A total of $200,000 has been spent and another $500,000 will be needed to protect Arizona’s vineyards, citrus groves, nut orchards and oleanders from an insect threat that’s again spreading in the Sierra Vista area.

With house by house spraying set to start today (July 17), Arizona Department of Agriculture is working again to contain an outbreak of the glassy winged sharpshooter, primary carrier of Pierce’s Disease, a vine-killing infection that threatens fruit and nut trees, ornamental plants and the state’s $18 million wine industry. At least 65 of the insects, a native of the southeastern U.S., have been found in southwestern Cochise County, and more are expected.

Meanwhile, last summer’s forecasts of an easy win over the insect have evaporated. Instead, the state’s agricultural officials are warning of a protracted campaign to drive them out before they can infest and potentially destroy the vines, about 50 miles to the west, around Sonoita.

Print this story Email this story Post a Comment ADVERTISEMENT

Responding to a state of emergency, declared by Gov. Janet Napolitano, the state has placed more than 800 traps in the Sierra Vista area. Next begins a search for egg masses and targeted insecticide spraying, said spokeswoman Katie Decker.

“Everybody is taking this situation very seriously,” she said. At this time, the department’s search still indicates that the insects are within a three-mile radius of where two adults insects were discovered, last year, “but we’ll be proceeding as quickly as possible” with the eradication program.

“You have to get on it early and it takes persistence, but we believe we can still eliminate them,” Decker said.

The greatest issue, aside from developing an eradication program, is paying for it, she said. “We don’t have a line item in the state budget for emergencies. Thanks to the Governor’s emergency declaration, we have $200,000. However, we’ll need $500,000 more and we still don’t know where that’s going to come from.”

Despite the lack of funds, Arizona Wine Growers Association President Rod Keeling said he expects the money to come from somewhere. “This is still a manageable problem,” he said. “We’re working with the Department of Agriculture to find the money they need and I expect we will do it. This is a pretty big industry and I don’t think anyone wants to run the risk of harming it.”

Keeling said vinyard owners are still optimistic that the insect may not be able to survive in the most important wine grape growing areas, especially around Sonoita. “There’s evidence to suggest they can’t survive at temperatures below 20 degrees. That means a cold month would probably wipe them out if they can’t be prevented from over-wintering in urban areas where they can stay warm.”

Noting that California has responded to its own glassy winged sharpshooter infestation with a $20 million Pierce’s Disease Control Coordination Program, Keeling said, “I believe that as long as we operate as we have been, money will always be a problem.”

While he forecasts another successful eradication effort, this year, Keeling said, “At some point, we’re going to have to look at how we’re going to handle this for the long term.”

E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.com. Contact Philip S. Moore at pmoore@azbiz.com or at (520) 295-4238.

© 2006 Inside Tucson Business. All Rights Reserved