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The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Arizona Department of Agriculture $464,410 on January 1, 2026, under a Cooperative Agreement (AP26PPQFO000C088) to conduct the 2026 Arizona Citrus Health Survey.

The recipient will conduct a comprehensive, statewide detection survey for Citrus Greening Disease and visual surveys for citrus diseases and pests of concern not known to occur in Arizona, including Citrus Leprosis, Citrus Canker, Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, Citrus Black Spot, Citrus Long-Horned Beetle, Pink Hibiscus Mealybug, and Fruit-Piercing Moth. The survey covers approximately 12,000 acres of commercial citrus in Maricopa and Yuma Counties, residential areas buffering commercial groves, wholesale and retail nurseries, packing facilities, and Arizona Clean Citrus Stock Program nurseries. Samples will be sent to Texas A&M for initial analysis and subsequently to a new Arizona University laboratory for final determination of target pest presence or absence. The work will include authorized monitoring of commercial citrus acreage for local growers and operation of Citrus Health Management Areas to trigger Asian Citrus Psyllid control activities. Deliverables include determination of Citrus Greening presence or absence in host plants and live Asian Citrus Psyllid collected statewide, visual survey results, and maintenance of domestic and international market access for Arizona's citrus fruit and nursery stock.

Performance extends from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, with work performed in Arizona.

Purpose

The purpose of the 2026 arizona citrus health survey will be to continue a comprehensive, statewide citrus greening disease (HLB) detection survey within the state (based, in part, on a USDA-aphis risk assessment model for arizona), visually survey for citrus diseases and pests of concern in commercial and residential citrus not known to occur in arizona, maintaining domestic/international market access for arizona's citrus fruit and nursery stock, provide authorized monitoring of commercial citrus acreage for local growers, and citrus health management areas (chma's) to trigger asian citrus psyllid (ACP) control activities 2.

Activities

Included in the 2026 plan is the on-going survey of nearly 12,000 acres of commercial citrus, residential areas buffering commercial groves, wholesale and retail nurseries and packing facilities. In addition, nurseries in the arizona clean citrus stock program will continue to be sampled for HLB at aphis established protocol levels. In 2026, samples will be sent to texas am for final determination of presence / absence of target pests and once certified the new AZ university lab. HLB surveys will be focused on maricopa and yuma counties of arizona. Additionally, the 2026 survey proposal will continue a secondary focus of visual surveys for citrus diseases and pests not known to occur in arizona. 3. Deliverables and expected outcomes: deliverables: the determination of the presence or absence of citrus greening in host plants and live ACP collected statewide based, in part, on the USDA-aphis risk model assessments. Visual surveys for citrus diseases and pests known not to occur in arizona (citrus leprosis, citrus canker, citrus variegated chlorosis, citrus black spot, citrus long-horned beetle, pink hibiscus mealybug and fruit-piercing moth, for instance). Continued domestic/ international market access for citrus fruit and nursery stock. Commercial grove and high-risk nursery trapping to determine control triggers for local growers, chma's and nurseries to initiate ACP control activities. Outreach and education through workshops and related events, as well as social media outlets. Updated staff training on the survey, detection and response of dangerous citrus diseases and pests. Expected outcomes / results: early detection and subsequent mitigation of diseases and pests will minimize the threat to the industry, reduce eradication costs and facilitate the continuation of commerce. This will be accomplished by a unified approach to any confirmed detection of HLB in the state. 4. Intended beneficiary(IES): commercial citrus growers, in protecting arizona citrus from citrus disease and other pests. Residential citizens who have landscape citrus, grown throughout arizona. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none. Financials: personnel = $176,484; fringe = $70,594; travel = $47,712; equipment = $10,300; supplies = $32,000; other (sample shipments & analysis, etc.) = $127,320