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By Owen “Sonny” Conner The two greatest challenges of the last 20 years, for me as a citrus grower, have been HLB and foreign competition depressing prices. Citrus growers had never faced a disease threat even approaching the devastating effects HLB has had on the industry. It was the industry killer we all feared would one day raise its ugly …
By Xavier Martini Citrus leafminer (CLM) is a recurring pest in citrus groves that lays eggs on new growth shoots (flush). After hatching, larvae penetrate directly into the leaf and begin feeding on sap and leaving a serpentine mine in the leaf. CLM population dynamics are mostly driven by flushing pattern, with two flight peaks in early spring and late …
New citrus technology and tried-and-true techniques are among the article topics in the May issue of Citrus Industry magazine. Yiannis Ampatzidis, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor, discusses several ways artificial intelligence is being used to improve citrus production and reduce negative environmental impacts. Among the topics he covers in his article are automated …
By Ramdas Kanissery Adjuvants (derived from Latin, adiuvare: to aid or help) are materials added into an herbicide spray solution that improve handling, performance and crop safety. To be effective, an herbicide must overcome certain environmental and biological obstacles before entering and acting in the weeds. For example, environmental conditions like hot and dry weather will result in a thicker …
By Francisco Seva Rivadulla Due to the importance of differentiation in international markets, the Mexican lemon sector is studying the possibility of creating a national quality seal for its lemons. “The future of our lemons must involve the creation of a national quality seal, which will differentiate them from countries such as Egypt, Turkey or South Africa, and thus generate …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In the July 15, 1933 issue of the Florida Clearing House News, an article by the Committee of Fifty titled “To Fit Demand to Production – ADVERTISE” caught my eye. Advertising has always been the tennis ball in the citrus industry’s battle over how much is enough and whether generic advertising really helps. The Committee of …
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) denied AgLogic Chemical LLC’s state pesticide registration application for the pesticide aldicarb on citrus crops in the state of Florida. Aldicarb is an N-methyl carbamate insecticide primarily used as a nematicide. Responsible for the worst known outbreak of pesticide poisoning in North America, aldicarb is one of 28 active pesticide ingredients …
By Ramdas Kanissery The use of compost in tree rows is receiving increasing attention among citrus growers. The use of weed-free certified products can considerably minimize the weed emergence issues associated with compost use. However, eventually, weeds will start to grow in the composted areas in the grove. As compost and similar soil amendments prove to be very rich in …
By Nabil Killiny and Christopher Vincent The citrus industry has suffered numerous setbacks over the past 20 years because of the devastating effects of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Many options for controlling the disease are being investigated to make groves as productive as possible under the current HLB pressure. Even small improvements in tree health or yield of diseased trees may …
By Francisco Seva Rivadulla Peru’s mandarin growers are working to build on their export momentum and open new markets. “Negotiations are well advanced with India. The technical part is already finished, such as the phytosanitary registration; only the administrative part is missing,” said Sergio Del Castillo, general manager of the Citrus Producers Association of Peru (ProCitrus). “SENASA (Peru’s National Agrarian …
By Megan Dewdney Greasy spot and melanose are two fungal diseases that have long needed the attention of Florida citrus growers. While they are more of a concern for fresh fruit growers, trees for processing can be damaged, too. In terms of management priorities, greasy spot is the greater concern since it reduces tree photosynthetic capacity and causes defoliation. Melanose …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida citrus tree and fruit growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year is April 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the April 15 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop …
The final 2020-2021 orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt was released today by Fundecitrus and its cooperators. Brazil’s orange crop forecast is 268.63 million 90-pound boxes. This represents a decrease of 6.65% (19.13 million boxes) from the first crop forecast of the season published in May 2020. Brazil’s 2020-2021 orange crop is 30.55% …
By Sandra Guzman Understanding how to obtain and interpret data from soil moisture sensor (SMS) systems is crucial for efficient irrigation management. These systems help create an efficient and informed irrigation schedule based on soil moisture readings collected from the field. Below are answers to some common questions about managing SMS systems, including how to view SMS data on a …
By Evan Johnson The Florida citrus spring leaf flush is hardening off, which means the first root flush of the year is beginning. With the spring root flush comes thoughts of phytophthora foot rot. Spring roots are at particular risk in groves that had high phytophthora pressure last fall because many of the resting spores will start activating with the …
By Christopher Vincent, Anirban Guha, Joon Hyuk Suh and Yu Wang It may surprise you to learn that citrus trees can get too much sunshine in the Sunshine State. Manipulating the light environment around a plant can have several surprising benefits. Shade can suppress the HLB cycle and enhance citrus health and yield. Overall, a mildly shaded citrus plant is …
By Francisco Seva Rivadulla According to Bernardo Bravo, president of the National Committee of the Mexican Lemon Product System, Mexican lemons are produced on more than 90,000 hectares distributed in the states of Michoacán, Colima, Oaxaca and Guerrero. Regarding the challenges facing this sector, Bravo points out that “global phytosanitary alerts regarding citrus growing are increasingly latent and present …
Sometimes growers must think outside the box to remain sustainable amid high input costs and devastating diseases. That is the situation facing citrus growers who are struggling to remain viable in the era of citrus greening. What if seaweed could be used to aid in the quality of citrus production? Seaweed is a biostimulant that is part of the biological …
By Ramdas Kanissery Citrus growers face weed management problems throughout the year due to favorable conditions that allow the rapid growth of weeds in groves. A weed-free tree row is desired in citrus to minimize competition with the trees. This can be achieved by utilizing post-emergent herbicides that control the weeds that have already emerged. Growers have several product options …
Ask any Florida citrus grower what the top priority is, and you’ll likely get the same answer: Keeping HLB-affected trees productive and profitable. The April issue of Citrus Industry magazine provides research on production practices aimed to meet this goal. Adjusting the amount of sunlight plants receive has proven to increase citrus tree health and yield. University of Florida Institute …
