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News for citrus growers around the globe
Last week, Glenn “GT” Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, unveiled an outline of the bipartisan policies and priorities of the 2024 farm bill. The legislation, scheduled to be marked up by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture on May 23, holds the key to crucial resources for various agricultural commodities, including Florida’s citrus industry. On the …
A pair of panel discussions during the citrus seminars at the Florida Citrus Show gave growers the opportunity to engage with experts on top-of-mind topics. BREEDER RECOMMENDATIONS The citrus seminar program started with a discussion among citrus breeders moderated by Flavia Zambon, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor at the Indian River Research and …
Fundecitrus researchers Renato Bassanezi and Silvio Lopes in April addressed the citrus greening situation in Brazil from an epidemiological point of view during the International Epidemiology Workshop held in Brazil. Lopes presented work on the potential of citrus plants in backyards being a source of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (the bacterium associated with greening) inoculum for commercial orchards. Fundecitrus has been …
Finger limes are liked by consumers and might be marketed to high-end food outlets, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers reported recently. Speaking at a finger lime field day April 24 at the Citrus Research and Education Center, UF/IFAS data management analyst Fredy Ballen offered take-away messages from consumer/market research on the UF/IFAS-released SunLime finger …
Climate scientist Michael Mann at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences and his team have predicted a record-breaking 33 named storms for the 2024 North Atlantic hurricane season. They said the number of storms could potentially range from 27 to 39. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Earlier this spring, Colorado State University …
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s (FFVA) Florida Specialty Crop Foundation is seeking applicants for Class 14 of the Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP). Launched in 2011, the program identifies and develops leaders to be strong advocates for Florida agriculture. Sessions provide a wealth of information about the many issues facing the industry and equip members to communicate about agriculture. Ultimately, …
The National Center for Citrus Variety Improvement in Chongqing’s Western Science City in China has created Citrus Core 1. The world’s first citrus liquid breeding chip, Citrus Core 1 boosts breeding efficiency. Breeding chips play a vital role in germplasm genotyping for biological breeding, which is crucial for crop genetic enhancement and research. China is a significant player in breeding …
The BeSure! campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition helps growers protect bees and other wildlife. To learn more about pesticide safety for pollinators, we’re talking with Todd Hanson, Bayer product manager for corn seed treatments. About Growing Matters BeSure! Growing Matters is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to scientific discourse on the stewardship, benefits and alternatives of neonicotinoid insecticides in North America. …
By Maegan Beatty In mid-April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted the 9th annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma. The conference examines critical policy issues facing agribusiness leaders and provides economic insights. Participants heard from policymakers, key stakeholders and expert researchers on the farm …
It was a dry April in most of Florida’s citrus-production areas. That means irrigation is vital to keep HLB-infected trees adequately watered. The drier months of the year from February through May are when flowering and fruit set are occurring. If trees are stressed due to water deficit during this time, they are more likely to suffer fruit drop and …
By Amir Rezazadeh 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 primary pesticide handling tasks are mixing and loading. These are also the most harmful aspects of pesticide application. Because …
During its April meeting, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors passed its preliminary budget for the next fiscal year. It allows $1.4 million in new project funding. “This amount should be enough to fund the projects the board wishes to fund from our primary request for proposals, which are aimed at answering practical questions growers have …
By Larry Duncan Prior to the introduction of citrus greening disease in Florida, certain conventions applied to the occurrence and impact of diaprepes root weevil in groves across the state. The abundance and damage potential of this major pest were greatest in some Flatwoods habitats, such as parts of the inland East Coast where newly planted trees sustained major damage. …
Fire ants are damaging and a significant threat to commercial operations. Here are five fire ant facts operators need to know, plus tips for how to control them. 1. Fire Ants Can Deal Damage Fire ants can take a toll on essential equipment and infrastructure, resulting in downtime and economic consequences. While fire ants are small in stature, they’re mighty …
Muhmmad Shahid and Shahid Iqbal recently provided advice on planting cold-hardy citrus in Florida. Shahid is an assistant professor of horticulture/fruit physiologist, and Iqbal is a postdoctoral scholar in horticultural sciences, both at the University of Florida North Florida Research and Education Center. Edited excerpts from their article in the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection follow: BEFORE YOU PLANT Properly planting …
While the recent Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute presentations focused mainly on HLB, other topics were addressed, including phytophthora root rot. This disease has become more problematic in recent years. Megan Dewdney, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of plant pathology, spoke on the topic. She noted that phytophthora already is a complex problem and that …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has released its Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection Program Strategy. The plan covers the period of 2024 to 2028. The agency called the document “a unified roadmap” for protecting American agriculture from the threat of invasive fruit flies. USDA APHIS worked with members of the National Plant …
Only a few Florida commercial citrus growers were on hand for an April 24 finger lime field day at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Most of the more than 40 attendees did not own citrus groves, and about half were women — definitely not the standard crowd for a CREC event. Those in attendance had …
A December 2022 freeze in Georgia significantly reduced the state’s 2023 citrus production, but many growers anticipate a large crop in 2024. “With less fruit production in 2023, trees added a lot more vegetative growth and increased their canopy volume,” University of Georgia Extension citrus agent Jake Price noted. “The satsuma bloom at the research plot was very large and …
The Chilean Citrus Committee recently estimated that global citrus exports from Chile will total 383,000 tons this season, a 4% decline from 2023. Export declines are projected for clementines, mandarins and oranges. Lemons are the only citrus fruit forecast to have increased export volume this season. The committee forecast clementine export volume of 40,000 tons, which is 35% less than …
