First HLB Detection in Ventura County

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has declared a quarantine in Ventura County following the detection of the citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in two citrus trees on one residential property in the city of Santa Paula. These detections are the first HLB-positive trees in Ventura County. CDFA is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture …

Forecast for California Mandarins

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast, Mandarins

The 2023–24 California forecast for Tango and W. Murcott Afourer mandarins is 21 million 40-pound cartons, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently reported. This forecast is based on the results of the 2023–24 mandarin objective measurement survey, which was conducted from July 1 to Sept. 1, 2023. This is the first time the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s …

Citrus Thrips Reduce California Production

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests

California citrus growers faced significant citrus thrips challenges this season due to the unprecedented rainfall, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) reported. The unusual weather pattern led to uncontrollable conditions in the field.  Reports from the CCM Pest and Disease Task Force indicated that some growers have experienced exterior fruit scarring on as much as 80% of the fruit in individual blocks. …

First CLas-Positive Psyllids Found in Ventura County

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Psyllids

A Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)-positive Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample has been collected from a residential property in California’s Ventura County. CLas is the bacterium that causes HLB. The Citrus Research Board’s Jerry Dimitman Laboratory confirmed the positive sample. This is the first confirmed CLas-positive ACP sample found in Ventura County. The positive sample, comprised of 12 adult psyllids from …

‘Crazy Weather’ Kicks Off California Citrus Season

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Weather

The timeline for the California citrus season is later than average but is getting started in the Coachella and Imperial valleys. Rainstorms have been a recurring theme for 2023, causing a bit of damage in some areas. However, Casey Creamer, president and chief executive officer of California Citrus Mutual, told AgNet West there is always hope for a good year …

Tau Fruit Fly Quarantine Expanded

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Federal and state agriculture agencies on Aug. 15 expanded the Zeugodacus tau fruit fly quarantine in the Stevenson Ranch area of Los Angeles County, California. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The expansion was in response to the confirmed …

California and Arizona Citrus Projects Funded

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Research

The California and Arizona departments of agriculture received funding for four citrus-related projects from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for 2023. Nationwide, USDA AMS allocated $72.9 million in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding. DROUGHT-TOLERANT VARIETIESThe California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) received $499,921 for designing drought-tolerant specialty crops using metabolic modeling. The University …

First Tau Fruit Fly Quarantine in Western Hemisphere

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

A portion of Los Angeles County has been placed under quarantine for the Tau fruit fly (Zeugodacus tau group) following the detection of more than 20 flies in the unincorporated area of Stevenson Ranch, near the city of Santa Clarita. The fly has a very wide host range, including numerous citrus varieties as well as a select range of native …

California Lemon Rootstock Research Reported

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, lemons, Rootstocks

Researcher Glenn Wright recently reported how various rootstocks for lemon trees producing fresh market fruit compared for yield and other qualities in three California locations with different climates. Wright is a University of Arizona associate professor and Extension specialist for tree crops. SANTA PAULASanta Paula’s warm summer Mediterranean-like climate had the following results: LINDCOVEResearch in Lindcove, a hot summer Mediterranean-like …

Lemon Scion Research Summarized

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, lemons, Varieties

An assortment of lemon scions producing fresh market fruit performed differently for yield and other qualities in three California locations. Glenn Wright, University of Arizona associate professor and Extension specialist for tree crops, provided the comparative results from the three locations in a June 20 webinar. All results are through the 2020–21 season. SANTA PAULAThe Santa Paula location, with a …

Update on Sweet Orange Scab in California

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Diseases

A California researcher recently provided an update on sweet orange scab (SOS). The fungal disease has been detected in the state 18 times since 2013. University of California, Riverside professor and plant pathologist Jim Adaskaveg said most of the detections have been in Southern California, especially in Imperial County. Eleven detections have been in commercial lemon orchards, three in commercial …

Update on Fungicides for Citrus

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Diseases

In a recent webinar, Jim Adaskaveg, University of California, Riverside professor and plant pathologist, discussed some recently registered fungicides to manage phytophthora and other fungal diseases of citrus. Orondis was registered in 2018, Presidio in 2019 and Revus in 2020. Adaskaveg said Orondis and Revus each contain a new active ingredient with a different mode of action and provide a …

Federal Funding for Citrus Includes Boost for Breeding

Josh McGillBreeding, California Corner

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) in mid-June welcomed congressional support for critical federal citrus programs. The programs being supported include the Citrus Health Response Program, the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination Group and an additional $1 million in federal funding for a new citrus breeding program. The House Appropriations Committee has included additional funding for citrus breeding research. The research is intended to …

No Perfect Tree Spacing for Multiple Objectives

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, planting

Looking for the perfect tree planting density to meet all of your objectives for citrus fruit quality and yield? That may not be possible, University of California Cooperative Extension’s Craig Kallsen said in a recent talk about planting density’s impact on navel orange yield and quality.  The citrus and pistachio farm advisor for Kern County gave the example of a …

HLB in Florida Is a Warning to California

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, HLB Management

The damage that HLB has inflicted on Florida citrus groves and production over the past 18 years should serve as a warning for California producers, California’s Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) stated recently. CPDPP noted that with HLB detected in thousands of California residential trees, it’s important for commercial growers to take steps to prevent the disease. According …

Managing Citrus Thrips in California

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests

In California’s Central Valley, citrus thrips are one of the most concerning pests for growers. Citrus thrips feed on young fruit, which results in scarring damage. “Those cuts are then downgraded in the packinghouse, costing our growers money, which is why managing thrips is so important,” said Sandipa Gautam, University of California Cooperative Extension area citrus integrated pest management advisor. …

Citrus Research Board to Host Webinar Series

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Education

California’s Citrus Research Board (CRB) has announced its 2023 Citrus Growers Educational Webinar Series. CRB will hold four one-hour webinars on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. The dates are June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Each webinar will highlight valuable research and practical discussions for growers. Here’s the lineup: JUNE 6Topic: Tree Density and Pruning Affect Fruit Numbers, Size, Quality and …

Using Gibberellic Acid in California Citrus

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, PGRs

Craig Kallsen, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) citrus and pistachio farm advisor for Kern County, offered suggestions for the use of gibberellic acid (GA3) on citrus in the San Joaquin Valley. Highlights follows: See Kallsen’s full article on gibberellic acid use here. Source: UCANR Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN …

California Psyllid Program Requires Compliance Agreements

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) quarantine program now requires all harvesters/farm labor contractors (FLCs) to have valid compliance agreements to harvest citrus groves. An FLC is defined as any person or establishment that employs people to perform work related to grove management and/or harvesting commercial citrus fruit. The requirement was announced by CDFA’s …

California Introduces Ag Vision Plan

Josh McGillAgriculture, California Corner

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and California State Board of Food and Agriculture recently introduced Ag Vision. Ag Vision is a decade-long plan dedicated to creating opportunities for California citrus and other agriculture to thrive well into the future. The plan acts as a catalyst for collaboration between industry, public and private partnerships, universities and communities. The …