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California

Significant threat to tomato crops in Stanislaus county

In Stanislaus County, an emergency has been declared due to a pest, the beet leafhopper, which poses a significant threat to tomato crops by spreading a virus known as beet curly top. This virus leads to yellowing leaves and stunted growth in tomato plants. The presence of beet leafhoppers in spring-planted tomato crops was confirmed by growers and pest control advisers, prompting the declaration by Sheriff Jeff Dirkse, acting as the county emergency services director. The Board of Supervisors has ratified this declaration, acknowledging the immediate threat to tomato crops, especially in the county's western regions.

Stanislaus County, along with neighboring Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Kern counties, has almost 10,000 acres dedicated to tomato cultivation, with a 2022 harvest valued at $53.5 million. The beet leafhopper, capable of infecting around 300 plant species, migrates from the foothills to the Valley floor, affecting tomato plants as they begin to flower. The emergency declaration primarily facilitates the use of limited pesticides to control this pest, amidst regulations protecting honeybees from neonicotinoid pesticides. However, an exception for neonicotinoid use is granted under emergency conditions, with requirements for notifying nearby beekeepers.

The threat of the beet leafhopper is not new, with historical impacts on beet crops dating back to the 1920s, leading to the establishment of a control program by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 1943.

Source: yahoo.com

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