GWSS Committee Update - January 2002

Latest efforts are focused on developing a Pilot Project in Ventura County that is directed to finding and implementing methods to manage the pest presence and impact. Ventura County is the so-called "Ground Zero" for the pest infestation as it has over 30,000 acres of active citrus in production.

We are working with CDFA and USDA to develop and fund a proposal. Timing for the greatest impact this year depends on a narrow window of time this winter and spring to get any treatment protocol in place so that the first generation of egg laying would be disrupted. Getting this in place at this time is not highly likely without significant help from the state and federal agencies..

Approved treatment status remains the same. Testing is being done through the CDFA sponsored research teams but nothing will happen until later this year because of the life cycle of the insect. We continue to press CDFA on this issue and recently they requested a list of products that we would like to see tested. Apparently they are adding other efforts to get some answers.

There continue to be differences in interpretation by destination counties about rules for accepting and rejecting shipments. These will be, once again, brought to CDFA for clarification,

The next Nursery Sub-committee meeting will be held in February. The next Advisory Task Force (state) meeting is February 11, 2002 at CDFA headquarters in Sacramento.