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News for citrus growers around the globe
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has been required to update all basin management action plans (BMAPs) by July 1. As part of this requirement, FDEP is adding five-year milestones to each BMAP, where they didn’t previously exist. FDEP has allocations assigned to each entity in the BMAP. Agriculture is assigned an allocation in each BMAP, and FDEP assigns …
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently urged the repeal of two labor regulations that are driving up costs for growers using the H-2A program, which allows temporary foreign agricultural workers. The FFVA letter requesting the changes was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget. FFVA called for the rescission of: The letter stated that Florida, …
Three citrus grower associations applauded Chairman GT Thompson and the U.S. House Agriculture Committee for including critical funding for the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program in the recent budget reconciliation draft. The associations were California Citrus Mutual (CCM), Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and Texas Citrus Mutual (TCM). The investment represents a vital commitment to the long-term health and …
Citrus Research and Development Foundation President Morgan McKenna Porter said individual protective covers (IPCs) give newly planted trees a “fighting chance” against huanglongbing (HLB) and serve as a bridge until HLB-resistant trees are available. “IPCs are not flawless, but they certainly can be optimized,” Porter said. “I have the ability to plant a young tree and put an IPC over …
Before HLB, canker and diaprepes root weevils became major problems for Florida citrus growers, weeds were among the constant and major annoyances in groves. Even with the pests and diseases growers have faced over the past five decades, the need for weed control may be as important, and costly, as ever. A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …
By Peter Chaires Beginning in 2013, New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) worked in tandem with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center Plant Improvement Team (then Jude Grosser, Fred Gmitter and Bill Castle) and Florida Foundation Seed Producers Inc. to make newly identified fresh market citrus varieties available for …
By Lauren Diepenbrock Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), commonly referred to as fire ants, are found throughout Florida. This pest infests a broad range of habitats, including urban regions, natural areas and production fields. In citrus, there are a range of impacts from this pest — from human health to both direct and indirect tree impacts. From a human …
Florida landowner Alico, Inc. announced May 13 that it completed its last major citrus harvest in April. The company will conduct a final harvest on the majority of its 3,783 acres of remaining operational citrus groves in fiscal year 2026. Alico has negotiated agreements to lease another 5,250 acres of different groves to third-party citrus growers next season. Earlier this …
Four University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) horticulture researchers recently wrote an update in the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection about optimizing citrus nitrogen applications in North Florida. The authors are Muhammad A. Shahid, Davie Kadyampakeni, Shahid Iqbal and Muhammad Nadeem. The following edited excerpts explain the research project and provide conclusions: THE RESEARCH The need for …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center hosted an OJ Break seminar on May 14. The speakers provided updates on developing a gene-edited citrus tree with resistance to HLB and how growers can use existing tools to mitigate the disease. Nian Wang, UF/IFAS professor, provided an update on the status of …
It costs $4,215 per acre to grow navel oranges in California in 2025, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) reported following a recent survey of production costs. That’s up from $3,300 in 2020 (a 35% increase), $2,712 in 2015 (a 75% increase), $2,099 in 2010 (a 125% increase) and $1,555 in 2005 (a 171% increase). Additionally, CCM reported that picking and hauling …
Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region are expected to produce a low crop in 2025 following a massive crop in 2024. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, believes the trees’ alternate bearing cycle will contribute to the decreased crop in 2025, especially for satsuma mandarins. “This alternate bearing pattern probably started in 2023. That …
Ching-Hong Yang, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) biological sciences professor, was recently awarded a $1.5 million federal grant to support research on a compound that suppresses HLB disease. His project is titled Bringing RejuAgro to Market: Development of a Groundbreaking Trunk Injection Biopesticide for Huanglongbing (HLB). The grant is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture …
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) is seeking up-and-coming leaders who want to be more involved in FFVA to apply for participation in the FFVA Emerging Leader Development Program. Applications are due by June 13. Applicants should fill out the application form and the written agreement form and send them to Sonia.Tighe@ffva.com. Launched in 2011, the yearlong leadership program …
A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives recently reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 3227. The bill would update the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. It is a compromise solution that supporters said provides stability for farms and farmworkers. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, one of those who reintroduced the bill, said, “It is well-past time we get this bipartisan …
Carlton Collins recently was named top master’s researcher in the E. Broadus Browne Research Awards for Outstanding Graduate Student Research competition at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He was recognized for his research on huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening. Collins, born in Jamaica, was introduced to citrus production on a small …
By Maegan Beatty In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Florida’s citrus industry is slowly working toward recovery. The storm brought damage to groves across key growing regions, raising concerns about long-term impacts on fruit yield and tree health. As recovery efforts continue, Indian River Citrus League Executive Vice President Doug Bournique and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have developed an approach to countering the citrus disease HLB as well as zebra chip disease in potatoes and other vegetables. Their method uses spinach antimicrobial peptides, known as defensins, which naturally defend plants against a broad range of pathogens. Their study results were recently published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal. The effects show significant …
Registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2025 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event takes place Aug. 20–21at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Growers and industry professionals are invited to sign up now for complimentary registration to this two-day event filled with education, networking and innovation. Hosted by AgNet Media, the Expo is Florida’s premier event for …
The recent conclusion of negotiations between the governments of Brazil and India formalized the opening of the Indian market for the export of Brazilian citrus products. This includes Tahiti limes, Sicilian lemons, sweet oranges, tangerines and similar products. The Brazilian Association of Fruit and Derivative Producers and Exporters (Abrafrutas) called the agreement “a strategic achievement for the sector.” It reported …
