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Potential rules protecting indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat could have significant ramifications for U.S. citrus growers. Growers and industry members can submit comments on or before Dec. 27 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about any concerns they may have. Imagine workers in a citrus grove enjoying 35- to 45-minute rest breaks every hour if the …
By Matt Krug, Michelle Danyluk and Taylor O’Bannon Basic cleaning and sanitizing steps implemented on food contact surfaces are fundamental for reducing the risk of cross-contamination of foodborne pathogens during citrus harvest and post-harvest. While these steps may seem straightforward, several variables can influence effective implementation. A regular review of practices can ensure your operation is set up for success. …
By Ariel Singerman, Stephen H. Futch and Brandon Page This article provides estimates on the performance of different rootstocks grafted with Valencia sweet orange scions in commercial field conditions. These are the first estimates obtained from side-by-side trials that compare the performance of rootstocks developed by two breeding programs: The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …
The important process that gets new citrus varieties in the hands of growers is the main topic of the November episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) director, discusses the recent CREC open house where breeders displayed potential new varieties for …
Lebbeck mealybug was first found causing damage in Florida citrus in Highlands County in 2019. As of this writing, it has now been found on citrus in 14 counties in Florida. This pest likely gains some dispersal assistance from wind events, either being blown on infested plant material or as crawlers on wind currents as has been noted for scale …
By Ute Albrecht, Bo Meyering, José Chaparro and Kim D. Bowman Grafting is an ancient horticultural technique. There is evidence of citrus grafting in the Roman era dating back to the fifth century. In western Europe, grafting was regularly practiced in the 16th and 17th centuries when citrus was grown as an exotic ornamental in containers in orangeries. In Florida, …
The issue of ag labor legislation reform will remain unresolved as long as southeastern growers and western growers don’t come to a compromise, says Bob Redding. Redding, who works for the Redding Firm and serves as a lobbyist for agricultural groups in Washington, D.C., believes compromise is the only way true reform will happen with such a contentious issue. “If …
By Chris Oswalt The weather folks are predicting weak to moderate La Niña conditions this winter. Typically, having either the La Niña or El Niño conditions during the winter in Florida is a good thing. There is a historically lower probability of having severe freezing temperatures during either of these El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions in Florida. What this means …
The ongoing pandemic and a dreary day of relentless rain did not stop the Florida citrus industry from gathering to celebrate four of its most outstanding members. On Nov. 5, approximately 350 people convened at Florida Southern College in Lakeland to honor the 2021 members of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. This year, the event was also live-streamed for …
By Ramdas Kanissery, Nirmal Timilsina and Mongi Zekri Weed control is crucial for the growth and establishment of young citrus trees. Chemical weed control with herbicides is an efficient and cost-effective method for managing weeds in newly planted groves. However, before applying herbicide products, care must be taken to avoid damaging young trees and newly planted resets. Every so often, …
Trade and labor used to top the concern list for Florida’s specialty crop growers. Not anymore. The biggest concerns now are input prices and availability, says Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) president. Joyner reports that in talking to growers in the field, he has heard of fertilizer costs doubling – if growers can even get it. “The …
By Amit Levy Citrus leprosis is an exotic viral disease not currently present in Florida citrus, although the virus is present in non-citrus hosts. This disease was reported in citrus in Florida and Brazil in the early 1900s, where it caused great crop and tree losses, but was eliminated from Florida in the early 1960s. In recent years, the disease …
Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is establishing three new quarantine areas and expanding two existing quarantine areas for citrus canker in Cameron County, Texas, to prevent the spread of the disease. This action is necessary because APHIS confirmed the positive identification of citrus canker in citrus trees from residential areas in …
On Oct. 27, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) approved a revised 2021–22 operating budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) of $29 million. The FCC is the governing board of the FDOC, an executive agency of the Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. The FCC voted to maintain the previous year’s …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In 1917, A.B. Michael consolidated his citrus groves in Wabasso, Florida, with the Deerfield Groves Company of Cocoa, becoming vice president and general manager. This eventually led to his involvement in the American Fruit Growers, Inc., becoming one of the original stockholders and directors, and handling all Florida operations. Noted for his commitment to quality, he …
The low initial U.S. citrus crop forecast for the 2021–22 season points to the need to plant more trees to sustain the country’s citrus industry. The November issue of Citrus Industry magazine features articles that will help growers take care of their young trees. Two articles help answer the question of what to plant. First, University of Florida’s (UF) Ute …
By Yiannis Ampatzidis and Ute Albrecht Optimizing nutrition is important for tree health and productivity and can improve tolerance to stresses and diseases. Good nutrient management requires regular field monitoring to identify problems and examine crop responses. Leaves need to be collected and sent to a specialized laboratory for detailed information on macronutrients and micronutrients, which is time-consuming and costly. …
One of the unique ways of managing citrus greening disease developed by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers is not for all producers. Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) is just too expensive for all growers to take advantage of, says Fred Gmitter, a UF/IFAS citrus breeder. “It’s an extremely expensive investment,” Gmitter says. “For that …
By Yu Wang, Xixuan Tang, Charles Sims, Zhifeng Gao and Renee Goodrich Citrus fruit produced from HLB-affected trees are green and taste bitter. They are usually not suitable for either the fresh market or juice market because they have a lower Brix/acid ratio. Mitigation strategies can cause less fruit drop and help citrus trees survive. However, they triple production costs, …
