Section 18 Update on FireWall

Kelsey FryCitrus

The current Section 18 emergency exemption permitting application of FireWall™ 50 WP to aid in the control of citrus canker in Florida grapefruit expires on July 1, 2016. After discussions with EPA, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) have decided not to pursue its renewal. The rationale for this …

New Method Tells Growers More About Citrus Decay

Kelsey FryCitrus

With citrus growers trying to save their groves in the wake of the deadly greening disease, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher has found a new technique that could help growers answer a vexing question – why so much fruit is dropping to the ground prematurely. If we know why fruit is dropping, we can …

Sneak Peek: July Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Irrigation

Citrus Industry subscribers will soon receive the July issue of the magazine. Featured in the cover story are young citrus leaders LeAnna and Aaron Himrod. Read all about the sister and brother’s accomplishments as they carry on the family tradition of staying in the citrus business. This issue also includes two water-management articles by University of Florida professor Kelly Morgan. …

The Latest Buzz on Honeybees

Kelsey FryCitrus

There’s a renewed buzz in honeybee research when it comes to problems within the hive. AgNet Media’s Sabrina Hill talks with a bee care program leader and a bee researcher.  Hear the full report here: The Buzz on Honeybees New research shows more threats to honeybees. There is a lot of talk in the general public about pesticides and bees. …

Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Kelsey FryCitrus, Legislative

On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam talks about the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and the partnership between the state and private agricultural operations to protect Florida’s natural resources while allowing Ag operations to continue.         Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts About …

citrus crop forecast

Citrus Crop Forecast Has Slight Increases

Kelsey FryCitrus, Legislative

Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service in Washington, D.C., issued the June citrus crop forecast. The 2015-2016 Florida all-orange forecast released is raised to 81.4 million boxes. The total includes 36.1 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, Navel and Temple varieties) and 45.3 million boxes of Valencia oranges. For the previous nine …

Letter to the Editor: Pete Spyke

Josh McGillCitrus

By: Pete Spyke President of Arapaho Citrus Management, Inc. Bill Castle’s recent Letter to the Editor (see January 2016 Citrus Industry) called for our industry to engage in dialogue about HLB that is different from our usual kinds of communication. It seems that a good place to start may be with new varieties and rootstocks. Unless we increase the productive …

HLB

Gose Discusses Citrus Bactericides for HLB and Production

Ernie NeffCitrus, Citrus Greening

Citrus grower John Gose with Lykes Brothers joined 30 others discussing the use of bactericides for HLB at a Sebring roundtable event on Wednesday. Gose says his company has made one application of bactericides and is in the process of making a second. “So far we haven’t seen a lot,” he says. “It’ll be probably fall before we start recognizing …

UF/IFAS Method Detects 83% of Immature Citrus; Helping Cut Costs

Kelsey FryCitrus

  GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have found a new way to detect immature citrus 83 percent of the time, which lets growers know where to apply fertilizer and water and perhaps save on labor costs for the $10.9 billion-a-year Florida industry. By detecting green, immature citrus more accurately and efficiently, …

Vegetables Being Grown on Old Citrus Land

Kelsey FryCitrus

Doug Bournique, executive director of the Indian River Citrus League, says that for about a year now, vegetable growers have been moving in on old citrus land in the northeast corner of Lake Okeechobee. The land has been out of citrus production for many years, but has grown in popularity with California and Midwest vegetable growers. Bournique says it all started …

UF/IFAS Researcher To Be Honored As Citrus Engineer of Year

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher who uses steam to help treat citrus trees infected by greening will receive this year’s Citrus Engineer of the Year Award. Reza Ehsani, a UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will receive the award June 21 at the 59th Biennial Citrus Engineering Symposium at …

Use of Compost in Citrus

Kelsey FryCitrus

On May 31 in Bushnell, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Life Soils hosted a field day on the use of compost in citrus. Monica Ozores-Hampton was the featured speaker of the event. She is known as Florida’s “Compost Queen” from her UF/IFAS and US Composting Council research and workshops on compost utilization. She …

HLB

Citrus Grower Addresses Bactericides for HLB, Production and Pricing

Ernie NeffCitrus, Citrus Greening

Wauchula citrus grower Kenny Sanders discussed on Wednesday the use of bactericides with HLB, production and pricing with more than 40 others at a grower roundtable in Wauchula. Like several other growers, he says his early-mid orange production was down this season (by 30 percent) while his Valencia crop was up 7 to 8 percent. “Pound solids were down everywhere,” …

PFD

PFD, Bactericides for HLB are Top Citrus Grower Concerns

Ernie NeffCitrus, Citrus Greening, Pests

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD), along with the use of bactericides to control HLB, were the big issues for more than 40 participants in a grower roundtable Wednesday in Wauchula. LeAnna Himrod, one of the roundtable hosts, summarizes the issues addressed. Regarding bactericides, she reports: “There were a lot of questions about the bactericides regarding timing: What’s the best time of …

Sneak Peek: June Citrus Industry Magazine

Josh McGillCitrus

The June issue of Citrus Industry magazine is coming soon. This edition is all about citrus beyond the Sunshine State. Readers will notice a new column in the magazine, called Global Perspectives, authored by a Brazilian citrus expert, Marcos Fava Neves. Ernie Neff, senior correspondent at large, examines the citrus industries in California and Texas. His articles include both challenges …

Deadline Approaching for Citrus Research Grants

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening, Legislative

Pre-applications for the emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension (CDRE) grants are available for fiscal year 2016. The estimated total program funding is $22 million, as a part of the third installment of the $125 million appropriated in the 2014 Farm Bill. To find a detailed summary of CDRE project eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit nifa.usda.gov and search “CDRE …

2016 Flavors of Florida

Kelsey FryCitrus, Genetic Engineering, Nutrition

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) put on the third annual Flavors of Florida event at the UF President’s House in Gainesville on May 9. The event was designed to showcase the edible research products of the UF/IFAS Plant Innovation Center and celebrate the accomplishments of Field and Fork (the campus food pantry) and other …

Nurseries Excited About New Early Valencia Orange Varieties

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening, Genetic Engineering

By: Brad Buck GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Nurseries are very interested in two new early Valencia orange varieties from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Growers need help because citrus greening has infected more than 80 percent of Florida’s citrus trees, according to a recent UF/IFAS survey of growers. Although these two new early Valencias are …

Essential Oil Could Help Prevent Citrus Black Spot

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening

By: Robin Koestoyo FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Dipping fruit after harvest with hot water and essential oil dips may reduce postharvest development of citrus black spot (CBS) lesions per fruit by up to 50 percent, according to new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research. The new management techniques are the result of Jiaqi Yan’s recently …

CRDF’s Browning Clarifies Recent USDA Funding

Kelsey FryCitrus, Citrus Greening, Legislative

The funding was made available through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program, which was appropriated by the $125 million dollars allocated from the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The $22 million dollars will be used for a variety of citrus greening-related channels, …