After being presented virtually for the past two years as a result of COVID-19, the 2022 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute will once again be an in-person event on April 5. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Florida State College’s Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts in Avon Park.
The institute is an opportunity for Florida citrus growers to learn about effective management of HLB and other challenging diseases.
The event is free to growers but requires preregistration by April 1. Continuing education units (CEUs) will be offered for holders of restricted use pesticide licenses (RUP) and certified crop advisors (CCA). There will be 4.5 CEUs available in the following categories: private applicator, agricultural tree crop, and demonstration and research for RUP license holders. CEUs have been requested for CCAs in the appropriate CEU categories; approval is still pending.
“We have put together a program that addresses critical needs for Florida citrus growers with information they can use today,” said Chris Oswalt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension citrus agent.
Topics this year, presented by faculty from the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) and the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, include horticultural management of HLB, citrus pest management and citrus irrigation and nutrition.
The program will kick off with updates from Michael Rogers, CREC director, and Richard Dantzler, chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation.
Citrus black spot and the potential impact of chemical weed control on tree health and fruit drop will be featured in the citrus pest management session. Presentations on citrus root structures, foliar applications to reduce fruit drop in Hamlin oranges, and an update on gibberellic acid studies will be highlighted in the citrus horticulture session. The citrus irrigation and nutrition section will feature the use of smartphone apps, irrigation scheduling for tree performance, and nitrogen and phosphorous recommendations for HLB-affected trees.
Source: UF/IFAS
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