Texas citrus

Texas Citrus Industry Assessing Freeze Damage

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Texas

By Maegan Beatty 

Texas citrus

Across the United States, farmers have faced freezing temperatures, snowstorms and unpredictable conditions this winter. Texas citrus growers are among those evaluating the effects of the most recent temperature drop.  

“In regard to growers experiencing damage, we are still assessing,” said Dale Murden, president of Texas Citrus Mutual. “It’s too early to tell overall, but we will see some defoliation of leaves.”

Murden reported that late oranges were more affected than other citrus fruits, like grapefruit. Trees that have already experienced drought stress will most likely defoliate their leaves first, he said.  

Juan Anciso, Extension specialist at Texas A&M University, visited multiple citrus groves recently to assess damage.  

“Generally, drought-stressed trees experienced less damage because they are not flushing out with new leaves and they kind of harden off,” Anciso said. “No damage to fruit has been reported, just some leaf burn on young foliage. However, some limb damage is expected, and some young 2-year-old orchards did have some minor bark splitting.”   

Texas citrus
Freezing temperatures caused defoliation.

Faced with freezing temperatures, growers protected their trees primarily using microsprinklers. While most Texas citrus growers did not experience snow, they did face temperature drops to below freezing for a consistent 12 hours. Growers also faced about four hours at damaging levels. These damaging temperatures were below 26 degrees. 

“We will help growers the way we always do, through caring for the trees through nutrition programs,” Murden said. 

Some of these nutrition programs include injecting N-32 with other combinations such as 12-8-0. Citrus growers will also add foliar feeds in with psyllid sprays and other sprays, said Murden. 

Texas Citrus Mutual, established in 1958, acts as a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of Texas citrus growers.

Maegan Beatty is a University of Florida student and AgNet Media intern.

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