citrus research plot

Hurricane Damages Georgia Citrus Research Plot

Daniel CooperGeorgia, hurricane, Research

Jake Price with University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension recently described Hurricane Helene damage to the UGA citrus research plot. His observations, slightly edited, are as follows: When I had a chance to look at our citrus research plot, I expected the worst. But to my surprise, all of the trees were still standing. There was limb breakage due to …

disease

Post-Hurricane Disease Concerns

Daniel CooperDiseases, hurricane

Phytophthora, citrus black spot and HLB are among diseases that could be spread in Florida groves as a direct or indirect result of Hurricane Milton, researcher Megan Dewdney cautioned. Dewdney, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of plant pathology, offered suggestions for dealing with those diseases during a recent hurricane recovery webinar. PHYTOPHTHORA Phytophthora …

eqip

EQIP Funds to Provide Hurricane Assistance

Daniel Cooperhurricane

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS) in Florida is accepting applications for disaster assistance from agricultural landowners and producers recovering from damages caused by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The funding will provide technical and financial assistance through the Emergency Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  Approximately $26 million will be made available for applicants to address …

losses

Milton Ag Losses May Be as High as $2.5 Billion

Daniel Cooperfinancial, hurricane

Preliminary crop and infrastructure losses from Hurricane Milton are estimated between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) reported the preliminary estimate a week after Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 near Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 hurricane. The information in the FDACS document, Preliminary Estimates of Damage to …

Hurricane Milton

Alico on Hurricane Milton Damage

Daniel Cooperhurricane

Initial assessments indicate that Alico, Inc. sustained minimal tree damage and some fruit drop from Hurricane Milton. The company stated that its approximately 48,000 acres of citrus groves in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Polk counties, Florida, sustained hurricane or tropical storm force winds for varying durations of time. Initial observations include measurable drop of fruit from trees …

damage assessment

Post-Hurricane Damage Assessment and Fruit Drop

Daniel CooperFruit Drop, hurricane

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) on Oct. 16 presented a hurricane recovery webinar less than a week after Hurricane Milton crossed the state. Among the topics addressed were damage assessment and fruit drop. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT Multi-county citrus Extension agent Chris Oswalt recommended that growers check trees for damage in multiple locations within groves, starting …

milton

Hurricane Milton Added to Loan Program

Daniel Cooperfinancial, hurricane

Eligible Florida farmers, ranchers and growers impacted by Hurricane Milton can apply for low-interest or interest-free loans of up to $500,000, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced. Impacted agricultural producers can learn more and apply here for the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Loans may be used to restore, repair or replace …

milton

Hurricane Milton: Spotty Citrus Damage, Some Severe

Daniel Cooperhurricane

A few themes are unfolding as Florida’s citrus industry begins to assess Hurricane Milton’s damage. First, it could have been worse. The overall citrus losses do not appear to be as bad as those incurred from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Second, the hurricane affected nearly the entire Florida Citrus Belt, but damage varies greatly depending on the specific area. Reports …

hurricane milton

Hurricane Milton: Assessing and Reporting Losses and Damages

Tacy Callieshurricane

The University of Florida Institute of Food And Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program is deploying a survey to assess the agricultural impacts of Hurricane Milton. Once it is safe to do so and immediate needs are met, Florida’s agricultural producers are encouraged to complete the following steps related to assessing and reporting agricultural losses and damages: This UF/IFAS survey is …

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Resources

Daniel Cooperhurricane

Hurricane Milton is currently expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. It will likely impact a large portion of the state. In anticipation of the hurricane and its aftermath, Florida Citrus Mutual has canceled its crop estimate luncheon that was scheduled for Oct. 11 in Zolfo …

Farm Bill

Florida Ag Eligible for Loans After Hurricane Helene

Daniel Cooperfinancial, hurricane

Florida farmers, ranchers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers can use loans to restore, repair or replace essential physical property — including fences, equipment, greenhouses and other buildings — or to remove vegetative debris. The loan availability was announced …

protect

Protect Against Potential Fungus Post-Hurricane

Daniel CooperDiseases, hurricane

Citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Helene now must decide the best management strategy to protect trees from potential disease issues prior to harvest. Kim Jones, a citrus grower and packer with operations in Monticello, Florida, and Tifton, Georgia, weighed in on what to consider to protect trees. “Fungus is the biggest risk at this point,” said Jones. “The sunshine is …

survey

Survey to Determine Hurricane Helene Ag Impacts

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Survey

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has started a study to estimate the agricultural impacts resulting from Hurricane Helene in the state of Florida. Results of a survey, which can be accessed here, will be combined with a detailed baseline database on agricultural assets in Florida to estimate and communicate production losses. The information UF/IFAS …

winds

How to Help Trees Recover From High Winds

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Irrigation, Tip of the Week

By Christopher Vincent Hurricane Helene’s path spared most of the citrus industry the kind of trouble that Hurricane Ian brought back in 2022, but Ian taught us some important lessons you can use if your trees were hit by high winds. WIND SPEED MATTERS Trees impacted by Category 3 winds were mostly defoliated, with major limbs broken and near 100% …

production and exports

Growers Cautioned To Be Wary of Fruit Quality Following Helene

Daniel CooperFresh, hurricane

Georgia’s citrus growers may have dodged catastrophic results from Hurricane Helene, but they might not know the full impact of the storm for at least a couple of more weeks. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association, warned that though fruit may still be in the trees, it may have suffered irreparable damage from high winds when the …

Hurricane Debby

Hurricane Debby Citrus Production Losses Could Reach $13 Million

Daniel CooperEconomics, hurricane

There were no reports of significant or widespread losses for citrus crops due to August’s Hurricane Debby, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reported recently. But the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program stated in a preliminary assessment of agricultural damages that low-level production losses across a wide swath of citrus acreage could reach $13 million. …

Hurricane Debby

Impact of Hurricane Debby on North Florida Citrus

Daniel Cooperhurricane

High wind speeds were prevalent when Hurricane Debby passed through the North Florida region last week. Perry, Florida, received the brunt of those winds. According to Lisa Strange, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension agent in Taylor County, wind speeds were recorded at 80 miles per hour. It led to some citrus trees toppling over. Others …

NOAA

NOAA Updates Above-Normal Hurricane Outlook

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Weather

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service forecasters issued an Atlantic hurricane outlook update on Aug. 8 very similar to its initial outlook issued in May. Both outlooks projected an above-normal hurricane season.   The forecasters updated the number of expected named storms to 17 to 24 (with winds of 39 mph or greater), of which eight to 13 …

hurricane season

Update to Hurricane Season Forecast

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Weather

Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers on Aug. 6 continued to call for an extremely active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The August forecast is the same as the July forecast for all parameters except for named storms, which was reduced from 25 to 23. Twelve of the named storms are predicted to reach hurricane strength. Six of the 12 hurricanes …