In december 2023, USDA began recognizing alabama as a commercially citrus producing state

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $158,517 Cooperative Agreement to the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries on May 1, 2026, under the Citrus Health Response Program to protect Alabama's growing citrus industry through disease surveillance and pest management.

The recipient will survey commercial and residential citrus across Alabama for state and federally regulated citrus diseases—including citrus greening, citrus canker, citrus black spot, and sweet orange scab—in areas where these diseases have not yet been detected. The agreement also requires monitoring of sites where positive detections were identified and removed to prevent further disease spread. Deliverables include determining whether citrus black spot has been introduced into the state, continuing surveillance for citrus greening, citrus canker, and sweet orange scab in unaffected areas, releasing parasitoid wasps in areas where Asian citrus psyllid is established, and conducting regulatory actions to prevent artificial spread of citrus pests and diseases from infested to non-infested areas.

The period of performance runs from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Work is performed in Alabama. The beneficiaries include the citrus industry, stakeholders, citizens, and homeowners, with economic impact on the state's agricultural marketing and commodity movement capabilities.

Activities

The main objective of the citrus health response program is to protect alabama's growing citrus industry through surveying commercial and residential citrus for state and federally regulated citrus diseases and anything new that may arise, for early detection and mitigation purposes. Deliverables and expected outcomes: continue to monitor for citrus greening, citrus canker, and sweet orange scab in areas the diseases have not been detected. Determine if citrus black spot has been introduced into the state. Release of parasitoid wasps in areas ACP is known to be established. To prevent the artificial spread of citrus pests and diseases from infested areas to non-infested areas through regulatory actions and response to harmful or economically significant plant pests and weeds. Intended beneficiary(IES): citrus industry, stakeholders, citizens & home owners by conducting surveys and inspections to detect and appraise infestations, eradication and control activities, and carry out regulatory actions to prevent interstate spread of infestations and disease this is a crucial function of this project which has an economic impact on the state, improves the quality of life for alabama and facilitates the growing citrus industry in marketing and movement of their commodities and protects the citrus industry as a whole within the national citrus health response program. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: auburn university