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California quarantines expand to Santa Clara and Fresno counties

Asian citrus psyllid continues to be detected

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the small sap-sucking pest that’s only one of two known carriers of citrus greening disease continues to wreak havoc on California and its crops as the quarantine zone within the state keeps growing.

A section of Fresno County that borders Tulare County is now under quarantine. The new quarantine map for Fresno County includes E Kings Canyon Road to the north, the Fresno County Boundary Line on the south, S Alta Avenue in the west and a creek in the east. All of Tulare County is still under quarantine.

Parts of Santa Clara County are also under quarantine as detections of ACP were confirmed in San Jose.

These new and expanded quarantines come after ACP was initially discovered in January in California’s Madera County.

As a result, the total quarantine for the state includes Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties, with portions of Fresno, Kern, Madera, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Clara counties.

What makes ACP so lethal is that it can carry the huanglobing (HLB) disease, known as citrus greening. It’s a deadly disease if citrus plants contract it.

All citrus trees are potentially at risk of being infected with citrus greening and once they are, there’s no cure. The tree will produce bitter and misshaped fruit until the tree dies. The other carrier of HLB is the African citrus psyllid.

If fruit starts to show yellow veins, vein corking, blotchy mottle on leaves, appears misshaped and tastes bitter or salty, chances are it’s been infected by the pest.

California produces approximately 80% of tangerines and 92% of lemons in the United States. 2013’s lemon sales were over $369 million.

Join the conversation and tell us if these new quarantine zones are affecting you. What measures are you taking to secure your crops?


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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