United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $1.5 million in funding to expand biocontrol
efforts to fight Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening.
This action is the first designation of funds by the Huanglongbing Multiagency Coordination Group (HLB MAC Group) since it was established by Vilsack in December.
The funds will enable USDA to sign cooperative agreements with Florida (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services), Texas (Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation), and California (Citrus Research Board and California Department of Food and Agriculture) to coordinate the fight against citrus greening. These joint efforts will significantly increase the production of the parasitic wasp known to control populations of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the pest that spreads citrus greening in citrus trees.
Florida, Texas, and California have developed biocontrol expansion plans that factor in regional elements to quickly bolster biocontrol production and release. This will expand the ability to control the ACP on a larger scale, especially in urban areas where citrus trees grow in yards as well as organic orchards.
Secretary Vilsack created the HLB MAC Group last December to foster greater coordination among federal and state agencies in responding to citrus greening. The Group includes representatives from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), as well as State departments of agriculture and the citrus industry. The HLB MAC Group serves to coordinate and prioritize Federal research with industry's efforts to complement and fill research gaps, reduce unnecessary duplication, speed progress, and more quickly provide practical tools for citrus growers to use.
Since 2006, the USDA has cumulatively invested more than $300 million on research efforts and actions associated with citrus health and combating citrus greening.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also announced the appointment of three individuals to serve on the Citrus Disease Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board's Specialty Crop Committee.
The following members have been appointed to a 3-year term to expire on September 30, 2016:
- David F. Howard, Vice President, Graves Brothers Company in Vero Beach, Florida;
- Matthew McLean, CEO and Founder of Uncle Matt's Organics in Clermont, Florida; and
- Justin D. Brown, Vice President and General Manager, D Bar J Orchards, Inc. in Orange Grove, California.
The Agricultural Act of 2014 formally codified the Citrus Disease Subcommittee, which is composed of nine members and operates under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area.
Each of the nine Citrus Disease Subcommittee members must be a producer of citrus from Florida (five representatives), California or Arizona (three representatives), or Texas (one representative). Each member serves a 2- to 3-year appointment. Terms for members overlap so that approximately one-third of the Subcommittee is replaced and/or reappointed each year.
The Citrus Disease Subcommittee advises the Secretary of Agriculture on citrus research, extension, and development needs, engages in regular consultation and collaboration with USDA, and provides recommendations for research and extension activities related to citrus disease.