Some growers are taking a closer look at citrus under protective screen (CUPS), while others have already adopted the production system. CUPS has been proven to protect trees from HLB and hurricane damage.
The May issue of Citrus Industry magazine features grower brothers who are early adopters of CUPS. Jerry and Keith Mixon have 150 acres of CUPS production in Alturas, Florida, with plans to add more. They are seeing positive results in producing high-quality fruit for the fresh market. In the May cover story, they discuss variety evaluation, lessons learned from hurricanes and production considerations.
The CUPS conversation continues in Editor-in-Chief Frank Giles’ Q&A article with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Arnold Schumann. Schumann has led the effort to study CUPS in Florida. In the article, he shares highlights from nearly nine years of CUPS research. Topics discussed include costs, yields, rootstocks, varieties and more.
In addition to CUPS, another focus of the May issue is the Florida Grower Citrus Show. Now under AgNet Media management, the event debuted some big changes this year, including a new location and time. Formerly held in January, the Fort Pierce event found a new home on April 13 at the neighboring UF/IFAS and U.S. Department of Agriculture facilities. The trade show was transformed into a tailgate party with vendors sharing a variety of tasty treats with attendees. Also new this year was the addition of a general session and an educational program for vegetable growers. See photos from the event and read highlights from the citrus seminar program in the May issue.
Finally, don’t miss the article on silicon. The element is proving to help citrus trees cope with abiotic stresses like heat, cold and salinity. Learn how silicon may improve the health of HLB-affected trees.
Find all of these articles and more in the soon-to-be-released May issue of Citrus Industry magazine. Not already a subscriber? Sign up here.
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