Aid in sustaining long-term ACP control efforts in the commercial citrus production counties of texas and to ensure the presence of citrus canker does not become prevalent in commercial citrus

This Cooperative Agreement award from the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care Federal Grant Program (CFDA 10.025) provides $789,193 to the Texas Citrus Pest & Disease Management Corp Inc. to support efforts to sustain long-term Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) control and prevent the spread of citrus canker in the commercial citrus production counties of Texas.

The key products and services to be delivered include year-round grove monitoring for psyllid populations, geospatial mapping of pest and disease findings, coordinating synchronized pesticide treatments, and conducting extensive educational outreach to growers, residents, and other stakeholders. The outreach program aims to inform the public on quarantines, treatment options, and reporting procedures related to ACP, huanglongbing disease, and citrus canker. Activities will involve distributing informational materials, maintaining a website and social media presence, and participating in local events to directly engage with the community. The overall goal is to reduce the risk of ACP spreading huanglongbing disease and citrus canker, thereby benefitting the entire Texas citrus industry, domestic and export markets.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to aid in sustaining long-term ACP control efforts in the commercial citrus production counties of texas and to ensure the presence of citrus canker does not become prevalent in commercial citrus. The area-wide control program is a voluntary, grower-driven effort in which all treatment-related costs are paid by the growers. And the primary objective of the education and outreach program is to conduct outreach to provide dooryard citrus tree owners with pest and disease information as well as tree care information and directives on supporting the industry by reporting infected trees. This is to be accomplished in the most efficacious, least expensive way possible and with minimal environmental impacts.

Activities

Monitor groves year-round throughout the lower RIO grande valley production area for psyllid populations.provide geospatial mapping for psyllid populations, canker positives and HLB positive finds within grower neighborhoods.coordinate psyllid control activities so that treatments are conducted within a specific window to ensure the lowest number of ACP over the winter. Provide residents and growers with information regarding quarantines, treatment options and regulations of plant and fruit movement through informational materials, targeted direct mail-outs, website, social media, and media.attend, present, speak one-on-one with residents and distribute materials at local events including: all valley RV show, winter texan expo, fiesta fun fair, welcome home winter texan events, RGV home and garden show and other large events in the RGV on an as needed basis for high-risk, target areas.continue the residential "save our citrus" campaign. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the risk of ACP spreading HLB will be greatly reduced by the application of ACP control measures. Each grower will be taking ownership of treatment of their groves and reducing the risk of the spread to their neighbors. Slowing the spread of both HLB and citrus canker will be to reach out to smaller growers, homeowners, winter texan parks, winter texans, lawn care companies and nurseries to educate them on the importance of psyllid control, citrus canker detection and how to successfully implement these strategies. Informational materials, website content, and social media outreach results in residents being informed of these pest and disease issues, how they affect both residents and the industry, how they can treat trees and how to report a suspected infected tree. The benefit of having residents educated and involved is increased reduction of ACP through treatments and biological control efforts and removal of positive citrus canker trees.one-on-one outreach at local events is a highly effective way of relating these important messages to residents and results in greater residential involvement and the opportunity for residents to immediately sign up for industry follow-up for their tree(s).the "save our citrus" campaign will result in greater residential involvement and encourage residents to take ownership and action of saving valley citrus trees. This program is designed to create and continue a movement among community groups and schools to further spread the message and create an initiative to properly care for citrus trees and report suspect trees.intended beneficiary(IES): the entire nursey, fruit, and juice industry in texas and all the food chain that benefits from said industry to include the domestic retail, export and trade market. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: n/a