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News for citrus growers around the globe
Dundee Citrus Growers Association has struggled with the same major setbacks as the rest of Florida’s citrus industry, including multiple freezes in the 1980s and HLB in this century. But Dundee, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, has not only survived but has become the state’s largest citrus cooperative. A recent video recounts the association’s history, focusing on the growth, …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has determined that Soilcea’s modified sweet orange, which reportedly has resistance to HLB, is not a plant pest or a plant that requires regulation under 7 CFR part 340. USDA APHIS regulates the “Movement of Organisms Modified or Produced through Genetic Engineering” as described in 7 CFR …
The Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC) is actively seeking nominations for a new committee member to complete a two-year term ending August 2026. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of its industries in experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors …
By Ozgur Batuman, Sanju Kunwar and Ana Redondo In a promising effort to protect citrus from huanglongbing (HLB), University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are exploring the potential of Australian lime as an interstock graft for Valencia scions with Swingle rootstock. The interstock technique uses various limes, known for their natural HLB-tolerant peptides, between the …
More than a month removed from Hurricane Helene, Georgia citrus growers have a better idea of the impact the devastating storm had on this year’s crop. All things considered, Georgia growers are fortunate with the fruit that is still left to be harvested, says Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. “Everything we’ve heard so far is that …
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Florida members of Congress recently urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to ensure Florida farmers get critical aid and policy flexibilities as they recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry,” the Florida legislators’ letter to Vilsack stated. “According to the Florida Department …
Lindy Savelle took an unconventional route to becoming a leader for Georgia citrus. Turns out, her path was paved with success. The former federal law enforcement investigator decided to pursue a second career as a Georgia citrus grower and became a voice for the state’s blossoming industry. Almost 10 years after planting her first trees, Savelle has emerged as a …
Not all citrus disease concerns center around huanglongbing (HLB). While HLB disease garners much of the headlines because of its devastation to Florida’s citrus crop, growers in the cold-hardy citrus region should be mindful of other diseases that can devastate a crop if left untreated. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, highlighted some of …
The drop in Brazil’s 2024 citrus harvest is due, among other factors, to the long period of drought observed in the Citrus Belt, according to Fundecitrus. Mitigating problems related to periods of drought is the objective of several studies being conducted by Fundecitrus, Embrapa Cassava and Fruits, Coopercitrus Credicitrus Foundation and the Agronomic Institute (IAC). One of these studies takes …
By Mongi Zekri 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 fate processes for pesticides fall into three major types: adsorption, transfer and degradation. PESTICIDE ADSORPTION The adsorption process binds …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Florida Citrus Mutual was organized in 1948 to help stabilize citrus prices. The organization eventually expanded its focus to address the need for a strong unified voice for the Florida citrus industry on issues debated at the local, state and federal level. However, to get that unified voice from the board members was often a challenge, …
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) announced the selection of 12 up-and-coming agriculture industry leaders for Class 14 of its Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP). Class 14 members are: Over the coming year, participants will visit FFVA’s headquarters to learn about all facets of the association and tour farming and packing operations in Florida. They will meet in Tallahassee …
This is the fourth installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. What are some of the resources available to the public through the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame? Burnette: The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame includes a digital database of Florida citrus crate labels, postcards, citrus industry photographs and a variety of artifacts, …
A Brazilian study evaluated the effects of top pruning on orange trees located on the edges of an orchard as part of an HLB management strategy. The pruning was an attempt to attract the HLB-spreading psyllid from external areas to the orchard edges and control it, reducing its dispersion into the orchard. Fundecitrus and Embrapa Cassava and Fruits conducted the …
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and nine co-plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit contesting the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) recently finalized H-2A rule. The challengers allege unconstitutional regulatory overreach and limitations on the freedom of speech of farmers who employ temporary workers. The co-plaintiffs are American Farm Bureau Federation, AmericanHort, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, …
Citrus canker could spread in Florida groves as a result of Hurricane Milton, researcher Megan Dewdney warned. A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of plant pathology, Dewdney offered suggestions for dealing with canker at a recent UF/IFAS hurricane recovery webinar. WIND WOUNDS High winds and rain, which were abundant during the hurricane, move …
By Taylor O’Bannon, Clara Diekman and Michelle Danyluk In July 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized changes to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Subpart E, which covers preharvest agricultural water. Since then, the clock has been ticking on farms’ implementation of the rule changes. Large farms have nine months after the effective date to …
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Water Policy (FDACS OAWP) recently announced updates to the Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost Share Program. A new application portal is now open. Applications can be submitted directly via smartphone or computer. Learn more about the BMP Program, including how to request project funding, here. There are now clearer …
Several citrus growers, consultants and others from São Paulo, Brazil, recently toured Florida’s Indian River citrus region to examine the management of HLB. Flavia Zambon, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of horticultural production at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), hosted the group. “In the traditional production region known as the …
Recently, Steven Hall joined the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation as its new executive director. The CRAFT Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) direct support organization of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry. It was incorporated in June 2019 to act as mechanism to direct and manage a broad-scale field-trial program to determine …
