Growers in the cold-hardy citrus region are applying too much nitrogen to their groves. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discovered that unfortunate reality while conducting a research project in North Florida. Most citrus growers were following recommendations in the UF/IFAS Florida Citrus Production Guide, which are mostly …
Irrigation Comparison for Young HLB Trees
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Kondwani Kamsikiri and Alisheikh Atta Water scarcity is one of the major constraints in Florida citrus production systems, primarily due to erratic rainfall patterns and the low water- and nutrient-holding capacity of the predominantly sandy soils. The state’s soils contain more than 95% sand and have low organic matter (<1%) and very low water-holding capacity. These challenges …
Brassinosteroids Improve HLB-Affected Tree Health and Fruit Quality
By Fernando Alferez, Divya Aryal and Saoussen Ben Abdallah In the last few years, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus horticulture team at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee has performed several research trials in commercial farms and at the experimental farm at the SWFREC to elucidate the effect of …
Governor Names Florida Citrus Commissioners
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently appointed five new members to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) and reappointed five members. The new appointees are Emma Ezell, Sean Frielich, Vernon Hollingsworth III, Daniel Hunt and Melanie Ressler. Steve Johnson, Carlos Martinez, William Poulton, Daniel Sutton and John “Patrick” Schirard were reappointed. The FCC is the governing board of the Florida Department of …
Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute Included Interactive Element
Growers gathered in Avon Park for the annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute at South Florida Community College in early April. Scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) presented updates on their work and the latest efforts to help in the fight against HLB. New this year, the scientists also hosted learning stations to further …
Alico Announces Development Plans
Alico, Inc., which in January announced it will cease citrus operations after this season, declared plans to develop two villages in Collier County. The company reported it is filing a development application for the first of the two villages, Corkscrew Grove East Village. The development ultimately will be a 3,000-acre master-planned community in northwest Collier County. “There will be an …
Forecast for Japanese Citrus
Production and trade of Japanese citrus was detailed in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report. GRAPEFRUIT Japan produces negligible amounts of grapefruit. However, it produces several domestic and unique pomelo or grapefruit-like citrus varieties such as buntan, a type of pomelo. These grapefruit-like varieties are popular among elderly consumers in Japan. The harvested area …
Funding Available for More CRAFT Plantings
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation board of directors has approved the opening of a supplemental Program for Expedited Propagation (PEP) Solid Set Planting application window. The application link is live here. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 30. PEP projects must be solid-set plantings of scions released as part of the Florida Department of Citrus- …
Sneak Peek: April 2025 Citrus Industry
The Florida Citrus Show brought together growers and industry for a fun day of camaraderie and education. The event took place March 13 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The April issue …
Separating HLB-Affected and Healthy Fruit
Scientists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) recently wrote about efforts to identify HLB-affected versus healthy citrus fruit. UF/IFAS scientists are Mark Ritenour, Ketan Shende and Thomas Burks. Michelle Heck is with the USDA/ARS. A slightly edited version of their article follows: Most citrus …
Digging Into Methods to Boost Citrus Soil Health
By Sarah Strauss, Emma Dawson, Gabriel Pugina, Ute Albrecht, Jonas Pereira de Souza Junior and Davie Kadyampakeni While soil health has always been considered critical for Florida citrus production, it has increased in importance with the endemic presence of citrus greening (HLB). Soil health is similar to the concepts of soil quality or soil fertility but with an additional focus …
Recovering Unprotected HLB-Infected Young Trees
By Fernando Alferez and Saoussen Ben Abdallah Individual protective covers (IPCs) are now being increasingly adopted in Florida to protect newly planted citrus trees from psyllid colonization. The risk of new citrus plantings becoming infected with HLB is especially high, as young trees flush more frequently and attract more psyllids. However, the adoption of IPCs does not occur in all …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Polk County Roots Run Deep
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was honored this year to be part of the Vero Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum’s “Deeply Rooted” event, which was the kick-off for Indian River County’s Centennial Celebration. It made me think of this year’s Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductees. They all have something in common with deep roots — Polk County! …
Forecast for Chinese Mandarin and Grapefruit Crops
A U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report forecasts Chinese mandarin and grapefruit production will both increase slightly in 2024–25. TANGERINES/MANDARINS China’s production of tangerines and mandarins is forecast at 27 million metric tons (MMT), up from 26.9 MMT the prior year. Increasing production in multiple cities is expected to outpace the negative effects of citrus greening …
Mexico’s Citrus Crops to Increase
Mexico’s production of lemons/limes and grapefruit are forecast in a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) report to increase in 2024–25 compared to the prior year. LEMONS/LIMES The lemon/lime production forecast for 2024–25 is 3.5 million metric tons (MMT), an 8% increase from the previous year. The forecast for lemon/lime planted area in 2024–25 is 223,500 hectares, up …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Programs Benefit Nurseries
By Peter Chaires The 2024–25 citrus season is another challenging one for Florida’s valued citrus nurseries. Uncertainty has been the consummate challenge for nurseries trying to anticipate grower needs. One large nursery grower recently interviewed believes that door-yard propagations are now nearing commercial propagations. Who would have ever thought we would see this happen? However, after a dismal 2022–23 propagation …
Forecast Favorable for Moroccan Citrus
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) has projected increased production of Moroccan oranges, orange juice (OJ) and lemons/limes in 2024–25 compared to the prior season. ORANGES For 2024–25, orange production in Morocco is expected to increase by 17%, reaching 960,000 metric tons (MT). Area planted is projected at 58,300 hectares, up from 58,200 hectares in 2023–24. USDA/FAS …
Mathematical Modeling Is Preparing Europe for HLB
A tool predicting how to protect European citrus from HLB shows how mathematical modeling can help prepare for future plant disease invasions. Europe is currently unaffected by HLB. However, there are increased concerns of an infestation since psyllids that spread HLB have been found in key citrus-producing countries, including Portugal and Spain. In response to the HLB threat, a new …
Highlands Citrus Banquet Highlights Trunk-Injection Research
The Highlands County Citrus Growers Association hosted its annual banquet on March 6 in Sebring. The event drew a good crowd to catch up on the association’s activities. Two of the featured speakers during the event discussed alternative trunk-injection therapies to the current standard of oxytetracycline (OTC). Tanishka Aglave, a sophomore at Strawberry Crest High School, received the H. Robert …
10-Year Forecast for U.S. Citrus Production
Total U.S. citrus production levels are projected to continue their long-term decline over the next several years before stabilizing through 2034, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It attributed that expected trend to declining orange and grapefruit production alongside increasing production of lemons and tangerines. The projections for all U.S. commodities are in USDA Agricultural Projections to 2034, …