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Of that funding about $15 million comes from a mandatory nine-cent per carton assessment of citrus growers, she said. An additional $10 million is sent to the program from the USDA. Currently no state funding is spent on the program.
The goal is to keep psyllid traps in commercial groves and on residential citrus year-round with regular inspections of the traps. Houtby said traps are typically pulled in the winter months because of funding issues.
CCM is currently working with California Sen. Richard D. Roth, D-Riverside, on legislation to increase the mandatory assessment to 12 cents. Included in the bill is a request for an additional $5 million from the state General Fund for the state’s citrus program.
The $5 million request is a second attempt by the California citrus industry to augment citrus disease and prevention program funding. Legislation was introduced in 2013 and sailed through both sides of the state legislature with unanimous support before being vetoed by Gov. Edmund Brown, Jr.
