Citrus Industry News

Mark Hudson, of the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA/NASS) in Washington, D.C., issued the March citrus crop forecast. Although there was no increase in the non-Valencia oranges for this month, an increase was reported for the Valencias. There also was a slight increase for white grapefruit. Florida crop forecast: Download Audio Full crop forecast: … Read More

Megan Dewdney and Jim Graham with University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have developed a suggested use pattern for the three antibacterial products that were recently allowed for use on citrus under a Crisis Declaration by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. The new document, titled “Suggested Antibiotic Use Pattern for Huanglongbing Management,” was put together … Read More

Florida citrus growers are reminded of three upcoming meeting on bactericide use for citrus: 1. On March 9 at 8:00 a.m., Laurie Hurner, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus agent, is hosting a citrus grower forum where several topics will be discussed in conversations led by growers and production managers; including the most recent information regarding the … Read More

The benefits and challenges of growing citrus hydroponically are addressed by University of Florida researcher Arnold Schumann in this interview with Southeast AgNet’s Tacy Callies. Benefits include high, early fruit production. Nutrition is one of the challenges. Download Audio

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, with the concurrence of the Environmental Protection Agency, has issued a Crisis Declaration that makes the use of three bactericides legal as of today. See the Crisis Declaration for details. Growers should make sure to have a copy of the Crisis Declaration and other portions of the attachment in their possession when utilizing these products. … Read More

From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today issued a crisis declaration to the Environmental Protection Agency in order to help the citrus industry fight citrus greening. His statement is as follows: “We have issued a crisis declaration, which allows for the temporary use of three promising treatments that researchers … Read More

Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), distributed the following urgent request to the citrus industry this morning. Dear FCM Members and Friends: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing our industry’s request to grant a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for two bactericides – oxytetracycline and streptomycin. The bactericides are essential in our fight against … Read More

In a message below, Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, reports positive news on the current status of the citrus industry’s agenda items in the legislative session. Dear FCM Board and Members: It’s been a whirlwind 2016 in Tallahassee and with a week left in the scheduled legislative session, I have some very positive news to share.

Bill Easterwood of Yara North America proclaims the numerous benefits of calcium for citrus. He says calcium is the third most important nutrient for citrus. In this interview with Southeast AgNet’s Tacy Callies, Easterwood describes several symptoms of calcium deficiency in citrus and says the nutrient has an influence on the initiation of plant protection mechanisms. Download Audio

Today’s issue of Citrus Industry This Week includes a report on bactericides from Doug Bournique, and Megan Dewdney discusses anticipated spring fungal diseases that growers will need to cope with. Want to learn more? Click here to subscribe. Click here to subscribe to the monthly Citrus Industry magazine.

Springlike weather in Florida, likely just around the corner, will bring an array of citrus fungal diseases that growers will need to cope with. University of Florida researcher Megan Dewdney reports on some of the diseases that can be expected. Download Audio

Today’s issue of Citrus Industry This Week includes information on a drastically reduced Florida Department of Citrus budget that growers are proposing as well as results of the Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum. Want to learn more? Click here to subscribe. Click here to subscribe to the monthly Citrus Industry magazine.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that Florida’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. More than 87 percent of ballots received by the department were in favor of reauthorization.

A group of growers, processors and fresh fruit packers who share a deep concern about the grave economic situation facing the Florida citrus industry have submitted a formal request to Florida Citrus Commission Chairman G. Ellis Hunt Jr. The group is asking for very significant modifications to the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) programs to adapt to the crisis and … Read More

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) over the next year will try to find a method of determining what individual citrus grower practices have been successful against HLB, CRDF Chief Operations Officer Harold Browning reports. Download Audio