Stopping citrus pest must begin in Yuma County

It is too late to prevent the spread to the Yuma area of an insect that can be deadly to citrus trees, but the hope is that it can be stopped here and controlled.

A number of the insects, known as the Asian citrus psyllid, have been found in Yuma, Somerton and San Luis, Ariz. areas. Agriculture officials say the insect can cause a disease in citrus trees that can kill them. Millions of citrus trees have already been killed around the world by the citrus greening disease.

According to John Caravetta, associate director of the state Department of Agriculture, Arizona is the last citrus growing state in the United States to detect the insect. Its arrival has been feared for several years.

The disease has already spread in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Southern California and Mexico. And now Arizona's citrus industry is threatened.

This week a quarantine was declared for all of Yuma County west of Telegraph Pass in an attempt to put up a roadblock to the spread of the insects and the disease to the rest of the state. It will require the cooperation of both commercial citrus growers and regular citizens to prevent the spread of the pest that could imperil Arizona's citrus industry.

While commercially cleaned and inspected citrus fruit is OK, the current fear is that infected citrus fruit or plant parts will be shipped or taken out of our area by homeowners who want to share their backyard bounty of citrus with friends and family.

This has been a common practice in the past, but the implications of doing it are very serious now. Helping to spread the disease can seriously harm the citrus industry in our state and nation and hurt the livelihoods of growers.

We hope Yuma area residents will realize the seriousness of this problem and do their part to stop the Asian citrus psyllid in its tracks.