Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) to treat HLB is widely regarded as one of the biggest breakthroughs in the long fight against the disease. After two seasons of treatments, where do Florida citrus growers stand when it comes to the treatment?
Tara Wade answers that question in the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) natural resource economist shares results from a survey gauging grower perceptions of OTC.
Wade said that 80 citrus growers participated in the survey, covering about 28,000 acres (65 growers answered the acreage question). Of the 80 growers surveyed, 79% had applied an OTC treatment.
Eighty-four percent of the growers reported an increase in yields after the treatment, and 87% saw a decrease in fruit drop. Wade said the survey showed other positive results in areas like quality, Brix ratio and pounds solids.
Lauren Diepenbrock, UF/IFAS entomologist, also joined the podcast to talk about her research on a snail (Bulimulus bonariensis) that continues to spread across citrus-growing regions. A new study is looking at how far the snails can move in groves. Small tracking devices are attached to the pests. Diepenbrock said she was surprised that the snails could travel further than anticipated.
Her research is evaluating existing snail baits and other treatments to help manage the pest. She is also studying longer-term biological controls that could be applied in groves.
With the recent seasonal rains getting underway, Diepenbrock cautioned growers to be aware of the emergence of diaprepes root weevil. She advised growers to be prepared to take control measures, especially in groves where diaprepes is historically a problem.
Don’t miss the latest episode of All In For Citrus to hear more from both Wade and Diepenbrock. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
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