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News for citrus growers around the globe
By Robin Loftin In 2023, when the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was forced to leave the Lee Civic Center and Fort Myers, AgNet Media shared your disappointment. Like many of you, we hoped and prayed that one day we would have the opportunity to return. Today, we are thrilled to announce that those prayers have been answered. The 2026 …
As 2025 winds down, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), took time to recognize Chris Oswalt during the December All In For Citrus podcast. Oswalt is retiring from his post as a citrus Extension agent, which he’s held for nearly 30 years. He served Polk …
A recent study has shown that regular orange juice (OJ) consumption can influence the activity of thousands of genes inside immune cells. Many of these genes help control blood pressure, calm inflammation and manage the way the body processes sugar, all of which play an important role in long-term heart health. The study followed adults who drank 500 milliliters of …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) hosted its last scheduled citrus fruit display of the year on Dec. 17 in Lake Alfred. The December display is considered the best of the season due to the number and diversity of varieties available. There were about 25 fresh fruit varieties on …
On Dec. 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) officials established a new Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine. Located in La Feria, Cameron County, Texas, it has been designated the La Feria quarantine. FOUND IN GRAPEFRUIT GROVE APHIS and TDA established the new quarantine in response to the Dec. …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) provided the following tips for reducing spray drift in citrus groves: Source: UF/IFAS Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire AntsJuly 1, 2025Take the Sting Out of Fire AntsJune 1, 2025A Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for Stage Two of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). SDRP provides more than $16 billion in disaster relief payments to eligible producers who suffered revenue, quality or production losses to crops, trees, bushes or vines due to qualifying disaster events in 2023 and 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is …
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently reported it has already issued more than $12 million in grower payments for CRAFT Year 7 programs and completed more than 600 contracts. Executive Director Steven Hall issued the following program updates: FAST TRACK PROGRAM CYCLE 7 TRADITIONAL PROGRAM EMERGING VARIETIES PROGRAM CRAFT expects to begin issuing contracts for the Emerging …
The second major freeze event of the season occurred this week in the cold-hardy citrus region. It is still too early to gauge the long-term impact of temperatures dropping to the mid-20s in the early morning hours on Monday and Tuesday. However, if growers did not implement freeze-protection measures, this event could be more serious than the first freeze that …
Federal and state agriculture officials recently made changes to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening disease) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantines in California. They also removed a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported these changes. CALIFORNIA HLB On Nov. 25, APHIS and the California …
By Ramdas Kanissery Young citrus trees are highly sensitive to herbicides. Even small amounts of drift onto green bark or foliage can significantly impact tree growth (Figure 1). Taking a few practical precautions during herbicide applications can help protect young trees and keep them growing strong during their early establishment years. AVOID HERBICIDE CONTACT WITH GREEN BARK The greatest risk …
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) recently reported on the changes to citrus tariffs as a result of President Trump’s executive order modifying the scope of the administration’s reciprocal tariffs. Lemons and mandarins remain subject to reciprocal tariffs, ensuring continued tariff parity during the domestic growing season. Oranges and limes were newly exempted, and grapefruit was exempted only during the month of …
By Peter Chaires In July, the Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc. (FFSP) advised the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) of eight newly released University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus varieties that may fall under F.S. 601.13 (4). This state statute provides the FCC with a first option to obtain …
Florida Citrus Mutual held its board of directors meeting on Dec. 10 at Kenny Sanders’ barn and grove in Zolfo Springs. Afterward, lunch was served, and a grower information meeting was held. Steven Hall, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation gave an update on the latest round of program funding. CRAFT was awarded more than …
Recent research highlights the potential of natural compounds derived from agricultural waste, particularly focusing on orange peels. The study unravels the prebiotic and antioxidant properties of these compounds, shedding light on their potential applications in health and nutrition. The authors of the study, which was conducted in India, are: Peels from citrus fruits, specifically oranges, constitute a significant portion of …
The vision of researchers at Florida’s new Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture is to manage farm issues in real time, putting AI directly into farmers’ hands. Construction on the 40,000-square-foot AI facility is underway and is expected to be completed in early 2027. “We’re not just studying problems. We’re equipping farmers with solutions,” said Nathan Boyd of …
Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently published a scientific article explaining why HLB is so difficult to control. “Why is it so difficult to control huanglongbing (HLB)? Point of view” was published by the journal Scientia Agricola (Agricultural Science). It was authored by Fundecitrus researcher Renato Bassanezi and post-doctoral researcher Isabela Vescove Primiano, in collaboration with the late professor Armando Bergamin Filho of …
Citrus Australia has called on Australia’s minister for agriculture and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to pause the market access application for pomelo from Vietnam. It cited biosecurity risks that require further scientific assessment. Citrus Australia Chief Executive Officer Nathan Hancock said Australia’s citrus industry strongly supports mutually beneficial trade and recognizes the importance of open, rules-based market …
Korean manufacturer Suchang recently announced it has successfully developed a new dog food product using gamgyul-bak — byproducts from the Korean citrus processing industry. Tentatively branded Orange Dogs, the product is designed for global markets, with export plans targeting the United States, Japan, China and Europe. The key ingredient of Orange Dog, gamgyul-bak, refers to the peel and residual materials …
Fundecitrus’ Dec. 10 orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais Citrus Belt in Brazil is for 294.81 million boxes of oranges. That’s a reduction of 3.9% from the September forecast of 306.74 million boxes and a 6.3% reduction from the initial May forecast of 314.6 million boxes. The two main reasons for the reduction in the …
