See how far $5.8M goes. It goes mainly to regulatory bureaucracy, then monitoring, then education.

General formula of crop protection: To stop any disease, let us spend lots of money to pass laws and regulations to ban the disease, monitor it and tell the public about it.


USDA commits $5.8M to protect citrus crop
25-Nov-2008

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $5.8m in funding to stop the spread of Asian citrus psyllid in California.

The Asian citrus psyllid can carry citrus greening, which is one of the most devastating citrus diseases in the world.

The department said it was important to stop the spread of this now in California before it seriously damages citrus production there.

The funds will be used for intensive surveillance for Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening disease. It will also support quarantine regulations, as well as outreach and education about the pest to California's nursery owners, the citrus industry and the public.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed California's first detection of Asian citrus psyllid in San Diego County on September 2.

It is also working with Imperial County, Texas and Louisiana due to the presence of the pest there, and with officials in Mexico.