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| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana agriculture officials are encouraging Louisiana growers to be diligent in their
fight against the latest pest threatening the state’s citrus crop.
An insect called the Asian citrus psyllid was discovered in late May in
a lime tree in Algiers. The pest is mottled brown and sucks the sap
out of tree leaves, resulting in leaf curling. Sooty mold then develops
on the leaves from the honeydew produced by the psyllid. The major
threat is the bacterial condition called “citrus greening” disease.
Dr. Mike Strain, Louisiana commissioner of agriculture and forestry,
speaking at the 86th annual Farm Bureau convention here, said his
office is working with other farming agencies to eliminate this pest from
the state.
“We are doing tests to determine where it came from,” Strain said during
the Farm Bureau’s 86th annual meeting here Saturday. “We’re working
to contain the pest and prevent it from spreading and causing more
damage.”
Strain encouraged growers to watch for signs of the greening disease,
which can be brought on by the psyllid. Symptoms of the disease include
yellowing of the leaf midrib and veins, and a mottled appearance of the
leaf. Seeds are aborted in the small, misshapen fruit, creating a bitter
taste.
Florida is the only other state that has the greening disease, Strain said.
Texas also has discovered the Asian citrus psyllid among its citrus trees,
but so far there is no sign of the greening disease there.
“We have to realize this pest is here and we are going to deal with it,”
he said. “By working together, we can eliminate it and save our citrus
crop. If we don’t take care of this now, the state’s citrus fruit crop eventually
will turn bad.”
The department of agriculture and forestry is working with the LSU AgCenter in an effort to eliminate the
psyllid. Dr. Natalie Hummel, an LSU AgCenter entomologist, said the pest can be managed by controlling
movement of citrus trees and through best management practices.
“Now that the disease has been found we need to take action to control the psyllid in nursery production,
commercial groves and backyard plantings,” Hummel said.
Pesticides are not currently available for backyard plantings of citrus trees.
“We are in the process of trying to get some additional pesticides approved for use by homeowners,”
Hummel said.
APHIS, the federal animal-plant health inspection service, and LDAF officials are in the process of scouting
citrus areas of Louisiana for further signs of the psyllid and the disease, Stain said. Citrus is a $6 million
industry in Louisiana.
fight against the latest pest threatening the state’s citrus crop.
An insect called the Asian citrus psyllid was discovered in late May in
a lime tree in Algiers. The pest is mottled brown and sucks the sap
out of tree leaves, resulting in leaf curling. Sooty mold then develops
on the leaves from the honeydew produced by the psyllid. The major
threat is the bacterial condition called “citrus greening” disease.
Dr. Mike Strain, Louisiana commissioner of agriculture and forestry,
speaking at the 86th annual Farm Bureau convention here, said his
office is working with other farming agencies to eliminate this pest from
the state.
“We are doing tests to determine where it came from,” Strain said during
the Farm Bureau’s 86th annual meeting here Saturday. “We’re working
to contain the pest and prevent it from spreading and causing more
damage.”
Strain encouraged growers to watch for signs of the greening disease,
which can be brought on by the psyllid. Symptoms of the disease include
yellowing of the leaf midrib and veins, and a mottled appearance of the
leaf. Seeds are aborted in the small, misshapen fruit, creating a bitter
taste.
Florida is the only other state that has the greening disease, Strain said.
Texas also has discovered the Asian citrus psyllid among its citrus trees,
but so far there is no sign of the greening disease there.
“We have to realize this pest is here and we are going to deal with it,”
he said. “By working together, we can eliminate it and save our citrus
crop. If we don’t take care of this now, the state’s citrus fruit crop eventually
will turn bad.”
The department of agriculture and forestry is working with the LSU AgCenter in an effort to eliminate the
psyllid. Dr. Natalie Hummel, an LSU AgCenter entomologist, said the pest can be managed by controlling
movement of citrus trees and through best management practices.
“Now that the disease has been found we need to take action to control the psyllid in nursery production,
commercial groves and backyard plantings,” Hummel said.
Pesticides are not currently available for backyard plantings of citrus trees.
“We are in the process of trying to get some additional pesticides approved for use by homeowners,”
Hummel said.
APHIS, the federal animal-plant health inspection service, and LDAF officials are in the process of scouting
citrus areas of Louisiana for further signs of the psyllid and the disease, Stain said. Citrus is a $6 million
industry in Louisiana.
Ag Groups Working To Contain Damage From Asian Citrus Pest
By DENISE ATTAWAY
FB News Contributing Writer
FB News Contributing Writer
| FB NEWS Photo by Bill Sherman |
| FB NEWS Photo by Bill Sherman |
DAMAGE CONTROL . Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Mike Strain, told
citrus producers his office is working with other farm agencies to eliminate
the Asian citrus psyllid from the state.
citrus producers his office is working with other farm agencies to eliminate
the Asian citrus psyllid from the state.
