The Indian River Citrus League (IRCL) recently named a new president and provided an update on a large grapefruit trial.
The new IRCL president is Daniel Scott. He succeeds Pat Schirard, who served two terms. Before being selected president, Scott served as chairman of the IRCL production committee.
Scott is a third-generation citrus grower and is vice president of Scott Citrus Management. Scott Family of Companies is a vertically integrated organization that grows, packs and markets fresh grapefruit for the international and domestic markets. It includes Scott Family Groves, Scott Citrus Management, Riverfront Packing Company and Scott Marketing.
The IRCL also provided an update on the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination (HLB MAC) System grapefruit trial. The bulk of the 300-acre-plus trial is in the Indian River region. It also has numerous sites in the Ridge and Gulf citrus-growing regions.
The grapefruit trial utilizes selected rootstock and scion combinations with the goal of identifying those combinations that show tolerance and resistance to HLB. Some participants are getting their acreage readied for site inspections. Growers who have completed the site inspections have received the first series of reimbursement payments.
HLB MAC coordinates funding across federal and state agencies, universities and private companies.
Although the Indian River is world-renowned for its grapefruit, that variety has proven extremely difficult to grow in the face of HLB. Consequently, research is being conducted in the region into planting densities, irrigation and fertilization that might allow growers to better produce oranges in the region. See a report from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi about the orange production research.
Source: Indian River Citrus League
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