To prevent Asian citrus psyllid populations from developing on fall citrus leaf flush in Kern County, the San Joaquin Valley ACP/HLB Task Force is recommending growers with citrus blocks east and south of Bakersfield make a soil-applied imidacloprid treatment at some point during mid-August through mid-September.
Over the past several years, ACP trap finds in Kern County have usually occurred in the fall – starting in September and peaking in October. The San Joaquin Valley ACP/HLB Task Force has been tracking and analyzing ACP detections to date in Kern County and believes a soil-applied imidacloprid treatment
will help mitigate and suppress this historical increase in the fall ACP population.
By making this late summer/early fall treatment, growers will greatly lower both the ACP population and risk of HLB transmission, both of which are extremely important in light of the significant level of HLB-positive citrus trees in the counties just south of the Central Valley. In order to protect our citrus from HLB, it is extremely important to keep ACP populations as low as possible.
Growers with citrus blocks east and south of Bakersfield should:
- Treat all of your citrus blocks, including non-bearing trees, located east and south of Bakersfield with imidacloprid (Admire Pro, generic imidacloprid 2F or 4F, etc.).
- Make the application sometime between mid-August and mid-September.
- Read and follow all label instructions. Read the University of California’s recommendations here: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r107304411.html.
- Submit your Pesticide Use Report to the county electronically if possible. If you cannot send electronically, send a copy of the original PUR directly to Kern County grower liaison Judy Zaninovich at jsleslie@msn.com.
Questions? Contact Judy Zaninovich at jsleslie@msn.com or 559-730-8691.