<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ventura County, CA-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">2.28.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales has stated he will pressure property owners and growers of commercial citrus to chemically treat orchards near findings of the Asian citrus psyllid.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Non-compliant commercial growers could face pesticide applications bills, penalty fees, possible leans on properties, and even the potential loss of property.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/psyllidaebody022713.jpg" alt="Images022713" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The measures are aimed at several growers who are not complying with the state’s recommended plan to control Ventura County’s infestation of the Asian citrus psyllid.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Gonzales told an audience of about 190 at a public meeting this week that he will use his legal authority under the state’s food and agriculture code if talking to the parties proves ineffective and he disagrees with their reasons for not spraying.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“This is very serious,” Gonzales said. “This is what has to happen in order to protect the citrus industry here in Ventura County.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Organic citrus growers can keep their organic certification while complying with the commissioner’s mandate, Gonzales said, because the state has declared an emergency situation regarding the psyllid threat. However, they will not be able to sell the treated crop as organic</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>California’s Department of Food and Agriculture sprays all trees that are possible hosts to the psyllid on residential properties within 800 meters of where the insect has been found. But commercial growers, defined by the state as those with 25 trees or more, are strongly urged to treat their orchards within that zone, and nearly all have, Gonzales said.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Robert Leavitt, the food and agriculture department’s director of plant health and pest prevention services, also spoke Tuesday. He said Gonzales has full authority, “and we fully support him.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The fight against the psyllid has been focused on eradicating the invasive insects before they establish populations in areas and infect citrus trees with bacteria they can carry that kill trees via huanglongbing disease. That is the common pattern, scientists say, and the disease has no cure.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In Ventura County, findings of the tiny pest, which has seriously damaged Florida’s citrus industry, have exploded since September. Breeding populations have established themselves in Fillmore, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, according to the Farm Bureau of Ventura County. Insects have been found in all cities except Ojai and Port Hueneme.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Population increases have in most cases preceded the arrival of huanglongbing, according to experts. In the Hacienda Heights section of Los Angeles County, the disease was discovered in an infected tree in March, and a thriving population was found in subsequent trappings. No other cases of the deadly disease have been found since.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The state has quarantined Ventura County and six other counties to prevent the movement, but scientists say the wind and people moving the items along highways are the main reasons behind the surging populations.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">At the meeting, Gonzales said his intention to issue abatement orders was on behalf of growers, and his call for their support prompted applause.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“It’s an incredibly smart move,” said Kevin Miskel, a pilot with Aspen Helicopters in Oxnard, which sprays pesticides by the air.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">John Krist, CEO of the county’s farm bureau, said Gonzales’ meeting was “a hopeful sign” that the commissioner was moving closer to requiring the noncompliant growers to spray their orchards.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/feb/26/citrus-growers-might-face-penalties-for-refusing/" target="_new">Ventura Psyllid Update</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
