Gut Feelings Important in ACP/HLB Management

Taylor Hillman Citrus, General, Tree, nut & vine crops

gut-feelings
Researchers caution that California growers need to incorporate their gut feelings when it comes to Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing control.

Important in ACP/HLB Management

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and huanglongbing (HLB) state protocol works on certainties for quarantines and tree removals. University of California Davis associate professor of plant pathology, Neil McRoberts, says growers don’t need to operate with those same standards. He says growers make decisions every day that are what they think they should do, and doing what they need to do to keep ACP and HLB out of their groves is important.

Citrus growers are all too familiar with freezing temperatures throughout the valley this time of year and McRoberts likens the ACP and HLB decision-making to something growers are doing right now with the cold temperatures. Growers run fans and drip water to battle freezing conditions that may or may not come to their orchard.