By Michael E. Rogers
Do you plan to attend the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa? If so, you’ll want to stop by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Extension booth to pick up the latest publication on HLB management assembled by UF/IFAS citrus experts.
“Growing citrus – A multiprong HLB management strategy” is a booklet which contains less than 20 pages but is packed with the most important tips and considerations for Florida citrus growers to focus on when managing HLB-affected citrus groves.
Growers are constantly barraged with HLB management advice, not only from UF/IFAS, but from researchers outside of Florida, product manufacturers, etc. Oftentimes, the varying sources of information may have very different recommendations leading to confusion regarding what the current HLB management recommendations are. This document is designed to be easy to read and help discern what is most important for managing HLB in Florida based on the most up-to-date research findings by UF/IFAS citrus researchers.
Topics covered in the first edition of this new publication include irrigation and nutrient management practices, soil health management, trunk injections, plant growth regulators, cover crops, and other pest and disease considerations. For each of these topics, there are bullet-point lists of the key things that should be addressed when developing an HLB management plan for your grove. Also provided are website links to UF/IFAS publications with more detailed information for each topic.
Over the past 20 years of HLB spread in Florida, UF/IFAS has learned a lot about this disease and the practices that can be implemented to maintain the productivity of HLB-affected citrus trees. The information provided in this publication will help you focus your management practices on those most likely to provide the best results for your operations.
This publication and many others, including the latest version of the Florida Citrus Production Guide, will be available at the UF/IFAS Extension booth at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. We hope to see you there!
Michael E. Rogers is a professor and the director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.
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