owari

In Georgia Owari Trial, Yields Peaked in 2021

Daniel Cooper Georgia, Research, Rootstocks

University of Georgia Extension agent Jake Price recently summarized yields for three recent seasons from Owari satsuma trees in a rootstock trial. Last year, 2023, was the last harvest year for data collection in the trial. Price reported that yield in the trial plot peaked in 2021 with a yield of about 20,300 pounds on 60 trees, which would be …

sprayer

PIECES OF THE PAST: Citrus Sprayer Innovation

Daniel Cooper Irrigation, Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In the early 1900s, there were a number of inventions made to help the growing citrus industry flourish. One of those inventions took place in Winter Haven at the Van Fleet Company in Florence Villa. The company manufactured the Van Fleet sprayer. An article in the May 1920 issue of The Citrus Industry magazine described it …

harvest+

Brazil’s Harvest+ Seeks Improved Citrus Harvesting

Daniel Cooper Brazil, Harvesting

Brazil’s Fundecitrus, in partnership with the companies Agricef and Move Agro, has created the Harvest+ project that seeks to improve the country’s orange harvest. In addition to enhancing the manual harvesting process, the project is searching for mechanized and semi-mechanized solutions for citrus farming. Harvest+ is in response to demand from producers and companies that want equipment capable of harvesting …

eastern lubber

Managing the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Daniel Cooper Pests

Eastern lubber grasshoppers are out in force in some parts of Florida, munching away on citrus, vegetable crops and landscape plants. They can be found from March or April to about October or November in North Florida and the state’s Gulf Coast. They can be economically important throughout Florida. Eastern lubber grasshoppers can completely strip foliage from plants. More commonly, …

Brazilian

Outlook for Brazilian Acreage and Production

Daniel Cooper Acreage, Brazil, Production

A study by researchers Gilberto Tozatti, Mauricio Mendez and Rodolfo Castro indicated the likely future significant reduction in Brazilian citrus acreage and production due to huanglongbing (HLB or greening). The calculations are based solely on the current Brazilian Citrus Belt and do not consider future citrus projects happening in areas outside of it. Tozatti presented the study at the recent …

grower

Grower Panel: OTC a Net Positive So Far

Daniel Cooper Events, HLB Management

Florida Citrus Mutual recently hosted a roundtable discussion about the performance of trunk-injection therapies as growers are making their second round of applications. The grower participants included Jim Snively, Southern Gardens Citrus; Glenn Beck, Beck Bros. Citrus and Wes Soria, Sorrells Citrus. University of Florida scientist Ute Albrecht also joined the panel to provide a research update. Rick Dantzler, chief …

research

Evolving Research Priorities for Florida Citrus

Daniel Cooper CRDF, Research

Last week, growers convened in Avon Park for the annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute. The daylong seminar program provides updates on the latest research in the fight against HLB and other production issues facing growers. Rick Dantzler, chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), presented an update on the organization’s research priorities. He noted that CRDF …

climate

Funding Available for Conservation and Climate Projects

Daniel Cooper Agriculture, Environment

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the availability of $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 to invest in conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting project proposals now through July 2. The projects will help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance …

consumers

Florida OJ Has Solid Share of Consumers

Daniel Cooper Florida, Orange Juice, Research

A significant portion of consumers are drawn to Florida orange juice (OJ) despite recent economic setbacks, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) study shows.  “There is an intrinsic value that consumers have for Florida orange juice. When they think of Florida, orange juice is often part of the imagery,” said Marisa Zansler, director of economic …

Kistler

Kistler to Direct Indian River Research and Education Center

Daniel Cooper Education, Indian River

Mark Kistler will become director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce on June 17. He will succeed Ron Cave, who has been the IRREC director since 2016. Cave will continue with UF/IFAS as a faculty member. Kistler currently is professor and dean of the …

Exhibitors Support Growers at Florida Citrus Show

Daniel Cooper Events, FCS24

More than 50 exhibitors participated in AgNet Media’s Florida Citrus Show on April 3 in Fort Pierce. The event took place at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory. The vendors showed their support for the state’s citrus and …

particle films

Protect Trees With Particle Films

Daniel Cooper HLB Management, Tip of the Week, Weather

By Christopher Vincent Particle film is a useful tool to take the edge off stress to citrus trees caused by weather and HLB. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research over the past several years shows moderate concentrations of kaolin particle films cause trees to grow faster, suffer less water loss and keep leaves cooler, even …

Citrus Budwood

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: New Leadership at Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration

Daniel Cooper Citrus Nursery Source

By Peter Chaires The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration is key to maintaining a healthy citrus nursery industry. The bureau ensures that Florida nurseries have access to clean, quality, reliable budwood. It is important for industry to remain familiar with the team running the bureau. Considering recent changes to the bureau’s leadership, …

csu

CSU Issues Highest-Ever Initial Hurricane Forecast

Daniel Cooper hurricane, Weather

Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers on April 4 predicted an extremely active Atlantic hurricane season in their initial 2024 forecast. The team cites record warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures and a likely developing La Niña as primary factors for their prediction of 11 hurricanes this year. This is the highest prediction for hurricanes that CSU has ever issued in …

Florida Citrus Show

Don’t Miss the Florida Citrus Show!

Daniel Cooper Events, Tip of the Week

By Robin Koestoyo University of Florida citrus and vegetable researchers will present their latest scientific findings at the 78th Florida Citrus Show on April 3. A lineup of educational seminars will build on the show’s extraordinarily successful 77th show, organized by AgNet Media, an agricultural news communications leader. This year’s event will feature a tailgate-style trade show that includes breakfast …

citrus

Hacks and Suggestions for Georgia Citrus Growers

Daniel Cooper Georgia, Production

Citrus meetings are vital to a grower’s plan for the upcoming season. What they learn and take back to the grove can provide major benefits heading into the upcoming harvest season. The recent Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting provided a venue for growers to share management tips with their peers. Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association, compiled a …

AccuWeather

AccuWeather Expects Highly Active Hurricane Season

Daniel Cooper hurricane, Weather

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has the potential to rank as one of the most active in history, AccuWeather predicted on March 27. The season officially runs from June 1 through the end of November. AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting 20 to 25 named storms across the Atlantic basin in 2024. This includes 8 to12 hurricanes, four to seven major hurricanes …

testing

University of Georgia Lab Offers HLB Testing

Daniel Cooper Georgia, HLB Management

The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Plant Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (MDL) on the Tifton campus is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified lab performing huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) testing. It offers the advanced test to commercial growers, homeowners, nurseries, Extension and research personnel and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The molecular test per sample costs $80. Candidatus Liberibacter species associated with HLB …

fresh

A Fresh Approach

Daniel Cooper CRAFT, Fresh, Packing

Despite the challenges of the Florida citrus industry, Feek Family Citrus continues to successfully grow, pack and ship fresh fruit. In an effort to discourage his son from working in the citrus business, Doug Feek’s father gave him all the worst jobs to do in the family’s small grove. “He wanted me to save my back and work a desk …

pests

A New Pest in Citrus

Daniel Cooper All In For Citrus Podcast, Pests

When it comes to talking about citrus bugs, Lauren Diepenbrock, an entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), is happy to join the conversation. And that’s just what she did in the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. She discussed several key pests that have been problematic for growers in recent …