Save Our Citrus! Cathy Fisher Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner

Transcription

1 Save Our Citrus! Cathy Fisher Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner

2 California Citrus History 1769-Father Junipero Serra plants the first citrus trees in California at the San Gabriel Mission. The seeds originated from Southeast Asia. The first oil painting of the San Gabriel Mission depicts hundreds of orange trees in the background.

3 California Citrus History 1841 William Wolfskill plants the first commercial citrus grove. A 70 acre ranch which was located what is now downtown L.A. The trees originated from the San Gabriel Mission Only 7 commercial citrus orchards in the state.

4 California Citrus History 1870 Eliza and Luther Tibbets Earliest settlers of Riverside. Sent a letter to a friend in Washington D.C. requesting A few fruit trees. The trees came from cuttings from a citrus tree in Brazil. Three small orange trees were shipped by train. She named them Washington Navels. Watered the trees with dishwater from her kitchen. Great-great granddaughter lives in Montecito.

5 California Citrus History The Washington Navel propelled the growth of the citrus industry in California. Fueled the economic and social development in California. One of the tree s still lives today and is a registered historical landmark.

6 California Citrus History Transcontinental Railroad completed California citrus shipped all over the country. Creation of the Citrus Belt. 70 miles long and millions of trees. Sunkist Growers established.

7 California Citrus History Citrus Belt towns: Pasadena, San Gabriel, Whittier, Pomona, Monrovia, Azusa, Covina, Glendora, Upland, Ontario, Etiwand, San Bernardino, Redlands, Corona and Riverside. Post World War II Housing replaced citrus groves. Citrus growers relocated to the San Joaquin Valley.

8 Santa Barbara County Citrus History William Stow purchased 1100 acres for his son, Sherman. Rancho La Patera located near Goleta. Sherman plants 3000 Lisbon lemon trees. First commercial lemon operation in California. Beginning of the Johnston Fruit Company.

9 Santa Barbara Citrus History 1930 s Goleta Lemon Association was formed. 2,500 acres of lemons. Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland, Santa Barbara s 9,442 acres in the county.

10 Montecito Citrus History 1892 Crocker-Sperry Ranch William H. Crocker and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Caroline Sperry purchase the Rancho Las Fuentes. Started a commercial lemon farming operation in Montecito.

11 Montecito Citrus History Birnam Wood Golf Club purchased Rancho Los Fuentes. New golf course and homes replaced lemon trees. Transitioned the Lemon Packing House into the country clubs club house. Board of Supervisors declare the Lemon Packing House has a Historical Landmark.

12 Citrus Greening or HLB 1919: First reported in southern China 1921: Philippines 1928: South Africa Spread by ACP to other citrus regions. Devastation in Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Brazil, Florida and Texas. Ruins the fruit Bitter and unmarketable. Kills the tree. No threat to humans or animals.

13 Citrus Growing Regions in the World Oranges #1 fruit in international trade (140 countries). Top ranking countries: Brazil China United States Mexico India Spain

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15 United States Citrus #1-Florida: 65% acreage. #2-California: 30% acreage #3-Texas: 3% acreage. #4-Arizona: 2% acreage.

16 Florida s ACP and HLB History 1998-ACP detected in Palm Beach County, Florida on a residential orange tree ACP spread to 31 counties by infested nursery stock HLB confirmed in Miami- Dade County. HLB was already present in Florida backyard citrus trees before ACP arrived HLB confirmed in 37 counties.

17 ACP and HLB in the United States 2001-ACP detected in Texas ACP-Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, So. Carolina, Arizona, California and Hawaii.

18 2015 Florida Citrus Top juice producers: Florida, Brazil. 85% world market. 90% Florida juice consumed in U.S. $10.7 billion economic input. Supports 79,000 jobs.

19 Impacts to Florida Citrus from HLB Why Oranges Have Gotten So Expensive:

20 Impacts to Florida Citrus from HLB Why Oranges Have Gotten So Expensive: $4.5 billion cost between 2006 and Price of orange juice is 50% higher than Supplement the juice with sweeteners and syrups. 8,000 jobs lost

21 2016 Florida Citrus-USDA Forecast Worst shape it has ever been. We re at the lowest point in 50 years. If we had a cure for HLB today, it could still take 10 years to bounce back. We are at a tipping point, and some would say we ve blown past the tipping point. Psyllid does not know property lines. It is perhaps the most devastating disease that the industry has faced, Matthew Salois, Director of Economic Research, Florida Department of Citrus.

22 2016 USDA Florida Citrus Forecast Florida Commissioner of Agriculture will launch a multifaceted plan to provide Florida growers with more immediate support. State level cost share program that will help the industry eliminate abandoned groves and the associated host material. Local tax support so growers can make the best land management decisions. Increasing the availability of healthy citrus tree seed and budwood for the industry to replant groves devastated by HLB.

23 ACP in California 2008-ACP detected in San Diego County Quarantines established throughout the state (orange). Citrus fruit and nursery stock cannot leave quarantine areas. Residents are included.

24 HLB in California 2012-HLB detected in an ACP sample and backyard citrus tree from a residence in Hacienda Heights area of L.A by CDFA staff. Infected cuttings from Mexico. Program now becomes mandatory. Infected tree was removed and all citrus trees within 800 meters were treated by CDFA. Residents were issued search warrants if they refused treatment. Law enforcement escorted CDFA treatment crews.

25 HLB in California July citrus trees test positive for HLB in San Gabriel. Trees removed Mandatory residential citrus tree treatments for each 800 meter quarantine area around each tree. February 3, 2016 Two additional citrus trees in San Gabriel positive for HLB. Trees removed. Mandatory residential citrus tree treatments for each 800 meter quarantine area around each tree. February 8, 2016 Two additional citrus trees in San Gabriel test positive for HLB.

26 Santa Barbara County ACP program 2013-ACP first detected in the county. Santa Maria and Goleta. Residential citrus trees treated by CDFA within 400 meters of the detections. No reported loss of honey bees.

27 Strategies Quarantines-Prohibit movement of citrus outside of quarantine area. All of Santa Barbara County is quarantined (pink). Residents are included in the quarantine. Cannot transport citrus fruit outside of the quarantine area. Monitoring-Trapping and visual survey By CDFA staff throughout the county. Treatment options: CDFA Residential Treatments Home gardener options. Research

28 Strategies Biological Control-Tamarixia radiate and Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis released over 5400 throughout Santa Barbara County. Only prey upon ACP

29 Strategies Research- Funding: Industry-assessment USDA-Farm Bill Total: $26.7 million annually Other sources: NIFA, Specialty Crop Grants. High Priority projects Improved tests for detecting HLB. Refining treatments for psyllid control. ACP management: Genetics for disruption of ACP feeding process Biological control. HLB and ACP resistant citrus

30 Research Bactericides Releases of sterilized ACP males. Analyze ACP behavior for new management strategies.

31 2016 New Area Wide Treatment Plan January-CDFA determines ACP established throughout Santa Barbara County. Citrus Pest Advisory Board decides to implement new Area Wide Treatment (AWT) program. Creates 13 Psyllid Management Areas (PMA s).

32 2016 New Area Wide Treatment Plan Psyllid Management Areas (PMA s) Commercial citrus groves are grouped into PMA s. PMA s facilitates coordination and communication. Strategy Reduces ACP densities to very low levels to slow the spread of ACP to new areas. Prevent ACP from finding HLB infected trees. Critical to avoid insecticide resistance and to maintain the citrus Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.

33 2016 Area Wide Treatment Protocol Requires only two ACP treatments per year by growers in each PMA. Commercial citrus growers are responsible for their own treatments. Voluntary. Treatment #1: January-March time frame. Organic commercial citrus groves can use pyganic and oil or other approved alternative treatment for organic groves. Materials are selected from the list of recommendations assembled by the UC research entomologists who advise the Citrus Pest Advisory Board and CDFA. List is located at Treatment #2: September November.

34 2016 Area Wide Treatment Protocol CDFA will treat residential citrus trees within a 400 meter buffer around each PMA if 75% of growers within each PMA treat their own citrus trees. Residential citrus tree treatments by CDFA are voluntary. Twice a year. January March September November CDFA will schedule public meetings for each scheduled treatment. Residents will be notified of the public meetings.

35 CDFA Residential Treatments For homeowners who volunteer to participate: Citrus trees on a residential property within 400 meters of a commercial citrus Psyllid Management Area (PMA) receive a combination of two insecticides: In the winter: A foliar pyrethroid insecticide that quickly kill adult psyllids and immature psyllids (nymphs) the material comes in direct contact with. In the fall: A foliar pyrethroid insecticide that quickly kill adult psyllids and immature psyllids (nymphs) the material comes in direct contact with. Followed by a systemic (ground drench application) insecticide to provide sustained control of adults, nymphs and young that hatch from eggs once they pierce the leaves to feed. These combination treatments are believed to provide effective protection of trees against the psyllid for 9 to 12 months, with no additional treatments needed for the year.

36 How Can You Help? Inside the 400 M Buffer: Volunteer for the CDFA residential treatments. No cost. Only twice a year. Licensed certified applicators. Monitored by CAC. Most effective control option. No honeybee losses connected to CDFA treatments. Opting out of the CDFA treatments will: Force CDFA to abandon residential treatments. Growers lose the added layer of protection. Growers lose incentive to treat. Commercial citrus at risk. California will be the next Florida.

37 How You Can Help If you are outside of the 400 M Buffer: UC IPM Website: How to look for ACP. What to do if you find it. Hire a landscape pest control professional. Do it yourself.

38 UC IPM Home Gardener Treatment Control Getting Started

39 Home Gardener Treatment Control Treat only if your tree has ACP. Always follow label instructions. Only apply materials to host plants of psyllids (citrus). Cover foliage thoroughly when spraying, including undersides of leaves. Avoid using insecticides during blooming periods to limit impacts on bees.

40 UC IPM Home Gardener Treatment Control

41 UC IPM Home Gardener Treatment Materials Recommended by UCIPM: only apply when psyllids are present. Read the Entire Label before applying. 1. Sevin Active ingredient: Carbaryl. Harmful if swallowed, absorbed through the skin, inhaled or if in eyes. Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants, waterproof gloves, shoes plus socks. Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues. Do not apply to blooming trees. 2. Malathion Highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues. Harmful if swallowed, absorbed through the skin, inhaled or if in eyes. Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants, waterproof gloves, shoes plus socks, Do not apply to blooming trees.

42 UC IPM Home Gardener Treatment 1. Horticultural Oil Oils kill primarily by smothering insects. Moderately toxic to bees. Apply only late evening, night or early morning when bees are not active. Apply every 7 to 10 days. 1. All Seasons, Bonide, Master Nursery Pest Fighter, Monterey, Ortho Volck Oil 2. Neem Oil A naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree. Moderately toxic to bees. Apply only late evening, night or early morning when bees are not active. Apply every 7 to 10 days. Bon-Neem II, Bonide, Garden Safe, Green Light. 3. Insecticidal Soap Only kills insects it comes in direct contact with at the time of application. No residual activity. Apply at anytime with reasonable safety for bees. Complete kill of psyllids is unlikely. Combine with natural enemies.

43 UC IPM Home Gardener Treatment Because of the great threat ACP poses to both backyard and commercial citrus and the urgency of containing the pest, many of the products used for its control are more toxic than those suggested for other pests in garden IPM programs. Homeowner monitoring of citrus trees for symptoms of HLB and the presence of ACP is critical for early detection and management of the disease.

44 The Future of California Citrus Whether you are inside or outside a quarantine area, it is very important to assist with the effort to detect and manage ACP. Your efforts will reduce the potential for this psyllid to spread HLB and will provide more time for scientists to work on finding a cure for the disease. For maps and information about the quarantine areas, see the CDFA Web site

45 Thank You!