The tiny insect known as the beet leafhopper is spreading a virus that threatens to decimate this year’s tomato crop in San Joaquin County

Above is a beet leafhopper which can spread the beet curly top virus. They are only about 3mm long and can infect tomatoes, sugar beets, melons, and more.

July 20, 2024 - STOCKTON – As San Joaquin County tomato growers grapple with the presence of a tiny insect known to spread a destructive virus that destroys crops,  Representative 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 just declared an emergency after they were found in local tomato fields. The insect is only about 3 millimeters long and they are known to spread the destructive virus (BCTV) to tomatoes and other crops after feeding on infected annual and perennial weeds.

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. San Joaquin County farmers produced approximately $147 million in tomatoes last year. The impacts of this virus could be devastating, and local farmers need resources to eliminate BLH from their crops and prevent a catastrophic outbreak of BCTV. 

“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. “Today, I’m urging the USDA to step in because we can’t let this virus spread and cause devastating losses for our farmers.”

Read the letter below:

July 16, 2024

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

I write today to urge you to swiftly provide additional resources and research to support San Joaquin County tomato farmers affected by this year’s detection of the beet leafhopper (BLH) which is known to cause the disastrous beet curly top virus (BCTV).

Tomatoes are among the top ten commodities in my district spanning over 18,500 planted acres in 2023 and yielding approximately $147 million. The detection of the beet leafhopper poses a threat to these vital tomato crops and could result in devastating losses for our farmers. As you know, San Joaquin County declared a local emergency on July 3rd, 2024 to allow local tomato farmers to use neonicotinoids to protect their crops against BLH and BCTV. This is a critical step towards eliminating BLH in my community, decreasing the risk of BCTV decimating local tomato crops. 

To ensure our farmers have the tools they need to fight against BLH, USDA must provide additional resources to support our growers and local programs aimed at stopping BLH and BCTV.

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. 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.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to working together to support San Joaquin County tomato farmers and protect against beet leafhopper and beet curly top virus.

Sincerely,

Josh Harder

Member of Congress
Source: Congressman Josh Harder