HLB creep continues north

Sadly, two citrus trees in Riverside have tested positive for huanglongbing (HLB) disease this summer. It’s the first cases of HLB, or greening disease, found in a major citrus-producing county and the most northern in California. The disease kills trees and has no cure.

Understandably the news is terrifying to anyone in the citrus industry.

Riverside is considered the birthplace of citrus in California. Riverside County declared a state of emergency as result of the finds from trees in residential neighborhoods.

In 2015, Tulare County was the No. 1 largest agricultural producing county in the nation. Oranges, navels and Valencias, was third on its top 10 crop list at $819 million.

An HLB outbreak in Tulare County would be devastating to the economy.

Aggressive efforts are underway in Riverside to curb the threat.

The trees have been removed and agriculture officials are pushing forward with state HLB detection protocol. Host plants in a 800-meter perimeter around the site will be treated for Asician citrus psyllids. The second tree was found during an inspection of trees within the 800 meters.

The psyllids are a tiny insect no bigger than a grain of rice that feeds on citrus leaves and stems and can infect the trees with a bacteria that causes HLB.

A 5-mile quarantine will be set up around the site — no host plant materials will be allowed to leave the designated area.

Asian citrus psyllids have been found in Tulare County, but HLB has not.

Psyllid management areas in Tulare County are working with growers to prevent ACP from getting a foothold.

The county is doing the right thing by taking an aggressive approach toward the psyllid, believing a strong offense is a good defense.