Critical Minerals Bill Seeks to Secure Fertilizer Supplies

Josh McGillLegislative, Nutrition

Four members of Congress have introduced a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final List of Critical Minerals of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The U.S. representatives are Kat Cammack of Florida, Barry Moore of Alabama, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Jimmy Panetta of California. “A nation that cannot feed itself is not secure,” Cammack said. “Without …

Fertilizer Institute Pushes Policy Priorities

Josh McGillBiostimulants, Nutrition

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) recently released its 2023–2024 Public Policy Priorities for working with the Biden administration, regulatory agencies and Congress. TFI’s priorities are broken down into seven key areas: “Fertilizer is a globally traded commodity and heavily influenced by geopolitical events,” said TFI President and Chief Executive Officer Corey Rosenbusch. “Over the past two years, we have seen major …

Taking Fertilizer Knowledge to the Next Level

Josh McGillEducation, Nutrition

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has launched a new online graduate certificate program for agricultural professionals. “The certificate program is called Fertilizer Science and Technology, offered completely online at the student’s pace and oriented to growers, consultants, suppliers and regulators,” says Kelly Morgan, UF/IFAS professor of soil fertility and water management. The certificate is …

Fertilizer Exemption Issued Due to Hurricane Ian

Josh McGillBMPs, Florida, Regulation

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently issued an emergency rule allowing growers enrolled in best management practices (BMP) programs to apply replacement fertilizer to reestablish crops impacted by Hurricane Ian. Under the rule, producers can make those applications without fear of being out of compliance with their respective BMP manuals. The emergency rule will be in …

High-Efficiency Fertilizers for Growers

Josh McGillCitrus Expo, Nutrition

At the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, Davie Kadyampakeni recommended what he termed “high-efficiency fertilizers” to improve canopy, fruit yield and juice quality, especially in HLB-affected trees. Kadyampakeni is an assistant professor specializing in citrus water and nutrient management the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. FOUR TYPESKadyampakeni described four categories of high-efficiency fertilizers: Slow-release fertilizer (SRF) …

Consequences of Skyrocketing Fertilizer Prices

Josh McGillEconomics, Nutrition

By Ariel Singerman and Stephen H. Futch Chemical input prices have increased significantly over the last year. In particular, the price of fertilizer has roughly doubled during the last 12 months, as denoted by Figure 1. Figure 1. Producer Price Index of Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Supply and demand factors help explain such an …

Fertilizer Price Spike Highest Since Great Recession

Josh McGillEconomics, Regulation

During January’s Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia, Daniel Tregeagle, an Extension economist with North Carolina State University, gave a presentation on economic and regulatory trends impacting citrus and specialty crop growers. MODEST MARKET GROWTHThe biggest blip on the proverbial economic radar has been COVID-19 and its continuing effects. Tregeagle noted these impacts mostly will be transient, …

Making Sense of Biologicals – Biofertilizers: Improving Nutrition in Citrus Trees

Tacy CalliesMSOB, Nutrition

Citrus greening disease appears to be a problem for the foreseeable future for Florida growers. But what if growers could improve nutrition so trees could better cope with the disease? Scientists at Douglas Plant Health believe biofertilizers have that capability. “Think about it from a human health standpoint,” says Marcus Jones, vice president of research and development at Douglas Plant …

Grower Sees Steady Production Without Chemical Fertilizer

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

By Owen “Sonny” Conner The two greatest challenges of the last 20 years, for me as a citrus grower, have been HLB and foreign competition depressing prices. Citrus growers had never faced a disease threat even approaching the devastating effects HLB has had on the industry. It was the industry killer we all feared would one day raise its ugly …

Avoid Salt-Out of Liquid Fertilizers

Tacy CalliesTip of the Week

By Ajia Paolillo The use of liquid fertilizers in citrus production has increased over the years. Liquid fertilizers offer the grower a way of applying frequent doses of fertilizer to trees to optimize nutrient efficiency. Now that the winter months are here with cooler weather and some cold nights, growers may face the issue of liquid fertilizer salting-out in the …

Pruning and Controlled-Release Fertilizer to Rehabilitate HLB Trees

Tacy CalliesNutrition, Production

By Tripti Vashisth and Troy Gainey Pruning is one of the oldest horticultural practices that changes the form and growth of a tree. The pruning process 1) adjusts tree shape and the ratio of framework to fruit-bearing shell of the canopy, 2) alters the shoot/root ratio and 3) changes the carbohydrate (food storage) status of the tree. Under Florida weather …

Controlled-Release Fertilizer Boosts Health of HLB Trees (Part 2)

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Nutrition

By Pete Spyke, Joby Sherrod and Jude Grosser Part 1 of this article, published in the April 2017 issue of Citrus Industry magazine, provided some background information on controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) along with a discussion of practical applications in citrus production. This article, part 2, includes summaries of observations from several case studies in which CRF has been applied for …

Controlled-Release Fertilizer Boosts Health of HLB Trees (Part 1)

Josh McGillNutrition

By Pete Spyke, Joby Sherrod and Jude Grosser Editor’s note: Look for part 2 of this article in the May 2017 issue of Citrus Industry magazine. Part 2 will present case studies using controlled-release fertilizer. Until now, most growers have considered controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) to be primarily for use on young trees, especially resets in existing groves. There is increasing …

Slow-Release Fertilizer in the Grove

Tacy CalliesCitrus Greening, Nutrition

Citrus Grower Sees Results with Slow-Release Fertilizer Pete Spyke, citrus grower and co-owner of The Orange Shop in Citra, hosted AgNet Media’s staff for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of his retail shop and gift-fruit shipping business. He detailed the history of the operation and led the staff on a tour of the packinghouse and test-plot grove. Spyke explained his use …

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 …

pesticides

Pesticides and the Environment

Daniel CooperCEU, Pesticides

By Mongi Zekri Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. The fate processes for pesticides fall into three major types: adsorption, transfer and degradation. PESTICIDE ADSORPTION The adsorption process binds …

early

The Real Reason Behind Citrus Decline

Daniel CooperOTC Expert

Sponsored Content In this special series, Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, answers questions related to trunk-injection applications to treat HLB. Q: What is the biggest problem for Florida’s citrus growers to overcome? Tom Johnson: In the general news media, you can read all manner of uninformed reasons as to why citrus production has declined so dramatically in the past …

nutrient management

Citrus Nutrient Management Recommendations Continue to Evolve

Daniel CooperBMPs, Florida, Nutrition

When HLB arrived in Florida, it changed the world for citrus growers, and a lot of other things had to change with it. One of the biggest changes has been how growers manage their fertilizer programs. The nutrient recommendations that had been developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) before HLB became outdated because …