citrus acreage

Drop in Florida Citrus Acreage

Daniel CooperAcreage, Florida

The 2024 Commercial Citrus Inventory for Florida shows total citrus acreage of 274,705 acres, down 17% from the 2023 annual survey. The net loss of 57,551 acres is 14,505 acres more than was lost the previous year. New plantings at 4,751 acres are down from 2023, when 6,203 acres were planted. The inventory was released Aug. 29 by the U.S. …

acreage

Changes in California Citrus Acreage

Daniel CooperAcreage, California Corner

The 2024 California Citrus Acreage Report indicates that acreage for five varieties increased from 2022 to 2024 while acreage for the state’s two orange varieties decreased during the same period. INCREASES The increases were in: DECREASES Navel oranges declined from 113,586 acres in 2022 to 112,366 acres in 2024. Valencia orange acres dipped from 26,225 to 25,297 acres for the …

Brazilian

Outlook for Brazilian Acreage and Production

Daniel CooperAcreage, Brazil, Production

A study by researchers Gilberto Tozatti, Mauricio Mendez and Rodolfo Castro indicated the likely future significant reduction in Brazilian citrus acreage and production due to huanglongbing (HLB or greening). The calculations are based solely on the current Brazilian Citrus Belt and do not consider future citrus projects happening in areas outside of it. Tozatti presented the study at the recent …

december

Sneak Peek: December 2023 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperAcreage, HLB Management, Sneak Peek

It’s no secret that Florida’s citrus industry has seen significant shrinkage since the advent of citrus greening in the state. In the December issue of Citrus Industry magazine, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) economist Ariel Singerman takes an in-depth look at the acreage attrition. He examines the figures by county over the past 20 years. …

Citrus Acreage Attrition by County in Florida

Josh McGillAcreage, Florida, Land

By Ariel Singerman Citrus greening (HLB) has significantly impacted the Florida citrus industry. The disease has caused tree health, yield and fruit quality to decrease significantly over time. In 2022–23, due to the combined impact of HLB, Hurricane Ian and a freeze in December 2022, the statewide average yield for both Valencia and non-Valencia oranges was estimated to be approximately …

Update on Georgia Citrus Acres

Josh McGillAcreage, Georgia

University of Georgia citrus Extension agent Jake Price recently estimated Georgia has reached a record-high of 570,760 citrus trees planted on 3,936 acres. Each year, Price estimates the number of citrus trees planted in Georgia. Calculating 2023 numbers has been a little different because of tree losses due to the December 2022 freeze. Of the 567 new acres of trees …

initial

California’s Total Reported Citrus Acreage Slightly Up

Josh McGillAcreage, California Corner

California citrus acreage (bearing and nonbearing) planted in grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarins and pummelos increased in 2022 when compared to 2020. However, the state’s orange acreage declined. That information was in the 2022 California Citrus Acreage Report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Although orange …

Florida Citrus Acreage Takes a Hit

Josh McGillAcreage, Florida

Total citrus acreage in Florida dropped 8% in the past year, to 375,302 acres, according to the Commercial Citrus Inventory Preliminary Report. The report was released Sept. 7 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The net loss of 32,046 acres is 19,942 acres more than was lost the previous season. New plantings, at 7,980 acres, are …

FDOC

Florida Citrus Acres and Crop Value

Ernie NeffAcreage

Florida’s citrus acreage declined another 3% in 2021, to 407,348 acres, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported Sept. 8. That’s the lowest level since the NASS started keeping track of the acreage in 1966. ACREAGE DETAILSThe net loss of 12,104 acres is 955 acres more than was lost last season. New plantings at 10,448 acres …

Citrus Acreage Increasing in North Florida, South Georgia

Tacy CalliesAcreage

Interest in citrus continues to spike in North Florida and South Georgia. Georgia acreage has doubled over the past year. North Florida acreage has increased by another 300 to 400 this spring, says grower Kim Jones. He owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is president of the Cold Hardy Citrus Association. “We’re seeing a whole lot of …

Alico Buys 3,280 Citrus Acres

Ernie NeffAcreage

On Oct. 30, Alico, Inc. purchased approximately 3,280 gross citrus acres in Hendry County for $16.45 million. John Kiernan, company president and chief executive officer, said, “This acquisition of the Alexander Grove from the well-respected Gardinier Florida Citrus, Inc. allows Alico to add additional scale to our existing 45,000 gross acres of citrus properties.” “This Alexander Grove appears to have …

Alico Sells 10,702 Acres to State of Florida

Ernie NeffAcreage

Alico, Inc. on Sept. 11 announced the state of Florida purchased, under the Florida Forever program, approximately 10,702 acres of Alico Ranch for $28.5 million. The transaction was pursuant to an option agreement between the state of Florida and Alico. John Kiernan, Alico president and chief executive officer, said the acreage was on the west side of the ranch. “This is …

florida

Farmland Loss in Florida

Ernie NeffAcreage

A recent report by the American Farmland Trust (AFT) describes Florida as “one of the top 12 most threatened states in the nation due to the loss of farmland to poorly planned real estate development.” The report is called Farms Under Threat: The State of the States. See the AFT website, where state-by-state reports can be accessed. Between 2001 and …

citrus industry

Florida to Get 1,500 New Acres of Grapefruit

Daniel CooperAcreage, Grapefruit, Industry News Release

In recent years, the iconic Florida citrus industry has been faced with challenges from devastating citrus greening to major hurricanes pummeling the state’s fruit groves. But industry members are doubling down on their commitment to ensure citrus and juice products remain synonymous with the Sunshine State. Peace River Citrus Products and Scott Family Companies and its partners announced they will …

acreage

Grower Discusses Acreage Count, Tree Health

Ernie NeffAcreage

Arcadia citrus grower V.C. Hollingsworth, chair of the Citrus Crop Estimates Advisory Committee, reacts to the recent Florida citrus acreage report and discusses tree health. Hollingsworth says the acreage count is “not down as far as I thought it might be.” On Aug. 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released its Commercial Citrus Inventory, which indicated Florida …

aphis

Florida Citrus Acreage Declines Again

Ernie NeffAcreage

Florida’s citrus acreage continued a long descent in 2018, decreasing 2 percent to 447,012 acres. The total number of acres is the least since the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service began keeping count in 1966. The 2018 count was released on Aug. 28. There was a gross loss of 20,114 acres in 2018, partially offset by new …

acreage

Grower Hollingsworth Reacts to Acreage Reduction

Ernie NeffAcreage

DeSoto County grower and Florida Citrus Commissioner V.C. Hollingsworth reacts to news that Florida’s citrus acreage declined 5 percent this year. “That kind of surprised me a little bit because I thought we’ve been planting back a lot of trees,” Hollingsworth says. “I think what it doesn’t show is the number of trees that we’re planting back, trees per acre. …

florida

Florida Citrus Acreage Tumbles 5 Percent

Ernie NeffAcreage

Florida lost another 25,148 acres of citrus in the past year, or 5 percent of the crop’s acreage, according to the annual Commercial Citrus Inventory released on August 31. The number of acres dropped to 454,973 from 480,121 in 2016. The inventory was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. “It turns out that our citrus …