California governor’s budget includes funds to fight HLB
California citrus growers are getting some help in the fight against huanglongbing.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2018-19 budget includes $12.5 million from the general fund dedicated to fighting huanglongbing.
The funds will be used by the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program, which is primarily funded by California citrus growers and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
The program works to contain and eradicate huanglongbing in residential areas, suppress the populations of Asian citrus psyllid and enforce regulations.
Huanglongbing is a growing concern for California citrus growers.
Nearly 700 cases of huanglongbing have been detected in California, with more than 350 detections in 2018 alone, all in urban areas of Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.
