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News for citrus growers around the globe
Texas citrus is showing heavy crops, but limited summer irrigation has led to smaller fruit sizes so far, said Juan Anciso of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Anciso is an AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist and associate head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. According to Anciso, quality continues to remain good to …
Sponsored Content Question: Are third-party research trials showing good improvement in HLB symptoms with the use of ReMedium TI®? Answer: There have been a number of research trials performed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) over the past couple of years. ReMedium TI® results have been …
By Muhammad A. Shahid, Shahid Iqbal and Davie Kadyampakeni As temperatures begin to drop across citrus-growing regions, now is the time for growers to prepare their groves for potential freeze events. Citrus trees, especially young plantings, are susceptible to cold temperatures. Damage from a single freeze event can result in canopy dieback, fruit loss and even tree death. Proper planning …
The first half of November saw the most sprouting ever observed in Brazilian citrus by the Psyllid Alert, reaching 37.4%. This scenario raises an alarm for citrus growers, since the increase in sprouting is directly linked to the growth of the psyllid population, the insect vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. HLB is also known as citrus greening. According to the …
Plant pathologist Megan Dewdney on Nov. 20 presented updates on greasy spot, greasy-green, citrus black spot (CBS) and phytophthora brown rot. Dewdney is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor and Extension specialist at the Citrus Research and Education Center. GREASY SPOT AND GREASY-GREEN Dewdney reported that control measures for greasy spot, caused by the …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) citrus breeding team hosted a field day on Nov. 19 at the UF/IFAS Eagle Lake Block. The Eagle Lake Block is a 30-acre property that was gifted to CREC as part of the Jim Hughes estate. The grove tour featured several selections being …
California’s huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) quarantine and its Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine were recently expanded. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the quarantines. HLB The HLB-quarantined area in Riverside County was expanded by 3 square miles. …
Editor’s note: This is the third installment of four articles honoring the 2025 Citrus Achievement Award Winner Ben Albritton. Senate President Ben Albritton is preparing for the 2026 legislative session with committee meetings in full swing. The session is slated to start on Jan. 13 and run 60 calendar days. During the past session, Albritton successfully led the effort to …
A University of Connecticut researcher recently made advancements in citrus gene editing techniques to reduce the drawbacks of traditional methods. The researcher is Yi Li, professor of horticultural plant breeding biotechnology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. BACKGROUND Scientists employ genome-editing technologies to precisely modify a plant’s own genes, either by inactivating or activating specific target genes …
The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) welcomed new U.S. tariff exemptions that include oranges. It stated that the new exemption is great news for the 2026 season, which starts around April. According to CGA, the exemption once again makes South African oranges competitive in the U.S. market, which holds opportunities for increased exports and local job creation. The …
By Brenda Eubank Burnette Thanksgiving, for me, has always been a time to pause and reflect — to look back with gratitude at the blessings that have shaped my life. Inevitably, that reflection leads to a few chuckles and a lot of “What if I hadn’t done this… met them… or listened to my mother?” You may laugh, but I …
Florida Farm Bureau has submitted comments supporting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposal to amend the standard of identity (SOI) for pasteurized orange juice (POJ) by lowering the minimum soluble solids content from 10.5° to 10° Brix. The FDA proposed an amendment earlier this year in response to a 2021 Florida citrus industry petition. Following are some comments from …
By Peter Chaires Last month’s Citrus Nursery Source article promised additional details on New Varieties Development & Management Corp.’s (NVDMC) 2025–26 sponsored projects. While there is only space for general summaries, it is important to highlight the areas of focus for each research team, and the emphasis on short-term benefits while continuing to build a foundation for the future. NVDMC …
Golden Ridge Groves will open Nov. 20 in Alturas, Florida. The new business includes u-pick in a citrus under protective screen (CUPS) structure and a farm market. The operation will be open for the season Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Husband and wife owners Shane and Katie Bevilacqua answered questions about the new business. Q: When will …
The Florida Citrus Show is gearing up for an exciting return on March 12, 2026, bringing back the popular tailgate-style format that exhibitors and growers have come to love. The event will once again take 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 …
Citrus agricultural technology will be showcased on Dec. 5 in California. Six companies will demonstrate their technology during a VINE Connect Field Day at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Lindcove Research and Extension Center (REC) in Exeter. VINE Connect is a statewide commercialization program that helps proven ag tech companies bring their technologies to market …
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently approved TJ BioTech’s request for a Section 24(c) registration related to a fourth year of use of the oxytetracycline (OTC) product ReMedium TI®. The product is a systemic injectable antimicrobial for the control or suppression of huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus. The Section 24(c) registration is a special local need registration. …
By Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Bosques Jonael Replanting a citrus grove can be an exciting prospect, but it’s not as simple as swapping trees. New cultivars, for example, may require a different setup. Here are some aspects to consider before jumping in: First steps: Newly released cultivars and rootstocks as wells as the Citrus Research and Field Trial programs are refreshing the …
Florida Farm Bureau commented on issues of importance to agriculturists after the government shutdown ended. Parts of the Florida Farm Bureau announcement follow: On Wednesday, Nov. 12, President Donald Trump signed legislation that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. The measure …
In the November Highlands County Citrus Growers Association newsletter, President Riley McKenna and Executive Director Ray Royce reported mostly positive signs they’ve been seeing in groves. MCKENNA “As the month progresses, so have the cooler nighttime temperatures. This cold front marks an important shift moving forward into our early harvest season,” said McKenna. “It brings both anticipation for fruit ripening …
