PFD

When to Be on Canker Alert

Ernie NeffCitrus

Citrus fruit is susceptible to canker after it reaches three-eighths of an inch in diameter, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension pathologist Megan Dewdney told growers this winter. “Once you get to that point and we get rain, then all bets are off as to whether you will keep canker out,” Dewdney said at a winter …

field hearings

Exploring the Economic Impact of California’s Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperCitrus

The California citrus industry is valued at nearly $3.5 billion with over 3,000 growers farming 320,000 acres throughout the state. The size and scale of citrus production has both direct and indirect effects on California’s overall economy. “If you think about primary production, which citrus is, it requires that the citrus growers buy what’s called ‘intermediate inputs’ or inputs from …

acp

Researching Scouting Strategies for ACP

Daniel CooperCitrus, Psyllids

Several research projects continue at University of California Riverside to evaluate strategies for better detection of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Monique Rivera, assistant cooperative Extension specialist, is looking into something referred to as the ‘edge effect’ and how it pertains to ACP control. “The ‘edge effect’ is basically an ecological term that we’re using in the context of Asian citrus …

florida citrus

Citrus Funding Could Remain Steady as Results Sought

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Greening

Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Ron Bradley supports maintaining the current level of funding for the state’s citrus industry, as a decade of research about combating deadly citrus greening disease is applied more in groves. After hearing presentations Wednesday from citrus-industry leaders, Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said there “certainly” won’t be a drop from this year’s $23.2 million in funding. At the …

grapefruit

Grapefruit, Tangerines and Tangelos See Small Changes in Crop Forecast

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the January and February citrus crop forecasts on Feb. 8. January’s forecast had been delayed due to the government shutdown. JANUARYJanuary’s forecast showed a decrease in Florida grapefruit, tangelo and tangerine production compared to December. Grapefruit fell from 6.4 million boxes to 6.2 million boxes. Tangerines and tangelos dropped from 1.2 million boxes to …

orange

Growing 325 Boxes of Citrus per Acre

Ernie NeffCitrus

Grower Roy Petteway told fellow growers attending a recent grower roundtable meeting in Arcadia that his 400 acres of citrus groves in three counties are averaging production of 325 boxes per acre. That’s approximately double the production level of the average Florida citrus acre hammered by HLB, though far below pre-HLB production levels. Petteway grows fruit for processing in DeSoto, …

November

All In For Citrus Podcast, January 2019

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus

The January All In For Citrus Podcast includes a breakdown of what’s planned for citrus research in 2019, an update from citrus Extension, a goodbye message from an industry leader and the newest cutting-edge research in fighting citrus pathogens. Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control …

rubio

Rubio Calls on DeSantis to Disburse Citrus Aid

Daniel CooperCitrus, financial, hurricane, Industry News Release

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio implored Florida’s new governor Tuesday to start spreading disaster-relief money approved nearly a year ago to address massive citrus-industry damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. Rubio said in a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis that money in a $343 million block grant needs to be disbursed to citrus growers. Rubio said the federal government shutdown has …

Government Shutdown Not Affecting California Citrus — Yet

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Citrus

An analysis by California Citrus Mutual (CCM) indicates there is no major impact at the present time on government programs that affect California’s citrus industry. This could change if the shutdown drags on, however. According to the report, “Our major priority would be the ACP/HLB program sometimes known as CHRP (Citrus Health Response Program). We are not suffering any major …

daily irrigation

Daily Irrigation for HLB-Affected Trees

Ernie NeffCitrus, Irrigation

Daily irrigation is important in managing HLB-affected trees, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) soil scientist told a Citrus Nutrition Day crowd in Bartow on Dec. 11. The researcher, Davie Kadyampakeni, said daily irrigation reduces tree water stress and improves tree water use. According to Kadyampakeni, keeping water in the top 12 inches of soil …

podcast

Rogers Reviews 2018 in Citrus

Ernie NeffCitrus

Citrus Research and Education Center Director Michael Rogers recently took a look back at the Florida citrus industry in 2018 from a grower and researcher perspective. Rogers said 2018 was “a bit calmer” for everyone in the industry than the prior year. “Our main citrus-growing regions in the state dodged major hurricanes this year … We really needed a break …

citrus rootstock

USDA Releases 3 New Citrus Rootstocks

Daniel CooperCitrus, Rootstocks

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released three new citrus rootstocks that are available for unrestricted public use. The rootstocks are US SuperSour 1, US SuperSour 2 and US SuperSour 3. A new publication provides summary information about the new releases. Get the new publication here: Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts …

usda

December Citrus Crop Forecast Unchanged

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast, Grapefruit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2018-2019 Florida all-orange forecast for December is 77 million boxes, unchanged from the November forecast. If realized, this forecast will be 71 percent more than last season’s final production. The forecast consists of 32 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason and Navel varieties) and 45 million boxes of Valencia oranges. Current fruit size …

florida citrus

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees Chosen for 2019

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

Three distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame at the 57th Citrus Celebration Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on March 8 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Tim Hurner of Sebring, Richard J. Kinney (deceased), formerly of Lakeland, and Peter McClure of Port Saint Lucie will be honored at the luncheon. Hurner Tim Hurner is a fourth-generation Florida …

production

Citrus Nutrition Day to Include Field Tours

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Health Management Areas, Industry News Release, Nutrition, Research

This year’s Citrus Nutrition Day — at which growers will learn the latest data about growing the fruit, from the soil up through the plants — is expanding to include tours of field trials. After a morning of updates from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers, participants may tour field sites at the Peace River …

production

High-Density Plantings Could Boost Profits for Florida Citrus Growers

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

Florida citrus growers who plan to establish new groves might want to consider high-density planting, according to experts with the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Wider spacing between trees and rows was common decades ago but, with yields down and input costs up, …

psyllids

Numerous ACP Found Near Visalia, California

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Citrus

A large population of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) and nymphs were found in an older residential area northwest of Visalia, California, last week. With multiple life stages of ACP found, county and state officials have moved into eradication mode immediately. According to the Visalia Times-Delta, 250 ACP were found in four locations. California Citrus Mutual reported that up to 400 …

citrus

Citrus Advisory System May Help Prevent PFD Losses

Daniel CooperCitrus, Research

A new University of Florida-developed forecasting system could help citrus growers control postbloom fruit drop this winter, despite the predicted El Niño weather pattern that’s expected to bring more rain and moderate temperatures. With an El Niño, forecasters expect above-average rain this winter and early spring. Increased rain improves the chances of fungal spores splashing from flower to flower in …

florida

Decline in Florida Citrus Forecast Figures

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast

The 2018–19 Florida orange forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Nov. 8 is 77 million boxes, down 3 percent from the October forecast. If realized, this forecast will be 71 percent more than last season’s final production. The orange forecast consists of 32 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 45 million …

laser

Laser Technology May Be Key to Rehabilitating HLB Trees

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Greening, HLB Management, Research, Technology

A University of Florida (UF) scientist hopes to improve on laser technology to enhance the efficiency of spray solutions aimed at restoring vitality to greening-affected citrus trees and reducing amounts of chemicals applied. With the updated technology, a laser shoots infra-red energy pulses at citrus tree leaves, said Ed Etxeberria, a professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of …