Colorado State University (CSU) on July 9 decreased its Atlantic seasonal hurricane forecast slightly and now calls for a slightly above-normal 2025 Atlantic basin hurricane season. CSU anticipates a slightly above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean. Information obtained through June indicates that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will have …
AI to Assess Crop Damage
Imagine using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform similar to ChatGPT to get crop-damage information after a major storm and comparing it to previous seasons. That’s what University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) AI scientist Nikolaos Tziolas plans to provide for farmers. His project will be funded with a new $297,000 grant from the U.S. Department of …
Increased Rainfall Impacts Florida Citrus
Recent rainfall has been a welcome sight for Floridians, but it can be a concern for the state’s citrus growers who are producing next year’s crop. Chris Oswalt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus agent, cautions growers about citrus canker amid the increased moisture in the region. “With rainfall, you need to be concerned about those …
NOAA’s 2025 Hurricane Season Forecast
Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service have predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. NOAA’s outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which goes from June 1 to Nov. 30, predicts a 30% chance of a near-normal season, a 60% chance of an above-normal season and a 10% chance of a …
Citrus Water Needs Critical Amid Dry Period
The current dry period in the Southeast can negatively impact the region’s citrus groves. Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama need water, especially ahead of the next harvest season. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed why water is so important this time of year. “Water …
Will Weather Set Florida Free From the Threat of PFD?
By Megan Dewdney Despite being in a transition from a La Niña to a neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation phase, Florida has not had warmer than average temperatures in the last two weeks from March 3. Looking at historical trends, temperatures for the last two weeks of February were in the normal range for this time of year. When looking …
Freeze Protection Needed Next Week for Cold-Hardy Citrus
January temperatures have been low for cold-hardy citrus growers. They are about to get lower, however, beginning early next week. GEORGIAAccording to weather.com, low temperatures in Tifton, Georgia, are forecast to drop into the high 20s, Sunday through Wednesday, with high temperatures only reaching the mid-30s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Similar weather conditions are expected across the region, so growers …
Florida Winter Weather Trends
Florida state climatologist David Zierden recently discussed past and present weather impacts on Florida citrus and said the next three months of winter are projected to be warmer than usual. Zierden, of Florida State University’s Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, spoke during a virtual Winter Weather Lunch Break on Dec. 10. PAST Zierden said 13 freezes occurred over a 162-year …
Climate Change in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region
Climate change is a key reason that citrus production has progressed in South Georgia, North Florida and South Alabama, the area known as the cold-hardy citrus region. As more varieties, other than satsuma mandarins, continue to be planted in the area, warmer temperatures are needed for trees to flourish. Arnold Schumann, professor of soil fertility and water quality at the …
The Florida Citrus Perfect Storm: Disease, Weather and Market Swings
By Ariel Singerman Orange yield in Florida has decreased by more than 80% since HLB was first found in the state in 2005. It is hard to find another example in recent history of an industry as iconic as Florida citrus that has declined so significantly as a consequence of a plant disease. As a comparison, at the global level, …
NOAA Updates Above-Normal Hurricane Outlook
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 …
Update to Hurricane Season Forecast
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 …
Colorado State University Increases Hurricane Forecast
Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University (CSU) issued an update on July 9 for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Information obtained through early July indicates that this season will have hurricane activity well above the 1991–2020 average. CSU’s July forecast is higher in all categories compared to its June 11 forecast. A summary of the July forecast is as follows: …
Florida Labor Contractor Cited in Orange Harvester Death
A federal workplace safety investigation found a Florida labor contractor could have prevented the fatal illness of a 41-year-old worker who collapsed while harvesting oranges at Alico Farms in December 2023. According to investigators, the incident could have been avoided if the required steps to protect employees from hazards associated with high temperatures were taken. Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s …
Heat-Related Illness Toolkit Available
The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have created an online toolkit to help protect agricultural workers from the summer heat. Last year’s sweltering summer temperatures convinced SCCAHS leadership that additional promotion about heat-related illness education could save lives. Even before the summer ended, the …
Herbicide Application During Rainy Weather
By Ramdas Kanissery Finding the right time to apply post-emergent herbicides for controlling weeds in citrus groves is challenging in the summer months due to frequent rain. Rainy conditions delay grove maintenance, including herbicide spraying, while also impacting the effectiveness of the herbicides. Monitoring weather forecasts and identifying optimal conditions for herbicide applications can help achieve the best results. Below …
Extremely Active Atlantic Hurricane Forecast Maintained
Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers in June maintained their April forecast for an extremely active Atlantic hurricane season in 2024. The maintained forecast for the 2024 season, with the average for 1991-2020 in parentheses, is: The researchers also maintained the probabilities for at least one major hurricane landfall on each of the following coastal areas: “This forecast is of …
NOAA Announces Hurricane Season Predictions
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center on May 23 predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), …
Dealing With Drought Stress
By Amir Rezazadeh Citrus trees are not immune to the challenges posed by drought stress. Drought stress occurs when a tree’s water supply falls below its demand, leading to physiological disruptions that can impair growth, development and fruit production. In the dry season, when water scarcity is a prevalent issue in Florida, understanding and managing drought stress in citrus trees …
University of Pennsylvania Predicts Record Storms in 2024
Climate scientist Michael Mann at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences and his team have predicted a record-breaking 33 named storms for the 2024 North Atlantic hurricane season. They said the number of storms could potentially range from 27 to 39. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Earlier this spring, Colorado State University …