Sharpshooter Spreads To Citrus Groves
A $35 Million Problem
Tulare County - Tulare County’s top bug expert, biologist Dennis Haines of the Tulare County Ag Commissioner’s Office, says low levels but extensive findings of glassy-winged sharpshooters in citrus groves east of Highway 65 will force the step up of monitoring and eradication efforts that have been underway for the past three years in the Porterville area. “We’re going to have to expand the quarantine area from its current size” about 3000 acres mostly around Porterville “to about 25,000 to 30,000 acres.” Haines says the increased finds of the hungry pest in orange trees have been only since mid July.
Traps recently began indicating that most citrus groves east of Highway 65, from Avenue 56 to the county line, have low-level infestations. Also, the pests have been found in traps near Strathmore, primarily along Road 256 at the edge of the foothills. These new detections in citrus are outside the Magnolia and Terra Bella quarantine areas. Other finds are around Richgrove, just north of a series of infestations in Kern County.
Haines says there is proven strategy to fight the pest that can damage citrus fruit as well as carry deadly Pierce’s Disease into grape vineyards. Nearby Kern County has a federally funded, 13,000 acre pilot program paid for by the USDA to “some considerable success,” says Haines, “we want USDA to consider a regional approach” to fight the sharpshooter requiring a big financial commitment by the government to do so.
Already the federal and state governments are helping to fund $1.4 million to fight the pest on the 3000 acres infested in Tulare County. Now with the finding of sharpshooters on 10 times that much acreage, the cost is going to multiply as well, he figures.
Citrus Research Board president Ted Batkin says the spread of the pest from Kern County into southern Tulare County continues the pattern the GWSS has followed from Ventura into L.A. and Temecula 7 years ago. There the pest devastated the grape growing region killing off many millions of dollars worth of wine grape vines.
It just proves that the sharpshooter “can’t read the county line signs that divide Tulare from Kern County.” Batkin says the infestation in Tulare’s citrus belt may be worse than can be seen right now.
“It starts out at a low infestation and builds into a big one.” That’s why he says the government must tackle the situation now.
“Citrus groves are the hosts but the real damage is done in other crops including grapes, almonds and alfalfa,” says Batkin. “That’s why we need help. Citrus growers don’t have the economic incentives to fight this.”
Batkin states the need for USDA funds could run $15 to 35 million because of the expansion into the Tulare citrus belt. By way of comparison the entire battle against GWSS statewide has amounted to $50 million since 1999.
Costs would go to the extra manpower, traps and chemical treatment needed to control the pest. “We hope to get some word to attack the sharpshooter as they overwinter in the citrus,” he says.
The Kern pilot program has reduced the number of sharpshooters in certain blocks from very high infestation to very low using a dense block of traps, monitoring of population and systemic treatment using the chemical Merit to poison the pest.
Haines says the rise in population of the pest in the citrus belt isn’t a surprise given that the county’s orange belt - Highway 65 - has about two thirds of the state’s citrus packing houses as well as lots of citrus groves. “Some of this is being transported by trucks carrying fruit from areas like Ventura where the pest population is high into Tulare County,” he says. In addition, they suspect pickers are carrying the pest in their picking bags as they travel around the region harvesting fruit. “We’ll need an educational program” to train pickers to turn the bags inside out,” he says. Growers will be mandated to comply with regulations and monitoring rules under an expanded quarantine program, says Haines.
GWSS can be fatal to grape vines since it is a carrier of Pierce’s Disease.
More than 370 growers statewide have fallen victim to Pierce’s Disease on their grape vines, including some in Kern.
In citrus the threat is far less but with a potential for damage and higher costs, says Haines. In Ventura County where pest populations are higher, Haines says growers are reporting their irrigation costs as much as 6 times higher than normal as the pest sucks the fruit of moisture. “It takes more to keep the fruit healthy.” There are reports of rind damage and fruit scarring in lemons from the pest.
California’s Citrus Research Board has been concerned enough about the problem that they funded research on the potential damage to citrus by the GWSS earlier this year.
The $100,000 per-year study will look during the next three years at whether the sharpshooter is causing dehydration in the trees. The pest feeds voraciously on fluids transported through the xylem. The study will focus on three regions where orange-rind breakdown has been spotted: Ventura County, San Joaquin Valley and Riverside County.
Haines says extensive research on knocking down populations and fighting Pierce’s Disease is underway and “it’s our hope to give the research time” to fund solutions to this growing pest problem.
Over 60 research projects are underway statewide.
Haines says he doesn’t expect a large quarantine zone to affect citrus exports since by the time the fruit is packed in a packing house it is well examined.
“This is a set back and disappointment to all of us who have been fighting the pest for the past three years,” says Haines who admits that trial and error has not controlled it so far. “We were using Sevin and now we think Merit is the chemical of choice,” says Haines.
The chemical is applied to the root zone in urban areas so people don’t have to worry about it wafting through the air.
Haines says the lobbying effort is underway to generate more funds to keep Tulare County both number one in citrus and in grapes - now each targets of a thirsty traveling pest.
Napa County grape growers have voted to tax their vineyards to pay for inspections of incoming plant materials, visual surveys of neighborhoods and other aspects of the county program to keep Napa sharpshooter-free.
Tulare County grape growers don’t get Napa prices for their grapes however, and with low prices again this summer, aren’t likely to be able to afford digging any deeper in their pockets. This week spot prices for wine grapes are down as much as 50% compared to last year. Already many growers have pulled vines or simply won’t pick their grapes this season causing one grower to suggest that if the GWSS are coming - let them come.
Task Force Proposes
New Industrial Park Near
Treatment Plant
Visalia - A Visalia task force charged to look at expansion of the Visalia industrial park presented their findings to a joint meeting of the city council and planning commission this week. The task force, led by civil engineer Mike Lane, produced a specific plan with help of Steven Peck of Quad Knopf. The group's most controversial finding was the establishment of a new 320 acre industrial park west of 99 and just north of the Visalia sewage treatment plant for "high water users" mostly food processing companies who could come to Visalia in the next few decades.
The cost of accommodating these new companies who could use up sewer line capacity north of 99 in the current industrial park, says Peck, would be high. The cost of extending a major truck line would be $4 million north of 99 and just $125,000 if the users were located just north of the treatment plant south of 99. "We thought it made sense to locate food processing companies next to their effluents ultimate destination." Besides, these type of companies often need rail service that could be accommodated at the location right next to the Union Pacific line, says Peck where a small spur line could run west to meet the large lot - 40 acre plus parcels.
There is another issue brought up by commissioner Sam Logan. Putting food processors by the treatment plant eliminates odor problems near neighborhoods.
Food processors remain a top target industry for Visalia and other Tulare County cities given the fact the raw supply and central state location are critical factors not just for companies coming here but staying here.
The plan also suggests a joint planning area with the county and Goshen. The plan lauds Visalia's efforts to keep ahead of demand on land and buildings ready for use.
Besides the new park idea, the task force suggested a need to throw out the Business Research Park zoning east of Shirk and north of Goshen rezoning the lands residential heading east toward The Lakes.
In addition, the report suggested demand was good for 4 three-acre convenience shopping centers within the industrial park - an area that now has almost no fast or convenience store/gas services.
Also the report suggests the industrial park should expand north of Plaza along both sides of Riggin.
The report calls for an industrial or commercial designation on a quarter mile west of Rd. 76.
To work to keep truck traffic from going through the residential areas of Goshen, the plan envisions a traffic circle on Ferguson west of Plaza making it more difficult for large trucks to choose this route - a major concern in the community of Goshen.
The plan envisions an update to the city's circulation element including a major interchange at Betty Drive connecting both west and east - the Betty Drive diagonal connecting to Riggin and an interchange at Rd. 64 and 198 to provide access to this area in the new industrial park area.
But Mike Lane says CalTrans - underway on building the 4 lane expressway on 198 west of 99 - doesn't want to build any interchange in the area saying it is not warranted in a rural area.
CalTrans regional official Alan McCuen says CalTrans rules designates this stretch as a rural area and will not allow a full interchange at Ave. 56 at a later date. He says he is aware of the industrial park plan now being proposed by the city.
"We're going to have to raise the level of awareness at TCAG over this problem," says Lane, a former Visalia planning commissioner. This area is becoming an urban area. Property owners west of 99 along both sides of 198 have expressed concern that CalTrans is leaving them without adequate access to their properties by not designating a full interchange. Instead, the plan calls for keeping them at grade intersections at Rd. 64 and 56.
The plan notes the potential for a redevelopment district in the industrial park - a proposal tried four years ago but failed over worries about the power of eminent domain. The plan calls for continued of use of development fees to finance infrastructure needs.
The city council and planning commission will take up the proposal again in September after time is allowed for more study of the report prepared by the city, the Visalia Economic Development Council and Quad Knopf. Some members suggest the council could get the ball rolling by approving annexation of lands not yet in the city limits including the land near the treatment plant. The schedule for now would be to adopt the new specific plan for the park by May 2003.
Tribe Presses Highway 190 Casino Proposal
Tule Indian Reservation - The Tule River Tribal Council is ready to seek public approval for a proposed relocation of its Eagle Mountain Casino to Highway 190 making its accessibility far easier than it is today.
Instead of being some 20 miles from Porterville and 12 miles up a narrow mountain road, the casino would be near lake-front on state Highway 190, 12 miles from the city limits of Porterville.
Long simmering plans to relocate Eagle Mountain were revived in recent months highlighted in the story of the June 5 issue of the Valley Voice.
The tribe wrote the Tulare County Association of Government July 26 suggesting a meeting to discuss the proposal that will need community support to succeed. Tribal Administrator Dave Nenna says the tribe has completed a feasibility study and market study that would be shared with city county leaders.
The study suggests the casino could double its visitation and employment level to near 1000 if the planned 75 acre expansion would be allowed to move forward. Forty of these acres would include a new casino, a hotel/convention complex might be located on the remainder.
The letter from tribal chairman Duane Garfield suggests the relocation of the 7 year old casino would decrease the high accident rates on the current road, J42 (Indian Reservation Rd.), allow faster response time for emergency vehicles, add needed conference space at the resort, increase employment and tax base, decrease the crime rate and produce a source for entertainment for the area by attracting shows.
In order to build the casino, the tribe would need to come to an agreement with Governor Davis to allow the relocation and expansion something that Davis may now entertain as he is with other tribes around the state.
Tribal attorney Sam Cohen says they have engaged an architect to master plan the project. “We’re actively seeking approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Governor,” for the project, says Cohen. “We’re still preparing the application” so no meetings are scheduled. “People in the state legislature are well aware of our desire to move forward,” says Cohen.
Indian casinos in California have enjoyed a near monopoly on the gambling business in California but now Mexico may join Nevada as another Mecca for gamblers. The Mexican government is considering allowing gambling across the border by the end of this year.
Tougher Particulate Matter Standards
for California
By Elizabeth F. van Mantgem
Breathe a Sigh of Relief
California - Are you breathing in California? If so, then you’ll be glad of the new air quality standards passed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on June 20th. Resolution 02-24 toughens air quality standards for harmful, fine particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5) emissions across the state. This ruling was in response to the overwhelming scientific data proving that inadequate PM standards inflict tremendous damage to people, especially children and the physically impaired. However the removal of an agricultural exemption make the California agriculture industry understandably unhappy. California growers are defending their right to remain exempt from laws to which other industries must adhere.
The Resolution Explained
The resolution plainly lists two new California changes that are far stricter than the federal standards. The new standards: 1) reduce the annual average standard of particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) from 30 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 20ug/m3, and 2) create a new PM2.5 standard, of 12ug/m3. The 24-hour averages for PM10 and sulfates will remain the same, 50ug/m3 and 25ug/m3, respectively.
Since this air district (the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District-SJVUAPCD) is currently classified as “severe” in California, we are required to attain the new standards by 2005, just three short years from now. Unfortunately, the district governing board believes that it would have been impossible to meet the deadline, even with the old PM standards. The result is that our air district has proposed a status change from “severe” non-attainment to “extreme” non-attainment, a request that must be approved by and then the U.S.EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) over the next year. This change will extend the district’s deadline for attaining all the air quality standards to 2010, as well as redefine permitting requirements.
According to the Clean Air Act, applications to exceed particulate matter standards, technically called Title V permits, must be filed for any “major”, stationary source of PM, nitrates (NOx), and volatile organic carbons (VOC’s). Under the present clean air standards it was this permitting process from which Agriculture was exempt. Currently, the “severe” classification in the San Joaquin Air District defines a “major” pollution source as one or more contiguous sources producing 25 tons per year or more. Under the proposed “extreme” non-attainment status, a “major” source would emit only 10 tons per year or more. A 1996 report estimated at least 2,830 irrigation engines operating in this air district. One diesel pump running about 3000 hours in a year can produce from 10 to 25 tons of air pollution per year, and the average NOx production rate is about 10 grams of NOx per horsepower hour.
Gennet Paauwe, spokeswoman with CARB, says that, “We know districts don’t have direct control over air pollution”, and so CARB itself, responsible statewide for most mobile sources of air pollution such as cars and trucks, will be targeting diesel emissions with improved diesel technology, cleaner diesel fuels, and voluntary incentive programs. So the people in our district are not without support.
The Ag Industry as Part of the Solution
Now that an agriculture exemption (under the current Health and Safety Code) from Title V permitting has been lifted, even growers and dairymen will be required to help the district comply with the new state standards. Like it or not, you and 3.2 million other people breathing in the San Joaquin Valley are going to breath easier and healthier1.
These changes are controversial for the agricultural industry, especially if the Title V permitting threshold is reduced to 10 tons per year with an “extreme” non-attainment classification for the district. The central worries for the agriculture industry include financial loss and international competition. Many argue that small, family farms and mid-sized farms will go out of business, unable to pay the necessary licensing fees for their diesel groundwater pumps and machinery. Others will be unable to compete with international growers, free from these standards and selling the same crops.
Fortunately, the San Joaquin Valley ag industry had a little time to make adjustments. Farms have until May 1, 2003 to submit their Title V permit applications. Until then, it’s assumed that they will be making progress toward upgrading their machinery with air friendly components. If the district is reclassified to “extreme”, the permitting changes will take place no sooner than 2006.
Proponents of resolution 02-24 and the exemption dismissal argue that in an ag-dominated region, it’s unreasonable that the entire agriculture industry be spared of permitting costs when the clean air effort relies so heavily on the cooperation of communities. In San Joaquin Valley communities, growers are significant air pollution contributors in the forms of dust, sprays, and diesel combustion emissions. While it’s true that no single industry or person is solely responsible for the problem, it’s also true that the problem will only be resolved when everyone takes responsibility. Even the fast food industry, with its PM spewing, chain-driven charbroilers, is reluctantly getting a major PM overhaul. Individual households are routinely bombarded by the media with earnest pleas to spare the air through small acts like recycling, saving power, and reducing automobile usage.
Health & Environment
Primary research shows that excessive PM10 & PM2.5 pollution exposure causes disease in both acute and chronic forms. Several tissues of the body may permanently be harmed, including the airways, the alveoli, the pulmonary interstitium, the lymph nodes, the liver, and the blood. The first defense by the body is increased mucous production in an attempt to remove the invading particles. Then, the white blood cells may go into action. If these defenses aren’t adequate, then there may be chronic swelling of the interstitial tissue, which seems to activate the liver’s overproduction of a blood thickening protein (procoagulant) that contributes to cardiovascular symptoms, such as stroke or myocardial infarction 2.
The justification cited for invoking the stricter, June 20th (CARB Resolution 02-24) standards is the very real decline in public health related to PM pollution in California. The Children’s Environmental Health Act (Senate Bill 25, passed in 1999) made it necessary for ARB to reassess the old air quality standards. When ARB did so, they found a significant body of scientific data showing that PM exposure as low as the old standard led to, “premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for cardiopulmonary causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks and emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and days with some restriction in activity” 3. According to the board, “attainment of the new standards would reduce premature death by approximately 6,500 cases per year”4.
The reasons not cited by the board are also compelling. Because of acidic PM deposition, ponderosa pines are suffering from diminished root biomass, making them top-heavy and vulnerable to drought, wind, and root disease5. Because of the higher concentrations of NOx, in the air, the landscape is being subjected to a new environment, and the long-needle pines can’t compete 6.
A frequently overlooked aspect of the environment lost through PM pollution is visibility. Scenic views disappear when airborne PM particles hang in the air, scattering and absorbing light. As most long-term Valley residents have experienced, it’s hard to enjoy a visit to Moro Rock when you can’t see the view. It’s even a surprise every winter when the rains clear the air, unveiling the breathtaking Great Western Divide that actually looms over our valley year-round.
Particulate Matter (PM) Defined
With the exception of pure water molecules, PM pollution is made of both solid and liquid particles. In high concentrations, PM particles can appear as opaque chemical clouds, smoke, or haze, and low concentrations are often invisible.
Compared to the rest of the country, California has a high level of PM pollution because of the dry climate, the high frequency of fire, the number of automobiles, and the intensive agriculture practices in the region. Farming businesses, as well as other commercial industries, emit volatile plumes of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and organic carbons, all of which react with other atmospheric chemicals to form the damaging particles. Carcinogenic PM includes benzene, 1-3butadiene, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (HAP’s).
Many people are quick to blame the bay area for the San Joaquin Valley’s air pollution troubles, but only 6-27% of our PM comes from there. The majority of Valley PM is homegrown, coming from cars, industry, and agriculture.
Costly, Either Way
For most Valley residents of California, the June 20th resolution is a good one, aimed at legally making our everyday lives clean and free of harmful levels of particulate matter pollution. At the community and industrial levels, it’s also good. Pollution currently costs much more in the long run than does the initial establishment of air-sparing technology and laws. The costs accrue in such a motley assortment of arenas: health care costs, environmental costs, lost agricultural production, and raw materials damage, that all available avenues toward relief have to be explored. The problem is too chemically complicated to knowingly exempt anyone from participating in the solution.
Citations:
1 SJVUAPCD, Proposed Smoke Management Program. 2002. 25pp.).
2 Holgate et al. 1999.Air Pollution & Health. Academic Press).
3 CARB press release June 20, 2002)
4 CARB press release, June 20, 2002
5 Grulke et al. 1998;Takemoto et al. 2001
6 Takemoto et al. 2001
www.arb.ca.gov www.commondreams.org/news2001/1203-09.htm www.fb.com/news/hr/nr97/hr0722b.html
www.nrdc.org/media/pressReleases/020204.sp www.wga.com/old_pages/up052402.htm
www.ccgga.org/
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
August 21, 2002
