HLB

Panel on Bactericides for HLB Summarized

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

Harold Browning, chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, summarizes a Citrus Expo panel in which four growers discussed their use of bactericides for HLB. The bactericides became available for use for HLB this spring. “They’re kind of working in the dark,” Browning says of the panelists and other growers trying bactericides. “They’re having to test and …

bactericides for HLB

Snively Discusses Use of Bactericides for HLB

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

Jim Snively of Southern Gardens Citrus says his company is trying bactericides for HLB on one-tenth of its 10,000 citrus acres. The company is working with the Citrus Research and Development Foundation to analyze fruit drop, tree condition and more in blocks treated with bactericides. He believes it will take two to three years to determine if the bactericides are …

Thank You for Another Great Year

Kelsey FryCitrus Expo

Dear Growers, Industry Members and Friends: On behalf of everyone at Citrus Expo, we would like to extend our appreciation to all attendees, exhibitors and sponsors of this year’s event. We are overwhelmed with the generosity and support from all levels of participants that joined us this year. The Citrus Expo Shindig, held on Wednesday night, allowed everyone to relax …

bactericides survey

Citrus Grove Renovation/Re-establishment Support Program

Tacy CalliesLegislative

Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, issued the following report: “As you know, a big part of Mutual’s mission over the past three years was to try and uncover, create and support grower incentive programs to get more trees in the ground and rebuild our industry. Through the hard work of Commissioner Adam Putnam and his staff …

Bactericide Research Appears Promising

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist Bob Shatters updated Citrus Expo seminar attendees on results from ongoing bactericide research trials. He was among the many speakers who discussed tools for HLB in the seminar program. “The first year of applications, we were detecting reductions in the bacterial population of the plant,” Shatters said. “And we did see that continue after the …

Citrus Expo

Scenes from Citrus Expo’s Silver Anniversary

Taylor HillmanCitrus, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

Citrus Expo 2016 Citrus growers and industry members turned out in full force for the 25th anniversary of Citrus Expo. They came seeking answers on citrus greening and other production challenges, as was evidenced by the large turnout at the “Now Is the Time” seminar program. Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN RESEARCH …

HLB tolerance

Southern Gardens Citrus to Host HLB Webinar

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Citrus Greening

Rick Kress, senior vice president of research commercialization for Southern Gardens Citrus will present a webinar titled “Can We Live Without Citrus?” on August 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT. Can you imagine what your store would look like if the orange juice section was suddenly empty or produce shelves were void of all oranges, grapefruit, lemons and …

EPA Approves Temporary Use of Bactericides for HLB

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Greening

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week approved the temporary use of three bactericides on HLB-infected citrus trees. Florida citrus growers had already been using the products this year because Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam issued a crisis declaration allowing their use. Citrus Research and Development Foundation Chief Operations Officer Harold Browning announced the EPA decision at Citrus …

2016 Citrus Expo Gun Safe Winner Announced

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo

Congratulations to Caleb Shelfer, the winner of the John Deere gun safe giveaway at Citrus Expo 2016! Shelfer is with Joshua Citrus Inc. in Arcadia. This popular Citrus Expo tradition is made possible by sponsorship from Everglades Farm Equipment. Stephanie Capon, Miss Florida Citrus, drew the winning card. Gary Cooper, AgNet Media founder and president, announced the lucky name to …

Putnam: Private Citrus Forecast ‘a Kick in the Gut’

Tacy CalliesForecast

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam expresses pleasure at celebrating the 25th Citrus Expo and dismay at a private citrus forecast of 60.5 million boxes of Florida oranges next season. “Boy, what a kick in the gut that forecast was,” says Putnam, who is a citrus grower. He notes that post-bloom fruit drop no doubt played a role in the …

Post-Bloom Fruit Drop Survey

Tacy CalliesPests

A Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Research Management Committee meeting was called on June 29, 2016, to discuss post-bloom fruit drop (PFD) caused by Colletotricum spp. in Florida. In this meeting, it was suggested that there is an opportunity to retrospectively investigate PFD management strategies from 2016 to determine if grower treatment programs led to variable results. A survey …

Dr. Bryony C. Bonning

UF/IFAS Hires Eminent Scholar to Help in Fight Against Citrus Greening

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has added another soldier in its battle against citrus greening by hiring world-renowned entomologist Bryony Bonning. She has been named Eminent Scholar with tenure in the UF/IFAS entomology and nematology department. Currently, Bonning is a professor of entomology at Iowa State University and director of the National Science Foundation Center …

mandarins

UF/IFAS Scientists Zeroing in on Better Mandarins

Daniel CooperCitrus

In their quest to develop higher quality mandarins, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are zeroing in on the traits that will help them breed the best fruit. Last year, they released the mandarin cultivar currently known as ‘7-6-27,’ which UF/IFAS researchers say is soaring with interest, and with more than 100,000 trees already ordered. Sponsored …

Experiences with HLB

HLB Experiences and Thoughts Shared

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, Grapefruit, Pests

Tom Stopyra, technical crop advisor for The Packers of Indian River, shares experiences with HLB and offers opinions on numerous other topics he addressed at a recent seminar in Immokalee. Regarding the record high populations of HLB-spreading psyllids throughout Florida’s citrus belt this year, Stopyra says: “We’ve never seen populations like we have this year, even though we’ve been spraying …

Citrus Growers Urged to Submit Comments to EPA on Simazine

Tacy CalliesHerbicides

The herbicide active ingredient simazine (Princep®) is currently undergoing re-registration review by EPA. A crucial step in that process is the public comment period. EPA is now accepting public comments. It would be very helpful to include comments from end-users in the Florida citrus community, where simazine is an important weed management tool. Click here for concise background information and …

Saving Florida’s Citrus Industry Through Collaboration and Innovation

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening

From Kevin Shea, Administrator, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: The Florida citrus industry is under siege and the invader is a tiny bug called the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). The ACP spreads a disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening, and together they are destroying groves that have been cultivated by families for generations. But all is …

HLB and psyllid levels

Record Psyllid Levels and the Good CHMAs Do

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, Pests

Populations of HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids have been at record levels since April, University of Florida Citrus Health Management Area (CHMA) Program Coordinator Brandon Page told growers at a recent seminar in Immokalee. Page thinks abandoned groves that aren’t sprayed and therefore harbor psyllids are part of the reason for the recent population increase. “I think we’re also seeing money …

BASF Announces Label for Priaxor® Fungicide for Florida Citrus

Tacy CalliesCitrus

BASF announces that Priaxor® fungicide has received federal and Florida approval for use on all citrus varieties in Florida. Priaxor® fungicide is already being used in sugarcane and vegetables throughout the state and the United States. Priaxor® fungicide is a mixture of the active ingredient in Headline® fungicide and a new systemic fungicide Xemium®. Testing in Florida has shown the …

Florida Producers Invited to UF Agriculture and Gardening Day

Kelsey FryAgriculture

Anyone with ties to the agricultural industry is encouraged to get tickets for 2016 Agriculture and Gardening Day at the University of Florida Gators homecoming football game October 15th. Dr. Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, hopes farmers and ranchers from across the state will attend.         Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire …

August Issue of Citrus Industry Features CEU Article

Tacy CalliesCEU

Earn one core continuing education unit (CEU) by reading the Citrus Industry CEU article, “What do pesticide formulations have to do with anything?” and passing the accompanying test. The article, authored by University of Florida’s Laurie Ann Hurner, is now available online and will appear in the August 2016 issue of Citrus Industry magazine. This CEU will be valid for …