citrus
Commissioner Fried on Citrus Forecast
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement on the initial citrus crop forecast for the 2020-21 season released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “When Americans think of wellness and health, their thoughts turn to Florida orange juice and fresh citrus, especially during these unprecedented times. Despite the challenges that Florida’s citrus growers have faced as a …
Soilless Substrate Science Seeks Citrus Industry Input
Citrus growers are beginning to explore the potential of soilless culture. Ample opportunities exist for ever-evolving systems offering improved yield while overcoming a diminishing availability of soil fumigants and increased pest pressure. There is a need for flexibility in a constantly changing world of new production methods and regulations. Soilless culture provides an unprecedented opportunity to rethink how tree fruit …
More COVID-19 Protection Needed for Ag
The nation’s essential agricultural industry has worked relentlessly through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure food is put on the tables of American families. Agricultural employers recognize that the health and safety of their employees are imperative to the success of their operations. These employers also recognize consumer demand for fresh, safe and nutritious produce. For years, agricultural employers have adhered …
Living With Greening by Improving Soil Health
By Ronald G. Doetch I am a lifelong farmer/agronomist and, at the age of 73, have worked with many different crops through the many changes in agriculture challenges and production practices. I moved to Florida four years ago to grow a few oranges and have a firsthand look and understanding of the relationship of soil health to tree decline and …
First Crop Forecast of the Season Is Oct. 9
Industry members will have several ways to hear the first official U.S. citrus crop forecast of the 2020–21 season. Agricultural Statistics Administrator Bill Curtis of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will deliver the forecast at 12:00 noon Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, Oct. 9. His live report will be broadcast on the Southeast AgNet Radio Network, online …
HLB Research Featured on Website
By Madison Sankovitz, Barbara Alonso, Monique Rivera, Lukasz Stelinski, Sara García-Figuera, Peggy G. Lemaux and Beth Grafton-Cardwell The bacterial disease huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease and has caused massive losses to the U.S. citrus industry. The disease vector, the Asian citrus psyllid, is currently in all U.S. citrus-producing states, and the disease continues to exert a severe impact on …
Progress Toward HLB-Tolerant Citrus
Largely due to the advent of huanglongbing (HLB) disease, Florida orange production has declined by over 70 percent in the last 10 years. According to experts, if the trend is not reversed, processing plants will not have enough fruit to maintain production and profitability, ultimately causing shutdowns. Currently, Florida law requires that orange juice be comprised of at least 90 …
COVID-19 Testing for Florida Farmworkers
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced new efforts to provide COVID-19 testing for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins. The efforts are in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and local county governments. Farmworkers will have access to numerous no-cost COVID-19 testing events in some …
Florida Crop Workers at Risk
As laborers return to the fields this fall in Florida, both unauthorized crop workers and H-2A workers are vulnerable to the coronavirus. According to a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) study, an estimated 75 percent of Florida crop workers have at least one underlying health issue that puts them at risk of developing COVID-19 …
Technology to Help Citrus Growers Cut Costs
Traditional data collection for pest and disease detection relies on manual sampling, which can be time consuming and labor intensive. But now, Florida citrus growers could have artificial intelligence (AI) technology to simplify the process, better care for their crops and save money. Yiannis Ampatzidis, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor, discussed several new …
Phytophthora Root Rot Management
By Evan G. Johnson As September winds down, the fall root flush is starting and will continue through November/December. This is the largest root flush of the year that stores carbohydrate reserves for next spring. Coming out of the rainy season, phytophthora has had the chance to build up plenty of inoculum, especially in groves with a history of root …
Improved Weather Data at Growers’ Fingertips
Weather is one of the most important factors affecting crop growth and production. The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a University of Florida-operated service, was created to assist growers in making decisions related primarily to irrigation scheduling and cold protection. Currently, the FAWN network operates 42 stations located from Jay to Homestead that record and report every 15 minutes on …
Sneak Peek: October 2020 Citrus Industry
Get the dirt on soil in the October 2020 issue of Citrus Industry magazine! Soil is not the most glamorous subject, but it’s one that seems to be getting more attention in the citrus industry lately. As citrus growers work to keep trees productive in the HLB era, they are implementing practices to improve soil health. Providing roots with a …
PIECES OF THE PAST: How to Manage a New Grove — in 1928
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was looking for inspiration for this month’s column and was trying to tie it in with this issue’s focus, which is grove management. Lo and behold, I came across a 44-page booklet I had tucked away called the “Book of Truth for Planters of New Groves” by Ocklawaha Nurseries, Inc. of Lake Jem, Florida. The …
COVID-19 Challenges in Citrus Packinghouses
By Michelle Danyluk and Ben Chapman Citrus packers have some unique challenges when it comes to COVID-19 management, including working in an indoor environment. It is becoming increasingly clear from recent reports of clusters of COVID-19 illnesses that being indoors and around people for prolonged periods of time are risk factors for transmission. Air flow, the limitations of physical distancing …
Needle-Assisted Trunk Infusion for Trees
With the devastating impacts of HLB on the citrus industry, growers are seeking alternative solutions to reduce Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (the bacteria that causes HLB) levels in trees and prevent disease-induced decline. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are developing an automated method for delivering therapeutic liquid materials into the vascular tissue of citrus …
Trade Issues for Fresh Florida Citrus
Dan Richey, president of Riverfront Packing Company, gave an update on trade issues impacting fresh Florida citrus during the recent virtual citrus Packinghouse Day meeting. Richey, also a member of the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, says foreign sales are especially important for Florida citrus. One of the biggest topics of trade conversation is the effects on the market since the …
Obtaining Optimal Peel Color of Fresh Florida Citrus
By Mark A. Ritenour and Fernando Alferez Color development in citrus during fruit maturation is a complex process that involves chemical and physiological changes. This includes chlorophyll (green pigments) breakdown and carotenoid (orange and yellow pigments) biosynthesis. The final color of each citrus variety mainly depends on the final composition of carotenoids, with citrus being among the richest fruit sources …
Peptide Could Restore Florida Citrus
CghSAMPa, the peptide found in the fruit of greening-tolerant Australian finger limes, is believed to be the first substance capable of controlling huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening). University of California, Riverside and Invaio Sciences, Inc. have partnered to advance the peptide research with hopes of bringing an HLB solution to commercialization by 2023. During a recent seminar hosted …