Satsuma mandarins helped establish the citrus crop in Georgia. Alternate varieties will help the state’s industry continue to grow. Mary Sutton’s appointment as the new University of Georgia (UGA) citrus Extension specialist should help growers implement varieties that have been tested and are suitable for Georgia growers. Part of her role will be to research alternatives to satsumas to see …
Georgia Citrus Breeder Says New Varieties Will Take Time
The University of Georgia’s new citrus breeder is preaching patience for South Georgia growers wanting new varieties to work with. Dario Chavez emphasized during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting in Valdosta that it could take a decade or longer to research and find new citrus varieties that will help Georgia’s blossoming industry. “I think some of the growers are …
Big Year Expected for Diverse Georgia Citrus Crop
Georgia’s citrus industry is growing and so are the diverse varieties producers are planting every year. Jake Price, University of Georgia citrus agent, said at the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting last week in Valdosta that there were 4,400 citrus acres planted in South Georgia. At approximately 145 trees per acre, this equates to about 638,000 trees. What started out …
HLB and Psyllids in Georgia Commercial Citrus
One of Georgia citrus growers’ worst fears is slowly becoming a reality. Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), was observed in a Georgia commercial citrus grove for the first time in 2023. This is alarming news for the industry, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “We knew HLB was here in residential …
Owari Satsuma Pruning Project Update
By Jake Price The University of Georgia Owari satsuma pruning project is going to be very interesting. With extremely heavy fruit loads this year, I feel sure next year will be an “off” year for satsumas. It will be interesting to see what the fruit yields will be on the pruned trees compared to the unpruned trees. The six trees in this …
University of Georgia Makes Citrus Appointments
The University of Georgia (UGA) announced the appointment of citrus Extension specialist Mary Sutton and peach and citrus breeder Dario Chavez. MARY SUTTON Sutton will focus on maximizing citrus production and improving its efficiency in the face of challenges. Issues important to citrus production in Georgia include: Sutton received her master’s degree in horticulture from UGA in 2019 and her …
Satsuma Pruning and Thinning Trials
University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agents Jake Price and Sydni Ingram recently shared information about UGA satsuma pruning and thinning trials. An edited version of their Cold Hardy Citrus Connection article follows: The percentage of cull fruit in satsumas is very high due to the fruit being too soft, too green or too big. Satsumas are very cold hardy, delicious, …
Savelle Named Executive Director of Georgia Citrus Association
Georgia’s citrus industry has a new leading lady. Actually, she’s a familiar face who has a new title. While Lindy Savelle will continue to promote Georgia citrus, it will be under the title of executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA). Savelle was the president of GCA for almost eight years. Now, the association has put a succession plan …
Partnership for Safer Pesticide Use in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has announced its collaboration with FieldWatch, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing communication and stewardship among beekeepers, crop producers and pesticide applicators. This partnership will enable Georgia’s beekeepers and crop producers to use FieldWatch’s technology, providing a secure online registry to map apiaries and crop fields. That will ensure safer pesticide application practices. “The state …
Irrigation and Fertilization Advice for Georgia Citrus
Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) county Extension coordinator, recently wrote the following article about irrigation and fertility for Georgia citrus: I don’t think it has rained since my last blog! Make sure to check your irrigation to make sure it’s working properly. In the research plot, it is very common for the microjets to be stopped up or not spraying properly. …
Making the Most of Georgia Satsumas
“The satsuma mandarin industry in Georgia is currently experiencing tremendous growth and economic success, but it also faces many challenges.” That quote from the recent University of Georgia (UGA) Extension publication, Maximizing the Value of Georgia-Grown Satsumas Through Food Innovation, summarizes the state’s citrus industry that is composed primarily of satsuma mandarins. TOO MUCH FRESH FRUIT? The publication by Emma …
Satsuma History Worldwide and in Georgia
A recent University of Georgia (UGA) Extension publication summarized the centuries-old history of satsuma mandarins worldwide while focusing on the fruit’s modern popularity in Georgia. Excerpts follow from “Maximizing the Value of Georgia-Grown Satsumas Through Food Innovation,” authored by Emma Moore, Laurel Dunn and Kevin Mis Solval of the UGA Department of Food Science & Technology: Satsuma mandarins were first …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Georgia Citrus Association Annual Meeting Focused on HLB and More
By Peter Chaires The Georgia Citrus Association held its seventh annual meeting on Feb. 27 at the University of Georgia (UGA) campus in Tifton. As usual, the event was well organized and well attended. The agenda included topics such as: It was a value-packed day. HLB RECOMMENDATIONS Roger Smith of TreeSource Citrus Nursery in Woodlake, California, traveled quite a distance …
Georgia Research Projects Underway
Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) county Extension coordinator, recently provided a summary of citrus projects he has been working on: Source: Georgia Citrus Association Sponsored ContentTake the Sting Out of Fire AntsApril 2, 2025A Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024
Big Yields Expected in Georgia
A December 2022 freeze in Georgia significantly reduced the state’s 2023 citrus production, but many growers anticipate a large crop in 2024. “With less fruit production in 2023, trees added a lot more vegetative growth and increased their canopy volume,” University of Georgia Extension citrus agent Jake Price noted. “The satsuma bloom at the research plot was very large and …
In Georgia Owari Trial, Yields Peaked in 2021
University of Georgia Extension agent Jake Price recently summarized yields for three recent seasons from Owari satsuma trees in a rootstock trial. Last year, 2023, was the last harvest year for data collection in the trial. Price reported that yield in the trial plot peaked in 2021 with a yield of about 20,300 pounds on 60 trees, which would be …
Georgia Growers Now Voting on Citrus Commission Funding
Through April 30, Georgia citrus producers are voting in a referendum to determine if they will fund the newly formed Georgia Citrus Commission. If growers pass the referendum, the state will begin collecting an assessment from citrus growers to carry out research, education and promotion projects coordinated by the commission. The commission consists of Georgia citrus growers. At the request …
Hacks and Suggestions for Georgia Citrus Growers
Citrus meetings are vital to a grower’s plan for the upcoming season. What they learn and take back to the grove can provide major benefits heading into the upcoming harvest season. The recent Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting provided a venue for growers to share management tips with their peers. Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association, compiled a …
University of Georgia Lab Offers HLB Testing
The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Plant Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (MDL) on the Tifton campus is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified lab performing huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) testing. It offers the advanced test to commercial growers, homeowners, nurseries, Extension and research personnel and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The molecular test per sample costs $80. Candidatus Liberibacter species associated with HLB …
‘The Psyllids Will Like Georgia Just Fine’
A California citrus leader believes Georgia will make an ideal home for the Asian citrus psyllid, which vectors the devastating huanglongbing (HLB) disease. “North of Florida, it is colder, and it’s certainly not as suitable a place as Florida is, but the psyllid is still going to be fine. The cold isn’t long enough here to knock the populations out,” …