While irrigation and technology were meant to be the focus of the November issue of Citrus Industry, the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, combined with the low initial crop forecast that does not even account for the storm’s damage, proved to be the much bigger story.
Editor-in-Chief Frank Giles provides early details on the hurricane’s damage to Florida’s citrus industry and resources growers can use in rehabilitating their groves. He discusses some of these resources in further detail in the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast.
One area of post-hurricane concern for growers is pest management. With individual protective covers blown off trees, new flush growth that’s attractive to pests for feeding, and the spread of insects from strong winds, now is the time to intensify scouting efforts. As growers look to replant, some may choose to install groundcovers as both a pest management and water-savings strategy. Fabric groundcovers are the subject of a November article. Learn from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) authors how groundcovers can drastically reduce the amount of weevil larvae in the soil while reducing water costs.
What if psyllids were incapable of spreading HLB? That’s the goal of a research project being conducted at UF/IFAS. Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski and Lukasz Stelinski explain the high-tech work being done with Wolbachia (a type of bacteria living inside psyllids) to block transmission of HLB.
Another area of technology under UF/IFAS study deals with weed control. UF/IFAS weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery and his colleagues give an update on new advancements in herbicide spraying. They detail the different types of sensors available that can help growers target sprays precisely where they are needed. The results include less product use and greater sustainability.
Whether spraying to control weeds, pests or diseases, growers need a clear understanding of the pesticide formulations they are using. This topic is addressed in the November continuing education unit article. Pass the accompanying test to earn one free CEU in the Core category toward the Florida restricted-use pesticide license.
Find all of these articles and more in the soon-to-be-released November issue of Citrus Industry.
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