Greening surfaces in another major grove region of Florida
Greening surfaces in another major grove region of Florida
Citrus greening disease has been discovered in Florida's Hardee County, signifying a further spread of a disease that threatens one of the state's top agricultural crops.
"The greening was found outside of Zolfo Springs in Hardee County," said Andrew Meadows, director of communications for Florida Citrus Mutual, a member organization representing citrus growers in the state. "Hardee County is Florida's sixth-largest citrus-producing county in terms of acreage. It is located just south of Polk County, the state's largest citrus-producing county."
First discovered in Florida in Miami-Dade County in September 2005, citrus greening is a tremendous threat to Florida citrus groves. The disease is carried from tree to tree by the citrus psyllid, an Asian insect species. It is nearly impossible to stop because extermination cannot kill every insect. Those that avoid insecticide contact make their way to the next tree, begin reproducing and continue their destruction. Trees cease to produce edible fruit even in the early stages of infection.
Thought to be the most serious citrus disease in the world, citrus greening is the major limiting factor for citrus production in parts of Asia and Africa. It is also a major problem in the Saudi Arabian peninsula, and it has been reportedly found in S?o Paulo, Brazil. Citrus greening has not been found in Australia or in Mediterranean countries.
The discovery in Hardee County means citrus greening is now affecting trees in four of the top five production areas in the state, which accounted for 60 percent of Florida's citrus production in 2005-06, according to federal data. Greening destroys entire trees and the fruit in a short period of time -- often from four months to a year from when the time trees are infected.
As with citrus canker -- a disease that has plagued the Florida citrus industry for the past decade -- the only known way to eradicate greening is to uproot and burn trees in the infected areas where they are found.
Mr. Meadows said that growers can manage the spread by increasing scouting at the grove level and removing infected trees. Spot spraying for the psyllid is currently underway. The citrus industry is also working to develop best management practices for greening in groves.
"There is no way to forecast how or when the disease will spread further in Hardee or other counties," said Mr. Meadows. "But the discovery there makes 24 counties in the state with confirmed cases of greening. It will certainly spread if the industry isn't diligent about keeping it in check."
The Florida Department of Agriculture is holding grower-education meetings in several areas of Florida in the coming weeks to share information about managing citrus greening.
On July 12, the USDA issued its final 2006-07 Florida orange crop report. Volumes decreased 1.3 percent to 128.9 million boxes. The decline, according to the department, is attributed to the smaller Valencia crop of 63.3 million boxes, down from 65 million boxes. Early-mids and Navels remained unchanged at 65.6 million boxes. The state's grapefruit crop also remained unchanged at 27.2 million boxes, as did Honey tangerines, which held at 2.2 million boxes.
Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, said, "As we all know, this was another challenging year for the Florida industry. The lingering effects of the hurricanes, as well as disease pressures, specifically from greening and canker, impacted the crop. But the crop size is by no means an indication of the vitality of the industry. We will continue to rebound next year, and eventually we will find a solution to the greening issue."
"The greening was found outside of Zolfo Springs in Hardee County," said Andrew Meadows, director of communications for Florida Citrus Mutual, a member organization representing citrus growers in the state. "Hardee County is Florida's sixth-largest citrus-producing county in terms of acreage. It is located just south of Polk County, the state's largest citrus-producing county."
First discovered in Florida in Miami-Dade County in September 2005, citrus greening is a tremendous threat to Florida citrus groves. The disease is carried from tree to tree by the citrus psyllid, an Asian insect species. It is nearly impossible to stop because extermination cannot kill every insect. Those that avoid insecticide contact make their way to the next tree, begin reproducing and continue their destruction. Trees cease to produce edible fruit even in the early stages of infection.
Thought to be the most serious citrus disease in the world, citrus greening is the major limiting factor for citrus production in parts of Asia and Africa. It is also a major problem in the Saudi Arabian peninsula, and it has been reportedly found in S?o Paulo, Brazil. Citrus greening has not been found in Australia or in Mediterranean countries.
The discovery in Hardee County means citrus greening is now affecting trees in four of the top five production areas in the state, which accounted for 60 percent of Florida's citrus production in 2005-06, according to federal data. Greening destroys entire trees and the fruit in a short period of time -- often from four months to a year from when the time trees are infected.
As with citrus canker -- a disease that has plagued the Florida citrus industry for the past decade -- the only known way to eradicate greening is to uproot and burn trees in the infected areas where they are found.
Mr. Meadows said that growers can manage the spread by increasing scouting at the grove level and removing infected trees. Spot spraying for the psyllid is currently underway. The citrus industry is also working to develop best management practices for greening in groves.
"There is no way to forecast how or when the disease will spread further in Hardee or other counties," said Mr. Meadows. "But the discovery there makes 24 counties in the state with confirmed cases of greening. It will certainly spread if the industry isn't diligent about keeping it in check."
The Florida Department of Agriculture is holding grower-education meetings in several areas of Florida in the coming weeks to share information about managing citrus greening.
On July 12, the USDA issued its final 2006-07 Florida orange crop report. Volumes decreased 1.3 percent to 128.9 million boxes. The decline, according to the department, is attributed to the smaller Valencia crop of 63.3 million boxes, down from 65 million boxes. Early-mids and Navels remained unchanged at 65.6 million boxes. The state's grapefruit crop also remained unchanged at 27.2 million boxes, as did Honey tangerines, which held at 2.2 million boxes.
Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, said, "As we all know, this was another challenging year for the Florida industry. The lingering effects of the hurricanes, as well as disease pressures, specifically from greening and canker, impacted the crop. But the crop size is by no means an indication of the vitality of the industry. We will continue to rebound next year, and eventually we will find a solution to the greening issue."
