The 2009 Citrus Institute is slated for June 19 in San Bernardino, Calif. at the National Orange Show Events Center.

The program includes:

• 7:00 a.m. – Exhibits open, continental breakfast, and registration

• 8:00 – Welcome, introductions – Ted Batkin, president, Citrus Research Board (CRB)

• 8:10 – Session One: Battlefield strategies in the fight against the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the threat of Huanglongbing (HLB) disease

– Southern California situation status report: Juan Mercogliano, CDFA pest detection and emergency projects branch

– Update from the Statewide HLB Task Force: Intro – Ted Batkin, CRB president and task force co-chair

Science & Technology Committee - Chair MaryLou Polek, CRB vp of operations;

Regulatory Committee - Bob Blakely, California Citrus Mutual;

Communications Committee - Chair Beth Grafton-Cardwell, UC extension specialist

– Report from the Citrus Research Board Operations Department: Intro – MaryLou Polek;

– Panel: Field Ops – Brian Taylor; Data – Rick Dunn; Laboratory – Cynthia LeVesque

• 9:45 – Break, tour exhibits

• 10:15 – Planning for a Statewide Disease Management Agency – CCM

– Discussion on waging the war against ACP/HLB: Intro – Beth Grafton-Cardwell;

– U.S./Mexico collaboration – Jim Cranney, president, California Citrus Quality Council;

– Citrus nursery preparations – Georgios Vidalakis, program director, Citrus Clonal Protection Program;

– Research with neonicotinoids – Joe Morse, department of entomology, UC/Riverside;

– Specific tips on monitoring for ACP – Brian Taylor and Beth Grafton-Cardwell.

• 12:00 – Luncheon

– Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to Dwight Holcomb, Holcomb Orchard Services, Riverside.

– Keynote address – “So Far, So Good” - Bob Atkins, Commissioner, Agriculture, Weights and Measures, County of San Diego.

• 1:15 – Session Two - Combating threats on other fronts

– The water crisis in the State of California - Ken Roth, avocado grower and chair, Southern California Agricultural Water Team;

– Improving irrigation systems uniformity and efficiency – Larry Schwankl, irrigation specialist, UC Cooperative Extension;

– Diaprepes root weevil – situation update, research report – Gary Bender, citrus farm advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego County

• 3:10 – Closing Remarks

An application is pending for 3.5 Hours of Continuing Education Credit.

The event is produced by the National Orange Show, and presented by California Citrus Mutual, Citrus Research Board, UCCE Riverside County, UCCE San Diego County, and University of California/Riverside.

The registration cost is $40. Registration forms can be downloaded online at www.NOSevents.com. The form can be faxed to (909) 889-7666 or mailed to: NOS Events Center, Attn: Citrus Institute, 689 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408.

The registration deadline is June 12. Reservations by fax and phone will be accepted through June 15 by calling Sharon Johnson at (951) 551-2144.