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Bernardino and San Diego counties. All HLB-positive trees have so far been on res- idential properties. Though treatment is not mandatory, Pidduck said many packinghouses already require it. He noted most growers mainly move fruit to packinghouses within the county during harvest. Should a quarantine be triggered, Okasaki said growers who need to move fruit within or outside the quarantine zone would need to complete additional miti- gation steps, and packers would need to ensure the mitigations are met before they can accept fruit from the quarantine area. Because the psyllid feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees, he said, the main concern is restricting transport of citrus plant material. The additional expense of treatments comes at a difficult time for growers, who are earning lower prices for lemons, farm advisor Faber said. A potential quarantine and HLB detection would also affect field workers and packinghouses, he added. “I’m not sure if we are ready for a quar- antine, but it might be cheaper than spray- ing three times a year,” Faber said. “It’s wait and see what CDFA finds at this point.” Meanwhile, CDFA said it continues to conduct surveys and collect samples from the residential property where the infected psyllid was found and from all host plants within a 250-meter radius around the find. The department said it did not initially find any nymph psyllids during sampling but has since collected 15 on a different
host plant from where they found the in- fected adult insect. Nymphs are significant because the immature insects feed directly on the trees, Faber said. “If they find a hot nymph or tree, HLB is there for sure,” he said. Not all psyllids carry the HLB bacteria. That the infected adult was found on a backyard tree not far from California State Route 126 suggests it could be a hitchhiker, Faber said. Because of the mild spring and summer, Faber said there have been very few psyl- lids this year, though areawide fall sprays are scheduled soon. Organic growers, who have fewer organic-approved treatment options, “would have it tough,” he added. That’s because organic treatments are not as effective as conventional, long-re- sidual insecticides, Okasaki said. If an HLB-positive plant is detected, mandatory conventional treatments are required by law within 250 meters of the detection site. Lemons remain a top crop in Ventura County, ranking third behind strawber- ries and avocados, and valued at more than $206 million in 2022, according to the county’s crop report. The citrus fruit is also an important agricultural export for the region, ranking sixth. Ventura County also grows Valencia or- anges, worth $26.6 million in 2022; manda- rins and tangelos, valued at $18.5 million; and navel oranges, $4.2 million. (Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at clee@cfbf.com.)
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Farm Bureaus secure grant awards for climate projects
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Farm Bureaus in Butte and Solano coun- ties were awarded $10 million in grants through the California Department of Food and Agriculture to fund projects that support soil health and water efficiency. The two Farm Bureaus received $5 mil- lion each from the state’s Healthy Soils Program and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, or SWEEP. The grants for Butte County Farm Bureau support on-farm projects in Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties. Grant monies awarded to Solano County Farm Bureau support projects in Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento and Yolo counties. The funds come from $105 million in grant funds awarded in September to 23 organizations. Qualifying organizations that are award- ed Healthy Soils and SWEEP block grants may disburse funds to eligible farmers, ranchers or agricultural operations for projects and technical assistance that sup- port water resilience strategies and address impacts of climate change. “Solano County Farm Bureau is excited to be a recipient of this huge opportunity
to support California farmers and ranchers in improving their water use efficiency and their soils,” said Lisa Shipley, the organiza- tion’s executive director. “It’s a great way for agriculture to once again demonstrate its stewardship and care for the environment and the natural resources of our area,” she added. Solano County Farm Bureau will an- nounce hearings and workshops so that farmers and ranchers can learn more and apply for funding. Colleen Cecil, executive director of Butte County Farm Bureau, said the organiza- tion is poised to help farmers, who may apply for grants of up to $200,000. “Having witnessed numerous Butte County farmers and ranchers successful- ly access Healthy Soils and SWEEP fund- ing in previous grant cycles, Butte County Farm Bureau wanted to make it possible for area producers to have priority access to these funds under the new block grant format,” Cecil said. The $10 million in grants “will benefit water efficiency, greenhouse gas reduc- tion, soil and plant health, local farms, ranches—and the county Farm Bureau, too,” Cecil added.
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