Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced the delivery of over $120 million in federal funds to help U.S. citrus growers, including those in the Rio Grande Valley. The funds, which have been included in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations bill, will offer support to citrus farmers in numerous ways.

To help Rio Grande Valley farmers battle the scourge of Citrus Greening Disease, Congressman Cuellar advocated for and secured over $65 million for citrus health and the Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group operated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). He was also able to help secure over $59 million for fruit fly exclusion and detection.

The U.S. citrus industry has an economic footprint of $11 billion; however, due to Citrus Greening Disease and fruit flies, the industry has faced steep damages and economic losses. All of the citrus growing counties in Texas are under quarantine, and the State of Florida has seen a reduction in citrus production of over 60% since 2007. In addition, the Asian Citrus Psyllid, the vector of the Greening Disease, has been found in California.

“I would like to thank my fellow Appropriators, Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Bishop, and colleagues from Texas for their leadership and help in acquiring this essential funding,” said Congressman Cuellar.

“Our citrus growers contribute greatly to the economy of the Rio Grande Valley, and they deserve our assistance in the face of threats to their vitality,” Congressman Cuellar said. “The $59.5 million worth of funding I have helped secure for citrus growers through fruit fly eradication efforts will be a great help to our farmers. We are making good progress toward correcting the damage done by threats like the incurable citrus greening disease, which has caused drastic reductions in citrus production in recent years.”

Dale Murden of Texas Citrus Mutual, a nonprofit trade association representing Texas citrus growers, owns a citrus grove in the Rio Grande Valley and has personally seen the effects of citrus diseases like citrus greening since it was first positively identified in the Valley in 2008.

“Congressman Cuellar has long supported agriculture and the United States and Texas Citrus Industries,” Mr. Murden said. “Can you imagine the Rio Grande Valley without citrus trees? Because, that is what could happen if we do not stay on top of this issue.  We cannot thank Congressman Cuellar enough for his support and his bipartisan approach to problem-solving.”

More information regarding Fruit Flies

The Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection Programs protect the health and value of American agricultural resources threatened by the establishment of exotic fruit fly populations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS is concerned with the risk of the northward spread of exotic fruit fly species into the United States via Mexico. Mexico is an especially high-risk pathway due to the shared border and the large numbers of people migrating from fruit fly infested areas of Central America and Mexico to the United States.

Fruit flies spend their larval stages feeding and growing in over 400 host plants. Introduction of these pest species into the United States causes economic losses from destruction and spoiling of host commodities by larvae, costs associated with implementing control measures, and loss of market share due to restrictions on shipment of host commodities. The extensive damage and wide host range of fruit flies become obstacles to agricultural diversification and trade when pest fruit fly species become established.

Recognizing the urgency of tackling citrus greening disease

Congressman Cuellar also included language in the Agriculture appropriations bill to encourage APHIS to allocate sufficient resources to address the issue of citrus greening and directs HLB-MAC to give out resources in the best way possible to maximize the effect it can have on the disease.

In addition, he included language encouraging the continuation of good work with industry, universities, growers, and other partners to develop effective control mechanisms in the fight against citrus greening. The hope behind these working groups is to bring together relevant stakeholders, develop innovative solutions and help USDA choose good projects that will bring us closer to short-term and long-term solutions to the citrus greening problem, in addition to an eventual cure.

Within the bill, Congressman Cuellar included language commending the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on its citrus greening research efforts and to continue its cooperation with HLB-MAC. The language encourages the agency to continue working to curb the spread of the disease and enhance immunity in citrus trees as well as to work with industry, universities, growers, and other partners to develop effective ways of controlling the disease. ARS is a member of HLB-MAC.

He also included language encouraging the use of CHRP funds to partner with state departments of agriculture and industry groups to address the disease in addition to encouraging APHIS to use the funds available in the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Preventions Programs account and in the funds for CHRP to keep the citrus industry viable.

Finally, Congressman Cuellar included language that prioritizes citrus greening research projects through the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program, which was created under the 2014 farm bill, and encourages the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to work with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Advisory Board’s citrus disease subcommittee and to collaborate with HLB-MAC.

Key Agencies

APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) – arm of the United States Department of Agriculture responsible for protecting animal health, animal welfare, and plant health

CHRP (Citrus Health Response Program) – administered under APHIS, helps protect the U.S. citrus-growing industry and works on coordination between state and federal entities

HLB-MAC (Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group) – administered under APHIS; goal is to confront Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, through research efforts and coordination between state and federal regulatory agencies

ARS (Agricultural Research Service) – member of HLB-MAC that has worked on citrus greening research efforts