extension

New UF/IFAS Citrus Extension Agent

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release, Research

(UF/IFAS) — When you meet Ajia Paolillo, you might think that everything old is new again. That’s because Paolillo, the new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS) citrus agent for DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee counties, leans heavily on the experience of faculty colleagues from previous experiences.  “I learned so much working with Stephen Futch, Bill …

Citrus Day Updates Growers on UC Research

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Citrus

Over 200 people from the citrus industry and University of California (UC) Riverside gathered on Jan. 29 for Citrus Day. Growers and scientists alike were informed about the current status of huanglongbing (HLB) disease and the tiny insect that spreads it, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). The consensus of the speakers was that while HLB is a serious threat to …

budget

Budget Proposals Brought Into Citrus Legal Fight

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

(NSF) — Attorneys for Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Wednesday alerted the Florida Supreme Court that new legislative budget proposals include more than $19 million to address a legal battle over the state cutting down Lee County homeowners’ healthy citrus trees. Fried’s office took the battle to the Supreme Court after the 2nd District Court of Appeal ordered the …

Florida

Georgia Citrus Industry Gaining Ground

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Georgia’s citrus industry is expected to double in acreage by the end of 2020, according to Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. The projected increase from 1,000 to nearly 2,000 acres this year presents the growers with an interesting challenge as they prepare for when these trees start producing fruit. “We project by the end …

citrus production

Fried on Florida Citrus Production Update

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast, Grapefruit, Industry News Release

(FDACS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service has released an updated Florida citrus production estimate for the 2019-20 crop year, forecasting a 10 percent increase for Florida grapefruit and predicting that Florida orange production will hold steady at 74 million boxes. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “Today’s updated citrus forecast is encouraging. It’s a direct …

PIECES OF THE PAST: From Yearling to Centenarian

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette When Citrus Industry magazine was launched 100 years ago, the founders had many fears as to whether the focus on a single crop was too narrow to be successful. It would be something I clearly remember the Frisbie family discussing with staff at different times over the years. However, at the close of the publication’s first …

citrus

Stay Sought in Citrus Tree Appeal

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Greening, financial, Industry News Release

(NSF) — The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wants the Florida Supreme Court to put on hold a legal battle about payments to Lee County homeowners whose healthy citrus trees were cut down amid an effort to halt the spread of citrus-canker disease. The department on Wednesday filed a motion for a stay, after taking the long-running case to the Supreme Court last …

citrus

State Appeals Ruling on Citrus Tree Payments

Daniel CooperCitrus, financial, Industry News Release

(NSF) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has gone to the state Supreme Court after lower courts ordered payment of more than $13.6 million to Lee County homeowners whose healthy citrus trees were cut down amid an effort to halt the spread of citrus-canker disease. The department has filed a notice of appeal that is a first step in asking the …

orange juice

Reps. Yoho, Soto Call on USDA to Stabilize Florida Orange Juice Market

Daniel CooperCitrus, hurricane, Industry News Release, Orange Juice

Reps. Ted. S Yoho (FL-03) and Darren Soto (FL-09) led a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture increase funding for orange juice purchases in Florida to $90 million, doubling the initial allocation from this past summer.  After Hurricane Irma, Florida orange production dropped precipitously from 68.7 million boxes in 2017 to 45 million boxes …

georgia citrus

Georgia Introduces New Satsuma Brand

Daniel CooperCitrus, Georgia, Industry News Release

(GDA) — Just in time for the holidays, shoppers can now add the Georgia citrus brand, Besties™ to their grocery lists. This month more than 1 million pounds of Georgia Grown satsuma mandarin oranges are going to market in major retailers, including Publix, Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods. “Georgia has a great history of branding agricultural commodities into household names,” …

Citrus Commission Rejects Tax Hike for Marketing

Daniel CooperCitrus, Florida Citrus Commission, Industry News Release

(NSF) — Small growers of Florida’s signature crop, expressing concerns about the future of the citrus industry, indicated a willingness Wednesday to pay a higher tax rate if it gets people to drink more orange juice. But the Florida Citrus Commission rejected a proposal to raise from 7 cents to 12 cents a per-box tax on oranges that growers pay …

Farmworker Protection Rule

Court Says State Should Pay in Citrus Fight

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

(NSF) — In a legal battle that started in 2003, an appeals court Wednesday upheld a ruling that directed the state to pay more than $13.6 million to Lee County homeowners whose healthy citrus trees were cut down amid an effort to halt the spread of citrus-canker disease. A panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected arguments that …

nutrition

UF/IFAS Adds Fourth Citrus Nutrition Workshop

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

Responding to strong grower interest, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has added a fourth event to its roster of citrus nutrition workshops this fall. The event happens 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at the UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County office in Sebring. For more information, visit citrusnutritionprogramsebring.eventbrite.com. Admission is free and …

citrus crop forecast

First Citrus Crop Forecast of the Season

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast

The release of the 2019-20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus crop forecast projects an increase in orange, grapefruit, tangerine and tangelo production for Florida. California and Texas are expected to decrease production in most categories. ORANGESFlorida non-Valencia oranges are projected at 32 million boxes after ending the 2018-19 season at 30.4 million boxes. California is projected at 38 million …

florida all

Federal Money Flowing to Citrus Growers

Daniel CooperCitrus, hurricane, Industry News Release

Florida has reached the halfway point in dispensing a $343 million federal grant it received for citrus growers who sustained damage in Hurricane Irma two years ago, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis. “I think that that’s been much-needed relief,” DeSantis said of the $173 million that has been distributed, mostly since he took office in January. “We’re going to continue …

Sneak Peek: October 2019 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Sneak Peek

The October issue of Citrus Industry magazine features two tools growers can use against Asian citrus psyllids (ACP). There’s still no silver bullet for HLB, the disease ACP carries to citrus trees. However, particle films and individual protective covers (IPCs) are showing positive results in slowing down ACP and HLB disease infection. University of Florida (UF) citrus physiologist Christopher Vincent …

land

Florida Governor Joins Announcement About Indian River Grapefruit Acreage Expansion

Daniel CooperCitrus, Grapefruit

Florida Governor Ron Desantis is expected to join citrus industry leaders in Vero Beach this evening for a major announcement about industry collaboration that is expected to re-establish Florida’s grapefruit industry in the famed Indian River production region. Dan Richey of Riverfront Packing in Vero Beach is one of the organizers for the event. Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNet Radio Network …

Three Appointed to Florida Citrus Commission

Daniel CooperCitrus, Florida Citrus Commission, Industry News Release

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Carlos Martinez and the reappointment of John Patrick Schirard and Jonathan Hancock to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). The FCC is dedicated to overseeing and guiding the activities of the Florida Department of Citrus, conducting a variety of industry programs and regulating the quality standards of citrus grown in Florida. CARLOS MARTINEZMartinez, of …

Research on Shade Benefits and Growing Better Bingo

Ernie NeffCitrus, Research

Money provided by the Florida Legislature allows research into the positive impact of shade on trees, Bingo tree dieback and additional areas not funded by other sources. “The University of Florida (UF) each year gets legislative appropriations from the state, and these are Citrus Initiative legislative funds,” says Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). The …

dorian

Millions in Agricultural Crops at Risk as Dorian Approaches Florida

Daniel CooperCitrus, Grapefruit, hurricane, Industry News Release, Weather

GIf Hurricane Dorian makes landfall mid-way up Florida’s Atlantic Coast – as many models predicted Thursday afternoon – the storm could devastate not only Central Florida tourist destinations, but also the region’s agricultural areas, which include significant acreage devoted to citrus, vegetable, ornamental plant and cattle production. Economists and Extension faculty with the University of Florida Institute of Food and …