Changes to Florida Citrus Marketing Order Proposed

Josh McGillFlorida, Marketing, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed amendments to the Florida citrus marketing order. As recommended by the Florida Citrus Administrative Committee, changes would include reducing the size and quorum requirements of the committee and revising the nomination and selection processes of committee members. The requirement of allocating committee seats based on volume from each district would also be …

psyllids

Second CLas-Positive Psyllid Sample Found in California Grove

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Pests, Psyllids

An Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample confirmed positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) — the bacteria that causes huanglongbing (HLB) — was collected from a commercial citrus grove in the Pauma Valley area of California’s San Diego County. This confirmation marks the first CLas-positive ACP found in a commercial grove in San Diego County and only the second grove detection …

Argentina’s Lemon Crop to Increase

Josh McGillExport/Import, International, lemons

In its semi-annual citrus report for Argentina, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) increased its 2021–22 estimate for Argentina’s lemon crop production by 15%, to 1.9 million metric tons (MMT). Lemons are grown principally in the northwest provinces of Tucuman, Salta and Jujuy, with some minor production in northeast Argentina. Over the past few years, both existing …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, June 2022

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast

In the June episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), speaks live and on-the-scene during the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs. He said the great turnout for the event, hosted by Florida Citrus Mutual, is indicative of the fighting spirit of the state’s citrus growers. …

California Panel Issues HLB Update

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Pests

California’s commercial citrus groves remain free of HLB disease 14 years after Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) were first detected there. The state’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) described that as “no small feat” in its recently released 2020-21 annual report. “The past fiscal year presented its fair share of headwinds for citrus-growing operations,” the report stated. “From pandemic-induced …

Are Cover Crops Economically Feasible?

Josh McGillCover Crops, Economics, Research

Although researchers cited numerous advantages of cover crops during a virtual seminar on June 23, it likely will take more time to determine if they are economically worthwhile. Near the end of the seminar, economists showed a slide stating, “Cover crops could be an economically feasible practice in citrus production.” But an audience member seemed to question that statement by …

Experimenting With Cover Crops: Results From Three Years of Trials

Josh McGillCover Crops, Research, weeds

By Sarah Strauss, Antonio Castellano-Hinojosa, Davie Kadyampakeni, Ramdas Kanissery and Tara Wade Cover crops, which are planted specifically for soil enhancement and not for sale or harvest, can improve soil conditions and production for a variety of crops. However, there have not been many studies documenting changes to soil conditions and production when using cover crops in citrus. The University …

Inflation Impacts OJ Consumers

Josh McGillEconomics, Florida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) economist Marisa Zansler discussed orange juice (OJ) volume movement and the potential impacts inflation may have on the category at the May 18 Florida Citrus Commission meeting. She also addressed the importance of ongoing marketing activities to support sales even as supply constraints continue. Inflation is persistently up across all goods, with shelter, food, airline …

toolkit

How to Handle Worker Heat Stress

Josh McGillLabor, Weather

By Amir Rezazadeh Heat stress happens when the body is exposed to extreme heat in a hot environment. Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rashes. Other signs of heat stress include sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses and dizziness. Agricultural workers are at risk of heat stress. Those who are 65 years of age or older, …

Forum for Growers Sparks Conversations

Josh McGillHLB Management, Pests

By Ajia Paolillo Florida citrus growers are undoubtedly under pressure while they work daily to maintain tree health and produce quality fruit that is profitable. Growers are constantly switching gears to budget increasing production costs, address labor issues and, of course, fight HLB and other problems in the grove. Growers are fighting HLB from many different directions, including enhanced nutrition, …

An Update on Oak Mulch to Increase Soil Health

Josh McGillResearch, Soil Improvement

By Lukas M. Hallman, John M. Santiago and Lorenzo Rossi At first glance, one may not see how oak trees relate to citrus production. But in the early 2010s, growers and scientists reported seeing little to no HLB symptoms on citrus growing underneath the dripline of oak trees compared to citrus trees nearby but not directly under oak trees. These …

Citrus Innovation Center Coming to Lakeland

Josh McGillEducation

In a public-private partnership, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) will occupy citrus-related laboratory and creative space in a new building to be built at Florida Polytechnic University (FPU) in Lakeland. The Citrus Innovation Center will be financed, built, operated, maintained and owned by private entities. Randy K. Avent, president of FPU, said that having a solid research partner such as …

Diagnosing Herbicide Phytotoxicity in Citrus

Josh McGillweeds

By Ramdas Kanissery, Nimal Timilsina and Ruby Tiwari Chemical weed control is an essential component of the toolbox to keep weeds in check in citrus groves. Citrus growers primarily rely on herbicide to manage weeds due to their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Despite their benefits, herbicides may have a wide range of unintended effects on citrus. For instance, an herbicide-related injury …

Florida Growers Consider Bamboo Potential

Josh McGillAlternative Crops

An event in Lake Placid, Florida, on the potential of bamboo as an alternative commercial crop drew a large turnout of growers. Citrus growers, in particular, are interested in crops that could go on marginal grove land until a more viable solution to HLB comes along. Bamboo might fill that need, according to Phillip Rucks, owner of Phillip Rucks Citrus …

Speeding the Search for an HLB Solution

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research, Varieties

By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP My hope is that your new citrus breeding team scientist will be a new Bill Castle on warp speed for an HLB solution. That is, John Chater will accelerate the search for citrus varieties that hold up against HLB. He’s got tens of thousands of places to search. Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser have …

mexfly

Mexfly Actions Taken in Texas

Josh McGillPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and state authorities recently established one Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Texas and expanded another. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). On April 8, the agencies established a Mexfly quarantine in Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas. They established the Weslaco quarantine …

Consortium Research Aims at HLB

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research

Scientists from the New Mexico Consortium (NMC) say research they have conducted may lead to development of strategies for the control of HLB disease. The research is a collaborative effort between the Gupta laboratory, the NMC and the Stover laboratory at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS). The study focuses on the two putative virulence proteins of …

Greasy Green Research Approved

Josh McGillCRDF, Diseases, Research

Due to the initiative of the Indian River Citrus League (IRCL), the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) has approved research funding for the greasy green defect on citrus fruit. At a 2021 IRCL board meeting, the issue of greasy green spot was brought up by Tim Sallin of IMG Citrus. Other growers at that meeting also shared their experience …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, April 2022

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, CUPS, Research

Florida citrus growers need help in the fight against HLB. And they need that help quickly. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, addresses those concerns during the April All In For Citrus podcast. He says UF/IFAS scientists understand the urgency of the HLB fight and that …

Research Update: Stable Antimicrobial Peptide

Josh McGillPeptides, Research

By Hailing Jin Research on the effectiveness of a novel stable antimicrobial peptide (SAMP) identified from the Australian finger lime (Microcitrus australasica) to fight huanglongbing (HLB) continues in a multistate initiative involving 1,500 citrus trees. Although the pandemic has impacted the progress of the research, work has steadily continued and expanded.  Researchers at the University of California, Riverside and University …