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News for citrus growers around the globe
Federal and state officials have expanded the quarantine for huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening disease) in the Mission Viejo area of California’s Orange County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, expanded the quarantine by 13.16 square miles. The expansion was in response …
By Maegan Beatty Earlier this month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) hosted the 2025 Citrus Health Forum. Growers gathered to learn about citrus production and hear regional citrus updates. Muhammad Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor, presented information on optimizing nitrogen fertilization to enhance the quality of satsuma mandarins. …
By Fernando Alferez and Saoussen Ben Abdallah Individual protective covers (IPCs) are now being increasingly adopted in Florida to protect newly planted citrus trees from psyllid colonization. The risk of new citrus plantings becoming infected with HLB is especially high, as young trees flush more frequently and attract more psyllids. However, the adoption of IPCs does not occur in all …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was honored this year to be part of the Vero Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum’s “Deeply Rooted” event, which was the kick-off for Indian River County’s Centennial Celebration. It made me think of this year’s Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductees. They all have something in common with deep roots — Polk County! …
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack from Florida and colleagues recently reintroduced the bipartisan Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act. The act is aimed at removing barriers to agriculture disaster assistance for producers. The bill would provide farmers, ranchers and other agriculture producers with improved access to federal disaster assistance following natural disasters. Reps. Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren, both of California, …
With spring comes a number of citrus events. One of those was the Florida Citrus Show held on March 13 in Fort Pierce. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, joins the March All In For Citrus podcast to discuss highlights of Florida Citrus Show. He also …
By Maegan Beatty During the recent citrus insect management workshop at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center, Larry Duncan, a nematology professor, discussed the sting nematode. First recognized in the 1980s as a pest of young citrus trees, the sting nematode has adapted to coarse, sandy soils. The pest feeds at …
Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) chief operating officer, believes there is a future for Florida’s citrus industry. His optimistic outlook is based on approaches that researchers have implemented to help growers survive in the short term, such as oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection, and work toward the development of an HLB-resistant tree. Dantzler shared that hope during the …
A U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report forecasts Chinese mandarin and grapefruit production will both increase slightly in 2024–25. TANGERINES/MANDARINS China’s production of tangerines and mandarins is forecast at 27 million metric tons (MMT), up from 26.9 MMT the prior year. Increasing production in multiple cities is expected to outpace the negative effects of citrus greening …
Conditions for the movement of fresh citrus fruit from the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantined areas in Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) were recently modified. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) took the action to make treatments more feasible or economically viable. Growers who intend to move citrus from the core areas of …
By Clint Thompson The Florida Citrus Show united the specialty crop industry, informed farmers about trends impacting citrus and vegetables and prepared them for the upcoming season. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy tailgating treats that were prominent at the trade show. It was an impactful event, says Morgan Assaf, Florida Citrus Show organizer for AgNet Media. “We …
The Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) is organizing an educational tour of citrus operations Kings River Packing and AC Foods in California April 14–17. Kings River Packing is a family-owned citrus grower rooted in California’s Central Valley, with a legacy dating back to 1853. Eight generations later, Kings River Packing has expanded from its original 160-acre homestead to encompass 3,500 acres …
By Maegan Beatty Last month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a citrus insect workshop that covered almost 10 different pests that pose a threat for Florida citrus. Lance Osborne, professor and researcher at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, presented research on chilli thrips. Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) can live in over 150 …
It is best for citrus growers to implement a proactive approach to weed management. Being reactive puts producers behind the eight ball with regards to controlling certain weeds in their groves. That’s why Ramdas Kanissery, weed scientist and associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), is preaching the importance of pre-emergent herbicides. They …
Registration is now open for the 2025–26 Highlands Youth Citrus Project. This project is for local youth members ages 8 and up as of Sept. 1, 2025. The deadline to register is March 24. Participants can register here. This program is designed to teach youth about the citrus industry by providing all the materials necessary to grow and sell a …
“For the incidence to be zero, the control needs to be 10.” That’s the motto of the new Fundecitrus campaign to mitigate the incidence of citrus greening in Brazil. The campaign highlights the need for strict control of the greening-spreading psyllid, especially in new regions where citrus farming is advancing. Those regions include the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, …
By Megan Dewdney Citrus canker can contribute significantly to the loss of fruit prior to harvest. As bloom begins in Florida, it is time to finalize management plans for foliar diseases. For many growers, very aggressive canker management programs are no longer a possibility, however, some management is important. Citrus canker susceptibility of young fruitlets usually starts at the end …
Mexico’s production of lemons/limes and grapefruit are forecast in a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) report to increase in 2024–25 compared to the prior year. LEMONS/LIMES The lemon/lime production forecast for 2024–25 is 3.5 million metric tons (MMT), an 8% increase from the previous year. The forecast for lemon/lime planted area in 2024–25 is 223,500 hectares, up …
By Peter Chaires The 2024–25 citrus season is another challenging one for Florida’s valued citrus nurseries. Uncertainty has been the consummate challenge for nurseries trying to anticipate grower needs. One large nursery grower recently interviewed believes that door-yard propagations are now nearing commercial propagations. Who would have ever thought we would see this happen? However, after a dismal 2022–23 propagation …
Now is the time for Florida citrus growers to implement management tactics to control the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the insect that vectors citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB). ACPs are currently in low populations across Florida’s citrus-producing region. That means growers should act now to protect their crop from the insect’s impact, says Chris Oswalt, University of Florida …
