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Kelly Morgan recently summarized several recommended changes in Florida citrus production practices brought on by the devastating disease HLB. Morgan is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) soil and water science professor. He discussed what growers need to know to follow best management practices (BMPs) at the recent Citrus Nutrition Day at the UF/IFAS Citrus …
By Ray Royce As we are now in November, growers should start to think about the prospect of the potentially adverse conditions that winter can bring. Do not get caught off guard by delaying your winter preparations. There are a few measures that growers can undertake to better prepare for cold weather, and now is a good time to start …
An update on the use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos in Florida citrus was provided in the November 2021 issue of Citrus from the Ridge to the Valley, the Central Florida citrus Extension newsletter. In August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will stop the use of the insecticide on all food. Excerpts from the Extension newsletter’s discussion about the …
U.S. Representative Greg Steube of Florida recently introduced the Keep Food Local & Affordable Act to combat the recent rise in food prices due to historic labor shortages and inflation. This legislation would implement a temporary stay on the H-2A adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) for states struggling to find domestic workers. The H-2A program allows temporary foreign workers in …
Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser discuss some relatively new varieties they like – a mandarin, some oranges and a pummelo-grapefruit hybrid. Gmitter and Grosser are University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant breeders at the Citrus Research and Education Center. SUGAR BELLE® MANDARIN“Looking at Sugar Belle® and its performance against citrus greening, it’s clearly one of …
Researchers at the University of Florida have found a way to manage groves infected with HLB by managing the timing of their fertilization. By splitting the application of nutrients to citrus rootstocks, they have been able to improve plant growth and fruit yields. The research was recently published in Soil Science Society of America Journal. Alisheikh Atta and his colleagues …
IMG Citrus announced the launch of the YELLOS Florida grapefruit brand and specialty product. “Although considered a new product on the U.S. market, the YELLOS grapefruit variety is in fact Florida’s original, heirloom grapefruit and the white-fleshed counterpart of the well-known Florida Ruby Red grapefruit,” the company stated. According to a press release, YELLOS are harvested from mature groves more …
HLB-tolerant rootstock seeds from the University of Florida (UF) have arrived in Dareton and Bundaberg to be evaluated under Australian conditions. Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock said it’s important that the rootstocks have arrived in Australia well before the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the HLB it spreads. “We need to know if these rootstocks from Florida are going to …
Fertilization frequency, micronutrient management and rootstocks can all impact the yield of HLB-affected sweet oranges, Tripti Vashisth recently told a Citrus Nutrition Day audience in Lake Alfred, Florida. The educational event was held at the Citrus Research and Education Center, where Vashisth is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) horticulturist. FERTILIZATION FREQUENCYHLB-affected trees should be …
At the 2021 Citrus Expo, entomologist Lukasz Stelinski suggested ways growers can manage HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) while reducing costs. Some of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist’s key points follow: Psyllid density is related to tree stress; more psyllids lead to higher damage, compromising tree health and yield. Spray for adults at bud …
Mexico is the second leading exporter of orange juice (OJ), following only Brazil, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) economist Marisa Zansler reported recently. She said Mexico’s OJ exports increased incrementally in recent seasons in response to the decline in world OJ supplies. Excerpts from Zansler’s FDOC document, Florida Citrus Outlook 2021-22 Season, follow. Although a net exporter of orange juice, …
Heavy fruit loads have created a problem for Owari satsuma rootstock trials in Valdosta, University of Georgia Extension agent and Lowndes County Extension Coordinator Jake Price reported recently. “It has been a struggle the last month or so to keep fruit off the ground because of the heavy fruit load,” says Price. “Fruit touching the ground will rot and fall …
Law firm PGMBM reported it has secured a London High Court judgment that will result in a Brazilian orange juice (OJ) magnate facing trial over his participation in an illegal cartel. José Luis Cutrale and his son, José Luis Cutrale Jr., reportedly were part of an operation that substantially impacted the global market for the sale of OJ. Brazilian orange …
Information to help growers find and control citrus black spot (CBS), as well as CBS regulatory procedures, were provided in an Oct. 26 training workshop in Arcadia. The workshop was hosted by multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant pathologist Megan Dewdney discussed the pest’s lifecycle, potential spread due to …
Callie Walker, chief of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control, recently provided an update on the Citrus Health Response Program. Topics she addressed include trip tickets, personnel and the citrus inspection database. Walker recommended reiterating to harvesters about the importance of trip tickets being filled out completely and accurately. Those with …
Plant breeders Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser report on their efforts to develop rootstocks that perform well in Florida from several perspectives. In addition to seeking tolerance to HLB, they are working on rootstocks that might control tree size, deal with other diseases and pests and perform in a range of soils. Gmitter and Grosser are University of Florida Institute …
Planting of new improved citrus scion/rootstock combinations to demonstrate sustainable and profitable citriculture is one of eight new research projects slated for the 27,000-acre DeLuca Preserve in Osceola County, Florida. The rootstocks and scions will come from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center citrus breeding program. The eight projects are …
The rootstocks US-812 and US-942 seemed to offer promise in early economic performance evaluations that economist Ariel Singerman discussed at the 2021 Citrus Expo. Singerman is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension economist at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. Singerman analyzed yield and economic performance of rootstocks in commercial settings during …
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) recently reported its efforts and priorities for the next Florida legislative session. As in past years, much of FCM’s focus will be on funding programs (Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Citrus Research and Field Trial and New Varieties Development and Management Corp.) critical to solving HLB and the marketing efforts to continue movement of 100% premium …
In the search for solutions to HLB, a formulation based on oak leaf extract has been developed by citrus growers Travis Murphy and Tom Thayer, the Indian River Citrus League’s October River Ramblings newsletter reported. The formulation was developed following the growers’ observations that citrus trees under oak trees were free of HLB compared to nearby field trees that had …
