All In For Citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast Discusses Indian River Events

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Events, Indian River

The Millennium Block grove is a large-scale trial evaluating HLB tolerance of various rootstock/scion combinations at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. The trial is primarily focused on grapefruit scion/rootstock combinations. Recently, a Millennium Block field day allowed growers to view various selections that …

Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere Citrus Production Projection

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) has projected Northern Hemisphere citrus production of 27.297 million tons (MT) in the 2024–25 season. That’s an 8.73% decrease from the previous season. The forecast is 5.88% lower than the average for the last four seasons. The forecast is based on data from Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye the United States, and, …

climate change

Climate Change in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Weather

Climate change is a key reason that citrus production has progressed in South Georgia, North Florida and South Alabama, the area known as the cold-hardy citrus region. As more varieties, other than satsuma mandarins, continue to be planted in the area, warmer temperatures are needed for trees to flourish. Arnold Schumann, professor of soil fertility and water quality at the …

relief fund

Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund Accepting Applications

Daniel Cooperhurricane

The Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund has announced that applications are open for farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene. The relief fund was established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) in partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and with support from more than 40 agricultural partners. The fund aims to raise $1.5 million by Dec. 31 to …

hybrid

HLB-Tolerant Hybrid Varieties Highlighted

Daniel CooperEvents, Indian River, Varieties

Two varieties that tolerate HLB and produce ample fruit yield and juice were the highlights of the recent Millennium Block Field Day in Fort Pierce, Florida. The 20-acre Millennium Block at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) examines fresh fruit varieties and rootstocks. “The two varieties that give …

maturity standards

Juice Maturity Standards Eased; Varieties Approved for Licensing

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Commission, Varieties

Update as of 12-2-24: For the period beginning 12:00 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2024, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on May 23, 2025, maturity standards in regard to ratio are suspended for all grapefruit including field run and eliminations. This emergency rule supersedes Emergency Rule 20ER24-4. At the request of Florida processor and grower associations, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) …

IMG

IMG Citrus Moving Forward With More CUPS

Daniel CooperCUPS

A Nov. 22 Lake County farm tour, hosted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, included a visit to the 13-acre citrus under protective screen (CUPS) site owned by IMG Citrus. Located in Groveland, the facility consists of Ruby Red grapefruit on Swingle rootstock planted in May 2022. Clint Update, IMG citrus production manager, told farm …

Future

Belief in the Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperAwards

This is the fifth installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. Why do you believe in the future of Florida citrus? Burnette: I think Florida citrus growers, like most other farmers, are the most resilient, stubborn and steadfast people you’ll ever meet. We have multi-generational families who have helped shape the state of …

Brooke Rollins Tapped to Lead USDA

Frank GilesUSDA

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Brooke Rollins to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in his second term. Currently, Rollins serves as president and chief executive officer of the America First Policy Institute. Rollins was formerly director of the Domestic Policy Council and assistant to the president for Strategic Initiatives in the White House under President Donald Trump, where …

automation

Large Grant to Aid Nursery Automation

Daniel Coopernursery, Technology

Imagine a future where nurseries can effortlessly manage their plants with cutting-edge automation technologies, using potting or weed-spraying robots instead of having to dig each hole or spray each pot by hand. With the help of a $9.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, this vision is becoming a reality. The University …

outlook

Florida Citrus Outlook for the 2024–25 Season

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus

The expected utilization of Florida’s 2024–25 citrus crop was the focus of economist Marisa Zansler’s Florida Citrus Outlook presentation to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in October. Zansler is director of economic and market research for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). Before discussing expected utilization by varieties, Zansler pointed out that her outlook was based on the U.S. Department …

U. S.

U.S. House Chairs Ask for H-2A Effectiveness Evaluation

Daniel CooperLabor

Two U.S. House of Representatives committee chairs recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) asking it to evaluate the effectiveness of the H-2A visa program. The letter was sent by Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina and Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania. The H-2A visa program, widely used in agriculture, …

control

Control of Asian Citrus Psyllids and Leafminers

Daniel CooperPests

Biological control can have a significant impact on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and citrus leafminer (CLM) populations in Florida, a researcher reported in a Nov. 19 virtual meeting. Jawwad Qureshi, associate professor of entomology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), also discussed some cultural and chemical controls that work on the pests.  ACP Qureshi, …

Oriental fruit fly

California Announces Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

A portion of California’s Orange County has been placed under quarantine for the Oriental fruit fly. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported the quarantine Nov. 6. It followed the detection of eight flies in and around the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove.  The quarantine zone measures 87 square miles. It is bordered on the north …

assessment

What Growers Need to Know About Georgia’s Citrus Assessment

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Marketing, Regulation

In 2023, at the request of Georgia citrus producers, the Georgia Agricultural Citrus Commission (Georgia Citrus Commission) was created under the Georgia Commodity Promotion Act. Under the Commodity Promotion Act, the Georgia Citrus Commission is allowed to create a marketing order that allows for collection of an assessment on marketed fruit. This marketing order was voted on and approved by …

flame

New Flame Grapefruit Selection Offers Improved HLB Tolerance

Daniel CooperGrapefruit, Tip of the Week, Varieties

By Manjul Dutt, Sheetal Ramekar and Gary England The grapefruit was created by chance from a cross between a pummelo and a sweet orange. It was first discovered in Barbados in the 18th century. All the commercially sold grapefruits today trace their roots back to the Duncan variety of grapefruit. Cultivars existing today were developed through natural and induced mutations …

Georgia

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Georgia’s Citrus Team Is Shaping Up Nicely

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Georgia

By Peter Chaires Many have been following the development of the Georgia citrus industry with great interest and curiosity. Though satsuma remains the dominant fresh citrus crop, other varieties are in varying stages of trial and adoption. The University of Georgia (UGA) has been supporting citrus growers in this process for more than a decade. Wayne Hanna, though his appointment …

trunk-injection

Grower Meeting Features Trunk-Injection Results and Hurricane Relief

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management, hurricane

Florida Citrus Mutual hosted a grower informational meeting on Nov. 13 at Kenny and Cookie Sanders’ Grove House in Zolfo Springs. About 80 citrus growers gathered for the event to hear more about the latest research on trunk-injection therapy and discuss recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton. Ute Albrecht, associate professor of plant physiology with the University of Florida Institute of …

budget

Citrus Commission Approves Budget and Other Actions

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in October approved a 2024–25 operating budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and heard about marketing programs the budget will fund. The FCC also approved citrus varieties to be included in the 2024 Program for Expedited Propagation. BUDGET AND ASSESSMENT RATES The FCC approved a $21.75 million operating budget for the FDOC. It …

field day

Field Day Featured Favorable Fresh Fruit Rootstock and Scion Combinations

Daniel CooperEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center recently hosted a field day showcasing its Millennium Block citrus grove. The field day went on despite the grove being impacted by a tornado associated with Hurricane Milton in October. The Millennium Block is one of the largest experimental trials examining fresh fruit …