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 U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded Texas Citrus Pest & Disease Management Corp Inc. a $789,193 Cooperative Agreement under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. The award funds a voluntary, grower-driven area-wide control program targeting Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and citrus disease management in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley commercial citrus production region. Primary deliverables include year-round grove monitoring for ACP populations, geospatial mapping of psyllid populations and disease detections, and coordinated psyllid control activities conducted within established treatment windows in September, November-December, and January-February.

The agreement also funds an education and outreach program designed to inform dooryard citrus tree owners, smaller growers, homeowners, winter residents, lawn care companies, and nurseries about pest and disease management strategies. Expected outcomes include reduced risk of ACP-spread huanglongbing disease and citrus canker, increased grower ownership of grove treatment responsibilities, and widespread community awareness through informational materials, website content, and social media campaigns. All treatment-related costs for the control program are borne by participating growers, with the initiative structured to achieve disease management objectives in the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner possible.

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 three-week window before (september), at the beginning (mid-november through mid-december) and at the end (mid-january through mid-february) of the dormant season. 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. 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