Georgia Citrus Development Act Introduced

Josh McGill Georgia, Legislative

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is leading the charge to support Georgia’s farmers and strengthen the state’s growing citrus industry. He introduced the Georgia Citrus Development Act of 2023to ensure Georgia citrus growers are represented when guiding key decisions for the industry. Sen. Ossoff’s bill would add a new Georgia member to the Citrus Disease Subcommittee (CDS), a national policy council …

Capitalize on Cooperative Research

Josh McGill Research, Tip of the Week

By Larry Duncan The growers advising the Citrus Research and Development Foundation understand very well the importance of cooperative research projects between growers and scientists. Several years ago, they earmarked a portion of research funding, not for carefully managed laboratory experiments or small plot trials at state, federal or private research centers, but rather for grower-run trials testing potential HLB …

dorian

Hurricane Forecast Raised Again

Josh McGill hurricane, Weather

Colorado State University (CSU) researchers on July 6 increased their Atlantic hurricane forecast for the second time this year. They now call for an above-average Atlantic basin hurricane season in 2023. However, they note that uncertainty with this outlook is larger than normal. In June, CSU predicted a near-average hurricane season. In April, CSU predicted a slightly below-average season.   NEW …

Fundecitrus Participates in Argentine Citriculture Congress

Josh McGill International, Research

Specialists from Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently participated in the Argentine Citriculture Congress in Concordia, Argentina. They were among more than 400 at the event. Participants included producers, researchers and students. Fundecitrus researcher Renato Bassanezi gave the opening lecture on epidemiology and management of greening in Brazil. He also participated in a round table discussion on the current status of advances in …

Stress Factors and Hurricane-Damaged Trees

Josh McGill hurricane

By Syed Bilal Hussain, Rachel Gearhart, G. Zeng Michalzcyk and Christopher Vincent Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused significant damage to Florida citrus groves. Even groves that experienced only Category 1 winds have begun to decline as the weather has warmed. Signs of canopy decline include branch dieback and leaf drop. Branches with new growth are also experiencing leaf drop. These …

Georgia Citrus Growers Get Valuable Resources

Josh McGill Georgia

Since Georgia’s citrus industry is still in its infancy, leaders are determined to educate growers about the resources that are available to them. With help from Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently hosted an event to share many of those resources with growers. The meet-and-greet workshop took place July 12 at …

California Lemon Rootstock Research Reported

Josh McGill California Corner, lemons, Rootstocks

Researcher Glenn Wright recently reported how various rootstocks for lemon trees producing fresh market fruit compared for yield and other qualities in three California locations with different climates. Wright is a University of Arizona associate professor and Extension specialist for tree crops. SANTA PAULASanta Paula’s warm summer Mediterranean-like climate had the following results: LINDCOVEResearch in Lindcove, a hot summer Mediterranean-like …

RAISE Act Would Improve Grower Disaster Relief

Josh McGill hurricane, Legislative

Several members of Congress from Florida recently introduced the Restore Agricultural Investment, Stability and Expansion (RAISE) Act of 2023. The act would provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with standing authority to help American growers recover after natural disasters by issuing block grants. Supporters said the bill better positions the measure to reach President Joe Biden’s desk and become …

World Citrus Organisation Gains First Mexican Member

Josh McGill International

Citrojugo in June became the first Mexican member of the World Citrus Organisation (WCO). Citrojugo, based in Tecomán, is a producer, processor and marketer of acid citrus-based juices, essential oils and dried peels. WCO is a global platform for dialogue and action that brings together citrus-producing countries. The group includes more than 40 other associations, companies and members that work …

USDA to Buy Fresh Grapefruit for Food Programs

Josh McGill Grapefruit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced plans to purchase fresh grapefruit for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. The purpose is to encourage the continued domestic consumption of these products by diverting them from the normal channels of trade and commerce. USDA said ample availability of fresh grapefruit is projected to increase due to slower movement in …

citrus

Final U.S. Citrus Forecast Has Several Changes

Tacy Callies Crop Forecast

The final U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) citrus forecast for the 2022–23 season, issued July 12, has several changes from the June forecast. FLORIDAFlorida’s all-orange forecast rose approximately 1% to 15.85 million boxes, up 100,000 boxes from June. The full increase is in the Valencia orange forecast, which rose to 9.7 million boxes. Florida’s all-grapefruit …

Grapefruit Rootstock/Scion Research Update

Josh McGill Grapefruit, Indian River, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers Mark Ritenour and Flavia Zambon recently provided an update on a large field trial. The project is called Evaluation of Potential HLB Tolerant Grapefruit Rootstock/Scion Combinations in the Indian River District of Florida. A summary of their update follows:  The project started as a collaborative effort between the UF/IFAS …

CRAFT Reopens Existing Tree Therapies Program

Josh McGill CRAFT, planting

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation has reopened the application window for its Existing Tree Therapies Program. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Aug. 31. Participants will be selected through a random lottery, administered by a third-party entity. The program is designed to provide the industry with a better understanding of the best use patterns, combinations …

Hurricane Preparedness for Citrus Groves: Part Two

Josh McGill hurricane, Tip of the Week

By Mongi Zekri, Robert E. Rouse and Jonathan H. Crane Growers can prepare for the damaging winds from a hurricane or tropical storm by ensuring that their equipment is working and ready to go. SECURE SUPPLIESTanks containing fuel, fertilizer and other materials should be kept full, so they do not move in the wind and rain and to ensure that …

Speeding Up the Screening Process for HLB Therapies

Josh McGill HLB Management

While it remains to be seen if trunk injection of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) is a game changer in the fight against HLB, it certainly has intensified the conversation about the potential for antimicrobial treatments. There are literally hundreds of materials that might be effective at reducing the HLB bacteria in trees, but it has been a slow process to screen …

Greasy-Green Research Update

Josh McGill Diseases, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers Megan Dewdney, Mark Ritenour, Liliana Cano, Eva Mulandesa and Monty Myers recently provided an update of their greasy-green disorder research. Excerpts follow from the Indian River Citrus League’s River Ramblings publication: “Greasy green” is a term applied to fruit that develop what appears to be greasy spot rind blotch symptoms …

Citrus Breeding Efforts to Solve the Brix Crisis

Josh McGill Rootstocks, Varieties

By Jude Grosser, Maria Brenelli, Ling Liu, Yu Wang and Fred Gmitter The combination of HLB and hurricane Ian have made this a disastrous year for Florida citrus, drastically reducing the quantity and quality of processing oranges. Brix values are the lowest in history. Early-season Hamlin juice with inferior quality is generally blended with late-season Valencia to achieve the target …

Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson Confirmed to Speak at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Josh McGill Events

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson will speak during the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo’s General Session on Aug. 16. Simpson, a farmer himself, brings a perspective grounded in the importance and realities of agriculture. “We are excited to have Commissioner Simpson join us for the Expo,” says Robin Loftin, president of AgNet Media. “The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo …

Lemon Scion Research Summarized

Josh McGill California Corner, lemons, Varieties

An assortment of lemon scions producing fresh market fruit performed differently for yield and other qualities in three California locations. Glenn Wright, University of Arizona associate professor and Extension specialist for tree crops, provided the comparative results from the three locations in a June 20 webinar. All results are through the 2020–21 season. SANTA PAULAThe Santa Paula location, with a …

Less Citrus Production in Morocco

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International

Production of all citrus varieties in Morocco will decline in 2022–23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) confirmed in a recent report. The report includes an update on the area planted for each variety and the expected volume of exports. Morocco does not import fresh citrus. TANGERINES/MANDARINS Fresh tangerine/mandarin production is projected at 927,000 metric tons …