Nutritional Lessons Learned From the Field and in the Wild

Josh McGillNutrition

By Brad Turner In the 1970s, the majority of my family’s groves in Hillsborough, Polk and Hardee counties remained on a 25-foot by 25-foot setting or wider. Most of these “old school” blocks received several light cultivations in both directions, two fertilizations and two foliar sprays per season. These groves contained some of the most grand and bountiful trees in …

PIECES OF THE PAST: The Gate City of South Florida

Josh McGillPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In 1870, Gen. Henry Shelton Sanford purchased 23 square acres of land west of Mellonville, Florida, through the Sanford Grant from Spain. He planned a new city that he called The Gate City of South Florida, which he believed would become the transportation hub for Florida. In 1877, the city of Sanford was incorporated, and Mellonville …

How to Reduce Bingo Tree Loss to Stem Dieback

Josh McGillDiseases, Research

By Christopher Vincent, Megan Dewdney and Liliana Cano Bingo mandarin hybrid is a variety with many promising characteristics, but it brings specific challenges to profitable production. One challenge identified early in the push to plant Bingo was stem dieback that led to tree loss. After looking into this problem for the past four years, University of Florida Institute of Food …

Comparison of ACP/HLB Management Tools for Citrus Resets

Josh McGillDiseases, HLB Management, Research

By Lauren Diepenbrock, Megan Dewdney, Christopher Vincent and Davie Kadyampakeni As the threat of potential shutdowns loomed in March 2020, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) team put the final plants in the ground, individual protective covers (IPCs) on trees, and kaolin and pesticide applications on a 2.7-acre planting at the Citrus Research and Education …

Balancing Citrus Nutrition in the Era of HLB

Josh McGillHLB Management, Nutrition, Research

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has committed to updating nutrition recommendations for citrus now that HLB is endemic across the state. Some of this ongoing research was discussed during the February All In For Citrus podcast. Growers will be interested to hear from Davie Kadyampakeni, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of soil and water science, …

Growers to Gather at Citrus Institute

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research, Tip of the Week

By Chris Oswalt, Mongi Zekri, Ajia Paolillo and Lourdes Pérez Cordero Huanglongbing (HLB) continues to impact citrus-producing areas of Florida. The 2022 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute is an opportunity for Florida citrus growers to come together to learn about effective management of HLB and other challenges affecting the industry. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, April 5 from 8:30 …

Soil Is Key to Setting Up Trees for Success

Josh McGillAgriculture, Nutrition, Soil Improvement

By Brad Turner As I started my regenerative journey five years ago, it conjured up memories of walking the family groves in the 1970s with my freshly sharpened eye hoe. I would follow the tractor as it pulled the offset chopper, crisscrossing between the widely spaced trees in all directions. The native grasses and broadleaf plants — including legumes like …

Pointers for Pre-emergent Herbicide Use

Josh McGillHerbicides, Tip of the Week

By Ramdas Kanissery Weeds emerging in citrus rows are problematic as they compete for resources with the trees, support pests and interfere with grove operations like irrigation (Figure 1). Hence, effective strategies to control weed emergence should be in place.   Pre-emergence (or residual) herbicides are an excellent tool for the long-term suppression of weeds in tree rows. These herbicides …

New Research Shows How HLB Damages Trees

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research

Recent research describes in detail how HLB causes damage to citrus trees and presents the case that HLB is a pathogen-triggered immune disease. A pathogen-triggered immune disease results from the activation of an organism’s immune cells fighting a pathogen. Nian Wang, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor, took part in the research. This is the …

Upcoming Events for Florida Citrus Growers

Josh McGillCitrus, Events, Florida

In the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, previews two upcoming events citrus growers will want to attend. The first is a Finger Lime Symposium. The half-day event will be held virtually from 1 p.m. to 5 …

Achieving Water and Nutrient Efficiency

Josh McGillIrrigation, Nutrition, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers emphasized the importance of efficient irrigation and nutrient management at a workshop earlier this month at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. In Florida, the citrus industry accounts for about 30% of irrigated cropland acreage, reported UF/IFAS researcher Alisheikh Atta. Worldwide, the agriculture industry consumes about …

Citrus and Salinity

Josh McGillCitrus, Nutrition, Research

By Mongi Zekri Salts are a common component of soils that originate from mineral weathering, fertilizers, irrigation waters and soil amendments. The addition of most soluble fertilizer materials will increase soil salinity. However, it is only when salts are present in relatively high concentration that crops are damaged or adversely affected. Salinity is of increasing concern in Florida because of …

HLB Reduces Phytophthora Management Efficacy

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research

The pathogen phytophthora has long presented problems for Florida citrus growers. But the HLB disease that has plagued Florida since 2005 reduces the efficacy of phytophthora management, citrus pathologist Ozgur Batuman reported in a recent virtual seminar. Batuman, who works for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, said improved fungicide timing, number of applications and rates …

What to Do About Bingo Stem Dieback

Josh McGillDiseases, Research, Tip of the Week

By Christopher Vincent, Megan Dewdney and Liliana Cano Bingo is a relatively new and unfamiliar variety, which growers initially sought as a positive alternative. However, it presents some unique production challenges. Bingo is desirable because its high-quality, low-seeded fruits are ripe in October, a valuable harvest window for Florida growers. But in the early years of its propagation, some nurseries …

The Quest for Copper Alternatives for Managing Citrus Canker

Josh McGillDiseases, Research

By Ozgur Batuman, Sanju Kunwar and Ana Redondo There are new products that potentially can be added to a grower’s toolbox in coming seasons for managing citrus bacterial canker. Citrus canker is an infection by a species of bacteria (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri) that causes fruit blemishes and fruit drop. It makes fruit unsightly and lowers its marketability. Every year, …

citrus

Improving Color Break and Brix in CUPS

Josh McGillCUPS, Production, Research

Arnold Schumann recently reported on what he called “the most successful and practical intervention for improving color break and quality in CUPS fresh fruit.” CUPS stands for citrus under protective screen, a growing technique that Schumann, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher, helped pioneer in Florida. He reported on his work at a Feb. …

Georgia and Florida Citrus Avoid Major Freeze Damage

Josh McGillFlorida, Georgia, Weather

The Georgia and Florida citrus industries reportedly came through the Sunday morning freeze with no significant widespread damage. In Florida, temperatures in the 20s were the coldest most groves had experienced in several years. “Everything looks good,” said Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association. “We got some burn on the top of trees, but very little.” Most of …

Avoid Phytophthora When Planting

Josh McGillDiseases, Research

Phytophthora infection can lead to severe stunting in newly planted citrus trees, researcher Megan Dewdney told growers and others at a Jan. 19 presentation at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida. She said stunted trees never thrive or produce adequate fruit. Dewdney is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant pathologist. She …

cold hardiness

Frigid Florida Weather Has Growers on Alert

Josh McGillFlorida, Weather

The coldest temperatures in years predicted for Florida this weekend have fruit and vegetable growers worried and preparing to protect their crops. Temperatures in the 20s and 30s are expected deep into the peninsula of Florida. And the freezing weather could persist for up to four hours or more. Gene McAvoy, associate director for stakeholder relations at the University of …