citrus celebrates anniversary

CREC and FDOC: Decades of Working Together

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Industry News Release, Research

As the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) celebrates its 100th anniversary, administrators are praising a decades-long relationship between researchers with CREC and the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “Housing the FDOC and CREC scientists at the same location has brought together the expertise needed to address any issue facing the …

florida

Crop Forecast Sees Changes for Grapefruit, Tangerines and Mandarins

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Crop Forecast

Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service issued the April 2017 citrus crop forecast. ORANGES The U.S. all-orange forecast for the 2016-2017 season is 5.11 million tons, down 1 percent from last month and down 16 percent from the 2015-2016 revised final utilization. The Florida all-orange forecast, at 67 million boxes (3.02 million tons), is unchanged from …

citrus

Southern Gardens Requests Permit for Genetically Engineered Citrus Tristeza Virus

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will evaluate the environmental impacts that may result from the potential approval of a permit application from Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery, LLC, for the environmental release of genetically engineered (GE) Citrus tristeza virus (CTV). Southern Gardens’ purpose …

orange

Citrus Agency Hopes for Rebound After New Forecast

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Forecast, Industry News Release

The Florida Department of Citrus is hoping for a better second half of the growing season after the latest decline in projections for the state’s orange and grapefruit harvest. Meanwhile, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said a 4 percent drop from February to March in the forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is another sign of the effects of deadly …

Kakkar Joins UF/IFAS Extension as Invasive Insect Specialist

Daniel Cooper Pests, Research

by Robin Koestoyo, UF/IFAS koestoyo@ufl.edu Garima Kakkar is joining the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to help the state fight invasive pests. Kakkar, an expert in invasive insects, is a multi-county Extension agent based in St. Lucie County. Kakkar has a diverse range of experience in managing pest insects, and will now serve growers in the …

Specialty Citrus Production on the Rise

Daniel Cooper Citrus

Consumer demand continues to drive an increase in U.S. production totals for tangerines, mandarin oranges and tangelos. Rod Bain has the details. Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN RESEARCH RESULTS IN A UNIQUE PRODUCT FOR HLB MANAGEMENTApril 1, 2024Protect Your Groves From Citrus LeafminerMay 29, 2023

florida citrus

Non-Valencia Oranges Cut to 35.0 Million Boxes

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Crop Forecast

Mark Hudson, USDA/NASS, Washington D.C. offered the February citrus crop forecast. The forecast of non-Valencia production is lowered 1.00 million boxes to 35.0 million boxes. Size and Drop components were final last month. The Row Count survey conducted January 26-27, 2017, showed 72 percent of the early-mid-season rows, and 83 percent of the Navel rows are harvested. Estimated utilization to …

seed

UF/IFAS Extension Faculty Win Seed Money Through New Shark Tank-Style Program

Daniel Cooper Research, Technology

By: Samantha Grenrock, grenrosa@ufl.edu   Facial recognition software is no longer a thing of the future. But what if similar technologies could one day help farmers identify pests in the field? Steve Futch, multi-county citrus agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS), thinks it’s possible. And thanks to the new UF/IFAS Extension Entrepreneurship Program, …

Common Crop Chemical Leaves Bees Susceptible to Deadly Viruses

Daniel Cooper Industry News Release, Research

By Sara LaJeunesse, Penn State University A chemical that is thought to be safe and is, therefore, widely used on crops — such as almonds, wine grapes and tree fruits — to boost the performance of pesticides, makes honey bee larvae significantly more susceptible to a deadly virus, according to researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. …

citrus greening

USDA Invests in Citrus Greening Research

Daniel Cooper Citrus Greening, Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced four grants totaling more than $13.6 million to combat a scourge on the nation’s citrus industry, citrus greening disease, aka huanglongbing. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Sponsored …

red imported fire ant

Extinguish Helps Citrus Growers with Fire Ant Control

Daniel Cooper Citrus, News from our Sponsor

Across the Southeast we continue to fight those pesky fire ants, but one company is promoting a product to help citrus growers with fire ant control. Tracy Harris, senior director of sales for Central Life Sciences, says Extinguish is the product for them.       To learn more about Extinguish for fire ant control, go to centrallifesciences.com. Image: Red …

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Small Changes in USDA Citrus Crop Forecast

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Crop Forecast

Mark Hudson, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service in Washington, D.C., delivered the latest citrus crop forecast today. Florida Valencia oranges dropped slightly from 36 million boxes in December to 35 million boxes in January. Hudson explained this was due to fruit drop. White grapefruit dropped from 2 million boxes to 1.7 million boxes. Tangerines and tangelos …

growers

Citrus Greening, Invasive Species Head 2016 UF/IFAS Stories

Daniel Cooper Citrus, HLB Management, Industry News Release

A trio of projects aimed at helping Florida producers cope with the bacterial disease known as citrus greening topped the list of stories shared by the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in 2016. This year marked the beginning of the state’s second decade battling greening disease, which is also known as huanglongbing or HLB. Other top …

Agricultural Hall of Fame Tickets Now on Sale

Daniel Cooper Agriculture, Industry News Release

Tickets are on sale for the 38th annual Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame banquet on Feb. 14, which will honor four inductees who have made invaluable contributions to Florida agriculture. The banquet, which each year celebrates the accomplishments of industry leaders who have served in research, education and business, is held in the Special Events Center at the Florida State …

citrus crop forecast

Citrus Pest Concerns California Industry

Daniel Cooper Citrus, HLB Management, Industry News Release

California recently passed a state law designed to combat the spread of an Asian citrus pest. All citrus loads transported through California now must be covered, no matter where it’s coming from or where it’s headed. Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN RESEARCH RESULTS IN A UNIQUE PRODUCT FOR HLB MANAGEMENTApril 1, 2024Protect …

Folta Named Pro Farmer Ag Person of the Year

Daniel Cooper Citrus

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Renowned University of Florida genomics and photobiology researcher Kevin Folta has been named 2016 Pro Farmer Ag Person of the Year. Folta is professor and chair of the horticulture sciences department at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Dr. Folta has been a leader in the fight against the anti-GMO movement for years,” said Chip …

florida citrus

Florida Citrus Areas Showing Effects of Dryness

Daniel Cooper Citrus

Florida citrus growers are dealing with yet another problem. Gary Crawford reports this time it’s a prolonged period of dry weather. Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN RESEARCH RESULTS IN A UNIQUE PRODUCT FOR HLB MANAGEMENTApril 1, 2024Protect Your Groves From Citrus LeafminerMay 29, 2023

pesticides

Stronger Standards for Applying the Riskiest Pesticides

Daniel Cooper Industry News Release, Pests

Improved training and minimum age requirements will help protect people and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing standards for applicators who apply restricted-use pesticides that are not available for purchase by the general public, and require special handling. “We are committed to keeping our communities safe, protecting our environment and protecting workers and their families,” said …

growers

15 UF/IFAS Early Career Scientists Awarded $50K Grants

Daniel Cooper Industry News Release

Fifteen early career scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Scientists (UF/IFAS) have been awarded grants to help solve global issues such as thwarting invasive pests, improving crop varieties, battling citrus greening and preserving our environment. Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN RESEARCH RESULTS IN A UNIQUE PRODUCT FOR …