Opinion: Spike in pest detections threatens Kern County’s citrus

The Bakersfield Record  –

A recent surge of nearly 75 Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) detections in Kern County has growers and residents concerned about the threat of a fatal plant disease, Huanglongbing (HLB), that can be spread by the invasive pest.  HLB spread by psyllids devastated Florida’s citrus farms before surfacing eight years ago in Southern California.  The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Division of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office are in Kern County to notify industry members and residents, visually inspect citrus trees and survey, trap and test psyllids found in the area.