As San Joaquin County tomato growers grapple with the presence of a tiny insect known to spread a destructive virus that destroys crops, area Congressman Josh Harder (CA-9) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support growers’ efforts to prevent an outbreak of the beet curly top virus (BCTV). This year, the beet leafhopper (BLH) has been found in crops throughout the Central Valley, and San Joaquin County recently declared an emergency after they were found in local tomato fields. The insect is only about three millimeters long and they are known to spread the destructive beet curly top virus to tomatoes and other crops after feeding on infected annual and perennial weeds.
“I’m very concerned this virus is about to ravage our tomato crops if we don’t step in to stop it. San Joaquin County was smart to declare an emergency, and now we need federal support,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m urging the USDA to step in because we can’t let this virus spread and cause devastating losses for our farmers.”
When crops are infected with BCTV, they often turn yellow, their leaves curl, and the plants stop growing. Once a tomato plant has been infected with the virus, it must be removed.
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due to the beet leafhopper and the presence of the beet curly top virus on tomato crops in the county; the declaration was issued at the request of the Agricultural Commissioner, in coordination with the Directors of Emergency Services and Emergency Operations. It allows local growers the ability to use neonicotinoids to combat BLH and the risk of BCTV in local tomato crops.
Fresh market and processing tomatoes are grown annually in San Joaquin County and in 2023, approximately 18,500 acres were planted, representing approximately $147 million of annual harvested value. Since the early 1900s, curly top disease has been a known cause of serious crop damage in the San Joaquin Valley. Historically, BCTV has been known to cause significant economic damage to tomatoes in San Joaquin County. Significant damage to the tomato crop in San Joaquin County will be lessened if temporary use of neonicotinoids is permitted on an emergency basis to allow for commercial growers to treat their tomato crops for BLH in San Joaquin County.
Based on the sweeps, trapping, and confirmed detection by the UCCE Crop Advisor, it was determined that BLH has migrated into San Joaquin County and that some of the BLH population is carrying BCTV and the emergency use of neonicotinoid pesticides is necessary to combat BCTV during this growing season since no other effective means of control are available. Title 3, California Code of Regulations section 6990.6 that went into effect Jan. 1, 2024, would have restricted the use of neonicotinoids on tomatoes. However, the law provides an exception to address a local emergency.
“As Agricultural Commissioner, I want to take all necessary steps to empower and assist our local growers in getting their products to market in a safe and effective manner,” commented Kamal Bagri, San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner. “The new regulations from the state have this important exemption to combat threats at the local level when needed to protect our local produce and economy. With the Board action, San Joaquin County growers are now able to take effective steps to reduce and eliminate this threat to our local tomato crops.”
In a letter sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, dated July 16, Rep. Harder asked for the federal support.
“While the threat of BLH and BCTV is currently affecting San Joaquin County farmers, it is not new. Our local growers have dealt with this pest and virus since the beginning of the 20th century. However, there are few available management strategies for growers to deter the spread of BLH,” Harder wrote. “Therefore, I urge USDA to make significant investments in existing and new research on effective BLH and BCTV management and resistance technologies in the Central Valley. This research is crucial to future BLH and BCTV mitigation efforts as well as protecting tomato crops from significant damage.”
