Scout and monitor previously established groves for growth and productivity as asian citrus psyllid, the vector of citrus greening, continues to affect the california citrus industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $485,408 cooperative agreement to the State of California Department of Food & Agriculture Citrus Research Board on October 1, 2025, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The recipient scouts and monitors previously established California citrus groves for growth and productivity as Asian citrus psyllid, the vector of citrus greening, continues to affect the industry. Deliverables include psyllid data collection, monthly grove reports to growers, and a final report to APHIS. Growers use the psyllid data to inform their management strategies. The Imperial County Citrus Pest Control District executes detector dog surveys as a sub-recipient, and Aerobotics performs drone-facilitated measurements of grove health. California citrus growers and the broader industry are primary beneficiaries, with knowledge also shared to stakeholders and researchers in other citrus-producing states through HLB MAC information channels.

Performance occurs in California with a completion date of June 30, 2026.

The recipient will scout current sites and undertake psyllid data collection, which growers use to influence their management strategies. Deliverables include data contributions, monthly grove reports to growers, and a final report to aphis. Subcontracts to imperial county citrus pest control district and aerobotics will be executed for detector DOG surveys and drone-facilitated measurements of grove health, respectively. California citrus growers and the broader industry are the primary beneficiaries of these results, but stakeholders and researchers from other citrus producing states will also benefit from knowledge shared through HLB MAC information channels.