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Usda officials inspect valley citrus trees for deadly bacteria by akjxue@sina.com akjxue
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Usda officials inspect valley citrus trees for deadly bacteria |
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"As long as it's a good thing, it's fine with me," Perez said as a pair of USDA employees in bright yellow vests examined his orange trees. USDA started surveying the region last week to detect plants infected with citrus greening, an incurable bacterial infection that can reduce fruit production and kill trees. Though this is the third time USDA has investigated the region for citrus greening, it's the first time citrus plants at residences have been examined.
That's because agriculture experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the disease, which could devastate the region's citrus industry.
Citrus greening has never been detected in Texas, though the Asian citrus psyllid - the insect that can carry the disease - has been found in this state. Experts say the screenings are important since early detection of the disease could help mitigate its effects if it does exist here. "We continue to do the surveys as an early warning - whether or not we have citrus greening disease in citrus," said Lawrence Hawkins, a USDA spokesman.
Citrus is a $120 million-a-year industry in Texas, according to a Texas A&M University study released last year, and the overwhelming majority of that business is centered in the Rio Grande Valley. Though citrus greening isn't harmful to humans, it could hurt their livelihoods. An infection in Texas could lead to the "decline of the entire industry," according to the Texas A&M report.
Citrus industry leaders are deeply concerned about the threat of the disease, said Ray Prewett, president of Texas Citrus Mutual, an association of area citrus growers. "They are really wondering if five or seven years from now they'll have much, if any, commercial citrus industry in Florida," Prewett said. "It's that severe."
Citrus greening is believed to have originated in China in the late 1800s. It was first discovered within the United States in Florida in 2005. It's unclear how it made its way stateside.
The USDA hosted a summit on the disease last year and federal officials have shown a renewed interested in the disease in recent weeks. About a month ago, infected plants were found in southern Louisiana. That was the first time the disease has been spotted in the United States outside of Florida. And the psyllid insects were spotted north of San Diego - the first time they had been seen in California - just last month. The USDA has not determined whether the bugs were infected. I am China Computer Parts writer, reports some information about kawasaki kx250 , auto transport quotes.
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