More than $1.5 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be used to expand bio-control efforts to fight Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening.
USDA has signed cooperative agreements with Texas through the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation, as well as Florida and California agencies, to coordinate the fight against citrus greening. Together, these agencies will increase the production of the parasitic wasp known to control the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the pest that spreads citrus greening in citrus trees.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also announced the appointment of three individuals—two from Florida and one from California—to serve on the Citrus Disease Subcommittee. The 9-member subcommittee consists of five Florida representatives, three California or Arizona representatives and one Texas representative, according to the USDA. The subcommittee hosts its first meeting May 19-20.