Abstract
The use of mesh bags has been proposed as a strategy for excluding the psyllids so as to protect young citrus trees from being infected with HLB. The scientific experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of mesh bags was started in February 2018. Therefore, there are still many unknowns regarding the variables involved: increase in yields, decrease in chemicals, incidence of other pests and diseases, etc. However, some growers are already experimenting with mesh bags in their groves in different ways as seen from just driving around groves across the state; in some groves every other tree within a row is covered, while in other groves every other row is covered, yet in other groves the whole new planting is covered. In this article, we evaluate the economic feasibility of using mesh bags for protecting young citrus trees based on a number of assumptions. Growers can follow the methodology we applied to make the calculations that are relevant for their own operation and, therefore, improve their decision-making process to decide whether to use the bags.
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