Upcoming Meetings on Bactericide Use for Citrus

Kelsey Fry Citrus

citrusFlorida citrus growers are reminded of three upcoming meeting on bactericide use for citrus:

1. On March 9 at 8:00 a.m., Laurie Hurner, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus agent, is hosting a citrus grower forum where several topics will be discussed in conversations led by growers and production managers; including the most recent information regarding the Crisis Declaration status of the three bactericides and how they may now be utilized.

2. On March 9 at 9 a.m., Harold Browning, chief operations officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), and Taw Richardson of AgroSource will address bactericides at Florida Citrus Mutual’s monthly board meeting at Mutual’s headquarters at 411 E. Orange Street in Lakeland.

3. On March 17, at 9:30 a.m., AgroSource will be answering specific questions about the company’s two bactericide products: FireWall and FireLine at the Harris Ag Center in Sebring. For additional information, contact Bo Meador of AgroSource at 863-673-0727 or bo.meador@meadagriculturalservices.com.

Ray Royce, executive director of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, suggests that growers may want to review the paper “The Use of Bactericides in Plant Agriculture with Reference to Use in Citrus to Mitigate HLB” published by CRDF last month for guidance on how they may want to consider the incorporation of the products within their operations. View the paper here.

“Remember that it is critical that growers who utilize these products during the time period allowed by the Crisis Declaration do so following the application guidelines within the Declaration,” says Royce. “The EPA is still reviewing the state’s application for longer-term Section 18 approval, and short-term misuse of the products could jeopardize the long-term future of having these tools available.”