Texas citrus growers suffering losses from Huanglongbing (HLB), citrus greening, may be eligible for financial assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency for removing trees afflicted with the disease and for replanting groves with healthy stock.

The assistance comes through USDA’s Tree Assistance Program (TAP), says Texas FAS Executive Director Judith Canales.

Texas’ commercial crops of oranges and grapefruit are almost entirely located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The Texas citrus industry supports almost 6,000 jobs and has an economic impact of $189 million annually.