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News for citrus growers around the globe
Scientists with Tunisian and Swedish universities recently wrote “Salinity–Chloride Interaction Effects on Novel Citrus Combinations Under Various Field Conditions,” which was published in Horticulturae. The authors are Hend Askri, Sywar Haffani, Hager Snoussi, Rim Zitouna-Chebbi, Tarek Fezzani and Asma Najar — all with Université de Carthage in Tunisia — and Ronny Berndtsson with Lund University in Sweden. A brief summary …
Adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture is not a foregone conclusion. Despite the technology’s perceived effectiveness in making crop production more efficient, the associated costs are still too high for farmers. “Right now, a lot of these technologies come with huge price tags for just the cost of purchasing the equipment,” said Lynn Sosnoskie, assistant professor with Cornell University. …
The Citrus Industry section of the June 2026 issue of Specialty Crop Grower focuses on leadership and research. On the cover of the magazine is Ned Hancock, winner of the 2026 Citrus Achievement Award. He is being recognized for his decades-long leadership and dedication to serving Florida’s citrus industry. Don’t miss the accompanying video in the digital issue of the …
Florida’s soils present unique challenges for growers. The soils vary widely from nutrient-poor sandy to highly organic soils, depending on location. These conditions make it difficult to sustainably manage agriculture in a way that supports food production, environmental health and a strong economy. To address these challenges, University of Florida (UF) researchers are leading a four-year study supported by a $749,999 …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently suggested preparations growers can make for hurricane season, which starts June 1. It also provided information about recovery resources. PREPARATIONS RECOVERY ASSISTANCE USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) offer a number of options to offset losses and help get you back on your feet. Contact your local USDA Service Center to …
The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on May 20 approved a $250,000 contract with Visit Florida to continue providing free orange juice at Florida welcome centers on interstate highways. The FCC serves as the governing board for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), which performs marketing, research and regulatory functions for the state’s citrus industry. Visit Florida, the state’s official destination …
Heavy rainfall in South Africa’s Eastern and Western Cape provinces earlier this month — during early mandarin harvesting — caused widespread flooding that is expected to impact production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported that the floods destroyed export-quality fruit and wiped out entire crops for some growers at the peak of the season. The …
Shifts in the international geopolitical landscape, rising logistics costs, sanitary barriers and currency fluctuations are directly impacting Brazil’s fruit industry, including citrus. The effects of these transformations were discussed during a recent edition of the Socioeconomics Debates series, hosted by Embrapa, under the theme, Brazil’s Fruit Industry: How Global Crises Impact What Reaches Your Table. Researchers, economists and production representatives …
South Alabama’s citrus production is nearly non-existent. The 2025 snow event made sure of that. One of the few remaining producers is Craig Goolsby, with Silverhill Satsumas in Baldwin County. Goolsby recently added trees to his citrus operation, but that is far from the norm for Alabama citrus growers. According to Goolsby, state plant protection inspectors were recently making the …
Topping — pruning the tops of trees — along orchard edges has been studied as a potential strategy for managing citrus greening disease. This technique aims to stimulate new shoot growth on trees along the orchard perimeter to attract the psyllid — the insect vector responsible for transmitting the disease. Chemical control efforts can then be concentrated in those specific …
By Lauren Fessler Mathews, Ana Redondo and Ozgur Batuman Citrus canker continues to impact Florida citrus, increasing premature fruit drop and decreasing yield and fruit quality. While copper sprays have long been relied upon to control this disease, concerns about environmental impact and possible resistance development have led to efforts to find sustainable alternatives. Previous studies have shown that plant …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Editor’s note: This month’s Pieces of the Past is the author’s acceptance speech after being inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame on March 27. Congratulations, Brenda! Forty-five years ago, I had no idea that entering the Florida Citrus Queen contest would change the entire course of my life. I simply needed scholarship money for …
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) presented marketing plans for the 2026–27 season at the May 20 meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). The FCC serves as the FDOC’s governing board. ORANGE JUICE Florida orange juice will continue to be positioned as the original wellness drink. The marketing effort will be aimed at juice consumers and health professionals. The …
Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service on May 21 predicted a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Its outlook is for a 35% chance of a near-normal season, a 10% chance of an above-normal season and a 55% chance of a below-normal season. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The agency …
After significant drought in many parts of Florida, some much-needed rainfall began in May as the rainy season approaches. That seasonal transition, from a grove management perspective, is the focus of the May episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …
An international group of authors recently reported on a study to investigate the impact of organic farming on the soil microbiome in citrus orchards. The authors are: The soil microbiota of eight conventionally and seven organically managed commercial citrus orchards across eastern Sicily were evaluated. FINDINGS The structure (diversity and relative abundance) and functionality of soil bacterial and fungal communities …
The grapefruit-like pomelo, the world’s biggest citrus fruit, has a hefty peel that protects the delicate flesh inside. That peel could help inspire more shock-absorbent naval ships. Boston University (BU) College of Engineering researchers are studying the pomelo’s ability to fall from up to 50 feet without smashing into pieces. (Watch the video!) With a U.S. Navy grant, they’re combining …
A recent poll commissioned by Amato Advisors and conducted by Farm Journal finds that many American farmers are in deep economic strain and trust neither political party to help them. The Farmer & Rancher Policy Sentiment Survey, fielded in April 2026, surveyed 974 farmers and ranchers across 44 states. Key findings include: “This is one of the most striking pieces …
A team of nine researchers led by University of California Davis (UC Davis) entomologist Mia Lippey recently published a paper on climate warming and the effect on agricultural pests. Their work, Field Data Challenge Predictions of Universal Crop Pest Proliferation Under Warming, appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It contradicts experiments indicating that arthropod crop pest densities will …
It may not be June, but growers in the cold-hardy citrus region are experiencing June drop, a natural thinning process in which trees lose a lot of their fruit. Growers should not be alarmed about excess pieces of fruit that may be on the ground, says Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. “We are …
