USDA’s Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $30 million will be put towards funding 22 projects that will help citrus producers fight Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, a devastating disease that threatens US production.
“Our HLB Multi-Agency Coordination Group has worked closely with the citrus industry to select and fund projects that we think will make a real difference for growers against HLB,” Vilsack said. “Funding these projects through cooperative agreements puts us one step closer to putting real tools to fight this disease into the hands of citrus growers." Vilsack continued, "Through the CDRE research we are announcing today, we are also investing in long-term solutions to diseases that threaten the long-term survival of the citrus industry.”