University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus researchers and Extension staff will provide multiple educational programs at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Aug. 16–17. The event will be held at a new location this year — the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Attendance is free to growers, but registration is required. UF faculty and staff …
Sneak Peek: August 2023 Citrus Industry
The August issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes the show guide to an event many Florida growers look forward to all year long. The annual Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo has a new home at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Find what you need inside the August issue to make the most of the event, including a full seminar …
All In For Citrus Podcast, July 2023
The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is fast approaching, scheduled for Aug. 16–17 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The event is the subject of the July All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, previews the presentation he will be giving …
Gibberellic Acid Continues to Show Benefits
Researcher Tripti Vashisth has been telling citrus growers about the benefits of using gibberellic acid (GA) on citrus trees. At the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences horticulturist said GA continues to show efficacy, based on 2022 harvest numbers. Vashisth’s Expo presentation included details from a 2016–2022 study of 10-year-old Valencia …
Pointers for Better Pre-emergent Herbicide Performance
Ramdas Kanissery, speaking at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, offered what he called an important strategy to prevent weed outbreaks in groves: “Never let ’em germinate.” Growers can keep weeds from germinating with pre-emergent herbicide programs, said the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of weed science. He works at the Southwest Florida …
How Different Techniques Hold Up to Diseases
How well reflective mulch, kaolin clay and individual protective covers (IPCs) hold up to HLB, canker and greasy spot diseases was researcher Megan Dewdney’s topic at the 2022 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. Dewdney is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of plant pathology at the Citrus Research and Education Center. The research project …
Scion Selections Highlighted at Expo
At the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, Jude Grosser and Fred Gmitter provided an update on the numerous scion selections produced at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). Both are University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant breeders. Here are a few of the scion selections they highlighted in a presentation titled Working to Provide Sustainable …
Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: The Show Must Go On!
A big part of any grower’s job is overcoming obstacles. This year, AgNet Media met with its own unique obstacle in organizing the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. Less than two days before setting up for the event, the company was informed that the building at the Lee Civic Center that houses the Expo’s general session and citrus seminars was …
High-Efficiency Fertilizers for Growers
At the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, Davie Kadyampakeni recommended what he termed “high-efficiency fertilizers” to improve canopy, fruit yield and juice quality, especially in HLB-affected trees. Kadyampakeni is an assistant professor specializing in citrus water and nutrient management the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. FOUR TYPESKadyampakeni described four categories of high-efficiency fertilizers: Slow-release fertilizer (SRF) …
Politics of Water Addressed at Expo
Citrus growers have been watching developments with water regulation closely in recent years. The 2022 Florida legislative session addressed some issues that had developed with the state’s best management practices (BMPs) program. Ernie Barnett, president of the Florida Land Council, gave Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo attendees a recap of the BMPs changes and provided a big-picture perspective of the …
Fire Ant Control Aids Psyllid Management
Controlling fire ants in groves aids in the control of HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP), entomologist Lukasz Stelinski reported at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. Fire ant control was just one way that Stelinski suggested for growers to manage ACP while reducing costs. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist said ACP populations drop when …
The Road to Ramping Up More Truck Drivers
Alix Miller, president and CEO of the Florida Trucking Association, told attendees of the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo that there is a shortage of about 80,000 truck drivers in the United States. Supply-chain disruptions and clogged ports spurred by COVID-19 made logistical challenges more apparent to the public, but Miller said this problem was brewing well before the …
Sneak Peek: September 2022 Citrus Industry
The September issue of Citrus Industry magazine centers on two topics: citrus under protective screen (CUPS) research and a wrap-up from the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. Three articles cover the latest CUPS findings from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. An article by Arnold Schumann and his colleagues includes a summary of seven seasons of …
What to Do About Three Florida Citrus Pests
Entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock discussed control of three pests — lebbeck mealybug, Bulimulus sporadicus snails and diaprepes root weevils — at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher described the mealybug and snails as “new pest challenges” and diaprepes as the resurgence of an old pest. LEBBECK MEALYBUGLebbeck mealybug was …
Progress With HLB Products
Rick Dantzler, chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), spoke during the general session of the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. He provided an update on products he hopes will help the citrus industry reset and begin to increase production again. The products are two oxytetracycline (OTC) materials that can be injected into citrus trees. “We …
Two-Time Gun Safe Winner at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
One of the top traditions at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo that growers look forward to every year is the annual gun safe giveaway sponsored by Everglades Equipment Group. Only growers who preregister for the event are eligible to win the valuable prize. Miss Florida Citrus Payton Barrington drew the winning name. Austin Pell of Pell Citrus and Nursery …
Get the Newest UF/IFAS Info at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
By Jamie Burrow and Ruth Borger Over the last several months, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus team has been preparing for the annual Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The excitement is in the air as many faculty are preparing seminar presentations on valuable information that growers may use today to support their operations. …
Hear What’s on Tap for the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is set for Aug. 17–18 in North Fort Myers, Florida. The event, held at the Lee Civic Center, will be a flurry of activity as citrus and specialty crop growers come together to learn, network and see the latest tools of the trade in farming. The latest episode of the All In For Citrus …
Sneak Peek: August 2022 Citrus Industry
As growers prepare for the 2022–23 season, August is the perfect time to review what’s new in the citrus industry. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 17–18 in North Fort Myers is the ideal venue to get the latest research updates while learning about new products and services. There’s no better place for industry leaders, growers, researchers and …
All In For Citrus Podcast, July 2022
This month’s All In For Citrus podcast focuses on the upcoming Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo scheduled for Aug. 17–18 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, said the university’s citrus research team worked hard to develop …