changes

Changes to Mexfly Quarantines in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have made several recent changes to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. DONNA REMOVED On Sept. 10, the agencies reduced the Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County by 66 square miles, including 945 acres of commercial citrus. The amended quarantine …

movement

Texas Mexfly Fruit Movement Protocol Revised

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal agriculture officials have revised the requirements for the interstate movement of fresh citrus fruit from core areas of a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a revised federal order and protocol on Sept. 23. The protocol in the federal order provides three schedules for the interstate …

planting method

Video Shows Citrus Planting Method Has Many Benefits

Daniel Cooperplanting, Texas

Texas A&M University citrus scientists who developed a successful planting method to combat diaprepes root weevil found that the method also offers numerous other benefits. In 2013, researchers Mamoudou Setamou and Olufemi Alabi were looking for an effective non-chemical method to physically block the circular foliage-to-underground lifecycle of diaprepes. The pest was attacking citrus roots and killing trees. Their solution …

Texas

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Update

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and Texas agriculture officials amended the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Cameron County and removed the Edinburg Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) made the amendments. On Aug. 22, APHIS and TDA reduced the Brownsville quarantine by 67 square …

Mexfly

Mexfly Quarantines Reduced in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and Texas officials have amended the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Cameron County and the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. In addition, they removed the Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Willacy County and the Roma Mexfly quarantine in Starr County. The actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and …

Texas

Changes to Texas Mexfly Quarantines

Tacy CalliesPests, Regulation, Texas

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in July made several changes regarding Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. They amended the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties and the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna quarantine in Hidalgo County. In addition, the Sullivan City quarantine in Hidalgo County …

Mexfly

Texas Mexfly Quarantines Amended or Removed

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The following Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines were amended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) on June 26: BROWNSVILLE APHIS and TDA expanded the Brownsville quarantine in Cameron County by 21 square miles following a detection, confirmed on June 10, of one Mexfly larva in a …

csu

CSU Decreases Hurricane Forecast Slightly

Daniel CooperCitrus, Florida, Georgia, hurricane, Insurance, Texas, Weather

Colorado State University (CSU) on July 9 decreased its Atlantic seasonal hurricane forecast slightly and now calls for a slightly above-normal 2025 Atlantic basin hurricane season. CSU anticipates a slightly above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean. Information obtained through June indicates that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will have …

citrus canker

Citrus Canker Quarantines Established and Expanded in Texas

Daniel CooperDiseases, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced June 26 that it was establishing and expanding the quarantined areas for citrus canker in Texas to prevent the spread of the disease. The action was taken in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). APHIS established a new quarantined area in the Harlingen Area of …

Mexfly quarantines

Texas Mexfly Quarantines Amended

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently amended three Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. This includes the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine in Cameron County and the Edinburg-Palmview and Donna Mexfly quarantines in Hidalgo County. BROWNSVILLE On May 15, the agencies expanded the Brownsville quarantine by 16 …

changes

Texas Mexfly Quarantines Altered Again

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in April made several changes to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. This includes: SULLIVAN CITY The Sullivan City quarantine was expanded by 24 square miles to 79 square miles following detection March 12 of Mexfly larvae in sour orange …

Mexfly quarantines

Two Texas Mexfly Quarantines Expanded

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently expanded two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. This includes the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties, and the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine in Cameron County. HARLINGEN-SEBASTIAN QUARANTINE The Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine has been increased by 68 square …

texas

Grants for Texas Growers Suffering Water Shortages

Daniel CooperTexas, Water

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have announced $280 million in grant funding relief for Rio Grande Valley producers not receiving promised water deliveries from Mexico. TDA stated that the funding “will provide essential economic relief to eligible farmers and producers in the Rio Grande Valley who continue to endure Mexico’s ongoing failure to …

fresh citrus

Additional Fresh Citrus Treatment Approved in Texas

Daniel CooperFresh, Regulation, Texas

Conditions for the movement of fresh citrus fruit from the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantined areas in Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) were recently modified. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) took the action to make treatments more feasible or economically viable. Growers who intend to move citrus from the core areas of …

Mexfly

Mexfly Quarantines Change in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and state agriculture officials have reduced, established and expanded several Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) took the quarantine actions. EDINBURG On Jan. 8, the two agencies reduced the Edinburg Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. The reduction includes the …

Texas citrus

Texas Citrus Industry Assessing Freeze Damage

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Texas

By Maegan Beatty  Across the United States, farmers have faced freezing temperatures, snowstorms and unpredictable conditions this winter. Texas citrus growers are among those evaluating the effects of the most recent temperature drop.   “In regard to growers experiencing damage, we are still assessing,” said Dale Murden, president of Texas Citrus Mutual. “It’s too early to tell overall, but we will …

Texas

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Areas Altered

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) made changes to two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas in Texas on Dec. 6. They reduced the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron County and the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. However, on Dec. 20, …

Texas Farm Bureau

Water Crisis Impacting Texas Citrus

Daniel CooperTexas, Water

“The last five years in Texas has kind of been the perfect storm,” said Dale Murden, a citrus grower in the state’s Lower Rio Grande Valley. First came Hurricane Hannah in 2020; it knocked fruit to the ground before harvest. A year later, Winter Storm Uri devastated the region, freezing thousands of citrus trees. Now, ongoing drought and a water …

changes

Mexfly Quarantine Expanded in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Agriculture officials on Nov. 18 expanded the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County, Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) took the action. Expansion of the Donna quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on Nov. 14 of a Mexfly larva in fruit …

Texas

Mexfly Quarantine Changes Impact Texas Citrus

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently took several actions regarding Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas. On Oct. 9, they expanded the Mexfly quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County. On Oct. 11, they reduced a portion of the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron, Hidalgo and …