angeles counties have been placed under quarantine for the Queensland fruit fly (QFF), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced in late October. The quarantine followed the detection of two adult QFFs within the city of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County. The quarantine area measures 76 square miles. It is bordered on the …

Fruit World on Certification, California’s Citrus Season and More

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner

Fresh fruit produce company Fruit World announced its recent Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certification out of its Reedley, California facility. The company also reported that the California citrus season is late this year, and that Fruit World’s chief executive officer will participate on a panel discussing the upcoming Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule. According to Equitable Food Initiative’s website, it …