Bayer and California Citrus Mutual Team Up to Help Protect California's Citrus Industry from Citrus Greening
Abandoned Citrus Tree (ACT) Removal Initiative to Help Remove Abandoned Trees
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Citrus matters to California's $2.4 billion citrus industry. Bayer and California Citrus Mutual (CCM) have teamed up to help protect California's commercial citrus industry from the deadly Asian citrus psyllid through the Abandoned Citrus Tree (ACT) removal program.
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) vectors the deadly Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, commonly known as citrus greening disease. The ACT removal program allows growers to identify abandoned trees that could threaten their groves.
Asian citrus psyllid is a formidable threat to the industry. Even under the best insect-management programs in commercial groves, the pest moves readily from residential areas to commercial farming operations and then from one grove to another. The psyllids feed on the leaves and stems of citrus trees, which infects them with the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus that causes HLB. Infected trees rapidly decline in health, produce inedible fruit and usually die within 2 to 5 years. HLB is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure.
One critical line of defense is to monitor trees in residential areas that neighbor commercial groves. Through the ACT program, CCM works with growers, government officials and local residents to review and agree to the removal of trees that are not being properly managed and pose a threat to harbor ACP and spread HLB.
"We see this as an important partnership with homeowners and the agricultural community to help preserve the integrity and health of the mutual environment we share," says Steve Olson, Bayer citrus crop lead. "The Asian citrus psyllid has wreaked havoc on the Florida citrus industry and has spread to the southwest and western states at an alarming rate. We need residential tree owners to learn about this threat and partner with commercial growers to save California citrus."
Bayer and CCM joined forces in 2015 to create #CitrusMatters, a campaign aimed at creating awareness for CA homeowners to increase understanding about the devastating disease. Citrus Matters made a donation in 2015 to help fund research at Cal Poly Pomona focused on the disease.
Growers and homeowners are encouraged to share the hashtag #CitrusMatters to help continue the effort. The Citrus Matters website (CitrusMatters.us) is an informational resource for growers and homeowners. Visitors can identify an area for potential tree removal, get the latest news about citrus greening, find sharable images to use on social media, etc.
Bayer offers a portfolio of insecticide solutions to help growers proactively prevent Asian citrus psyllid infestations. They include Movento®, Sivanto®, Admire® Pro and Baythroid® XL.
For more information about #CitrusMatters or Citrus Greening, visit www.CitrusMatters.us or www.CACitrusMutual.com.
Bayer is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.cropscience.bayer.us.
Visit the Bayer Connect - Social Hub for social media, recent news, blog posts, videos and more from Crop Science, a division of Bayer.
Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.
Find more information at www.cropscience.bayer.us.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
©2016 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label directions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Admire, Baythroid, Movento, and Sivanto are registered trademarks of Bayer. Not all products are registered in all states. Baythroid XL is a Restricted Use Pesticide.
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SOURCE Bayer Corporation
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