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Spraying encouraged

Daytona Beach News Journal – February 7, 2011

Volusia County citrus growers, both commercial and even a homeowner with a lone tree, are encouraged to spray their trees before mid-February to help reduce the number of Asian Citrus Psyllids, the insect causing citrus greening.

The small insect and the disease it spreads are causing severe damage to citrus trees. They were first found in the state in 1998 and have spread to all 36 Florida citrus-growing counties, including Volusia County.

In response to the threat, local growers, with the help of the University of Florida extension service, created a citrus health management area. Officials are encouraging an organized spraying of trees before Feb. 14 to reduce the number of insects and prevent spreading of the disease.

They also want growers to use similar pyrethroid sprays and are recommending the products Danitol or Mustang .

The February spraying will kill off the psyllids that may have survived the November spraying and the cold.

For more information, call Brent Jeanesonne at the agricultural extension office in DeLand at 386 822-5778 or go online to flchma.org.

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