CRDF Implementing Greening Research Plan
The CRDF set up a subcommittee to explore creating Citrus Health Management Areas to impede the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB. The move follows the number one recommendation by the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council (NRC) for managing HLB. In March, the NRC issued a full list of 23 recommendations. The CRDF Board of Directors endorsed the NRC’s plan at its April meeting after reporting that many of the recommendations are already being implemented by the Florida citrus
industry.
In approving the recommendations, the CRDF Board said it recognizes the NRC strategy will help preserve significant citrus acreage, slow the spread of HLB and potentially help facilitate adoption of new technologies. A complete list of those recommendations can be found at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12880.
The CRDF’s sub-committee will work to encourage growers to voluntarily form citrus health management areas. The CRDF recognizes that the creation of the citrus health management areas should be initiated by interested growers and that they cannot be
mandated. The next step for the sub-committee is to establish a team of experts that can assist growers who want to set up a citrus health management area. The team, in conjunction with regional grower associations and extension agents, will provide growers with tools and information to help them delineate the geography, decide which materials to use and coordinate management practices. The CRDF sub-committee includes: Jerry Newlin, Chairman, Tom Jerkins, Bobby Barben, Ben McLean III, and Wayne
Simmons. The sub-committee will hold an organizational meeting on May 25th in Lake Alfred.