The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Hildalgo County, Texas, designated the Peñitas-Granjeno quarantine. The action was taken in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). It releases 58.66 square miles from quarantine, including 45.03 acres of commercial citrus. APHIS originally established the quarantine, restricting …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced its intent to purchase $25 million in fresh mandarins from American farmers to distribute to schools and food banks across the country. The mandarin purchase was part of a planned purchase of $156 million in multiple agricultural commodities, including canned peaches, concord grape juice, pork products, prunes, raisins, walnuts and wild-caught shrimp. …
By Noor Ul Basar, Davie Kadyampakeni and Muhammad Adnan Shahid As citrus trees transition into the fall season, the nutrient demand of the trees will change. Therefore, nutrient application should be adjusted accordingly. NITROGEN Applying nitrogen (N) beyond October through December encourages tree canopy development at the expense of fruit yield and should be avoided. Excessive application of N in …
By Tacy Callies, Clint Thompson and Frank Giles The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo provided vital information to steer growers to long-term sustainability. After a brief stint in Tampa, the annual event returned home to Fort Myers, Florida, its original location. Citrus and specialty crop growers, along with vendors and industry specialists, convened Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention …
Despite a slowdown in Brazil’s citrus greening incidence growth rate in 2026, the severity of the disease continues to climb in trees remaining in the field, according to Fundecitrus’ annual citrus disease survey. Average severity rose from 22.7% to 27% across orchards of all ages, and from 25.9% to 31% when considering only orchards currently in production. The survey also …
Trade issues and labor, both major concerns for California’s citrus industry, were among numerous topics discussed recently by Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual. EXPORT MARKETS HARMED BY TARIFFS Villagomez said Canada is the No. 1 export market for California citrus. He described how previous tariff actions resulted in canceled orders and shipments being frozen almost overnight. …
As oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection becomes an important tool for managing HLB, researchers are looking for ways to make the labor-intensive treatment faster, more efficient and less expensive. Part of a research paper published in Tropical Plant Pathology discusses an automated trunk-injection system being developed for HLB-affected citrus. The authors of the paper, titled “Integrated pest management strategies to address …
Fundecitrus’ first re-estimate of the 2026–27 orange crop for Brazil’s São Paulo and Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais regions, released Sept. 10, indicates production of 263.15 million 40.8-kilogram boxes. That’s an increase of 7.95 million boxes, or 3.1%, from the initial estimate released in May. The revision stems from an upward adjustment in projected fruit weight for early- and mid-season varieties, which …
Applications are open through Sept. 18 for University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Connect (UC ANR Connect), a grower-informed commercialization program for agriculture technology. Selected companies in the program receive commercialization support, direct feedback from California growers and agricultural professionals, industry connections and the opportunity to demonstrate technology live at a field day. UC ANR Connect is operated by …
The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has officially registered a new seedless and thornless lemon variety named Egypt 25 (Citrus aurantium). According to state-level administrative reports published by Egypt Today, the proprietary cultivar was engineered and certified by the Horticulture Research Institute, which operates directly under Egypt’s Agricultural Research Center. This official registration marks a strategic push by …
Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it was expanding the HLB quarantined area in California. The action was made on Sept. 1 in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). APHIS is adding 1 square mile to the Santa Paula quarantined area in Ventura County, which impacts 151.7 …
By John M. Chater Arnold Schumann, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), pioneered the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) production method in Florida. He started his CUPS work over 12 years ago to help provide horticultural tools to growers to continue producing high-quality fruit by means of …
The development of citrus varieties that can resist HLB could eventually change how growers manage the disease. However, a recent study suggests the transition may not be as simple as planting resistant trees and stopping control of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) that spreads HLB. A paper about the research, published in the April 2026 issue of Agricultural Systems, examines …
By Mark A. Ritenour Many Florida citrus varieties reach legal maturity before developing the bright orange or yellow peel color consumers expect. As a result, fresh-market fruit often require degreening, a postharvest process that exposes harvested fruit to low concentrations of ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that promotes chlorophyll breakdown and allows underlying yellow and orange carotenoid pigments to …
The 2026 citrus disease incidence survey conducted by Fundecitrus shows that greening affected 48.08% of orange trees in Brazil’s Citrus Belt spanning São Paulo and the Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais regions. This is a 0.9% increase compared to 2025, when the incidence rate was 47.63%. The rise was just 0.45% — significantly lower than the 3.28% increase recorded in 2025. This …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Sept. 1 it was increasing the area quarantined for citrus black spot (CBS) in Florida. APHIS is expanding the quarantined area by adding eight sections in Charlotte County, 18 sections in Collier County, one section in Glades County, two sections in Hendry County, four sections in Lee …
The 2026 Citrus Achievement Award winner Ned Hancock believes what makes Florida’s citrus industry special is its people. He said the grit and determination of growers have helped the industry weather the storm of HLB, and he’s cautiously optimistic about the future. “There is no question that citrus is a lifestyle and one big family,” Hancock said. “The people make …
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced the permanent protection of more than 1,500 acres of agricultural land on four farms through its Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Two of the protected farms include citrus. Rural lands protection easements prevent future development and allow agricultural operations to continue producing food, timber and other resources. Since its …
Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual, recently discussed developments that could benefit California citrus growers. Among the topics he addressed in the AgNet News Hour podcast were the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent modernization of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice (OJ) and HLB research in California. STANDARD OF IDENTITY FOR …
Fruit split issues are starting to show up in some Georgia citrus groves, University of Georgia Assistant Professor and Citrus Extension Specialist Mary Sutton reported recently. She also noted that color break is likely to begin soon in Georgia citrus fruit. According to Sutton, fruit splits typically start at the stylar end (bottom end) of the fruit and spread vertically …
