The Gift Fruit Shippers Advisory Council (GFSAC) met virtually on Sept. 29 to discuss results of the 2020–21 season and develop plans for the upcoming season. In 2020–21, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) programs focused on communicating availability, quality, tradition, nutrition and Florida origin with consumers through social media and website activations to encourage purchases from Florida gift fruit shippers. …
Gibberellic Acid Use: Considerations and Concerns
By Tripti Vashisth Gibberellic acid (GA) is a naturally occurring plant hormone. GA has been used in citrus production for years to improve fruit set and size, reduce preharvest drop and delay harvest. Recent findings show that monthly foliar application of GA from September to January can improve productivity of HLB-affected Valencia trees. On average, a 30% increase in yield …
The Past and Potential of Parson Brown
By Gary K. England and Manjul Dutt The Parson Brown is an early-season sweet orange that was identified in 1875 by J.L. Carney and named the Carney Parson Brown (CPB). In a 1923 article titled ‘History of the Parson Brown Orange,’ E.L. Carney described how his brother Capt. J.L. Carney sought a sweet orange of acceptable quality for budding onto …
CRDF Update: Maximizing Funds and Testing Tree Injection
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors met on Sept. 28. Rick Dantzler, CRDF chief operating officer, shared highlights from the meeting. “The primary action was the endorsement of the idea to pull together a group of plant breeders from across the country to help us decide where to invest our funding in plant improvement,” said Dantzler. …
Growers Uncertain About BMPs
Citrus growers are adopting best management practices (BMPs), but there is some uncertainty about how the practices affect yields and profitability. That was the summary of a grower survey about BMPs conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). A presentation highlighting the survey results was available at the UF/IFAS booth during Citrus Expo in …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Tiller of the Soil
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I recently came across this poem in a 1930s book titled “Citrus Growing in Florida” by the Florida Department of Agriculture in a chapter on cover crops: “Would’st have abundant crops reward thy toilAnd fill thy barns, O tiller of the soil?Then ever keep in mind this maxim true,Feed well the land and ’twill in turn …
FFVA Emerging Leaders Class Named
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently announced the selection of 15 up-and-coming agriculture industry leaders for Class 11 of its Emerging Leader Development Program. Class 11 members are: Miles Armstrong, TradeMark Nitrogen, Tampa Jackson Autry, Everglades Equipment, Belle Glade Ben Backus, DLF Packing, Fort Pierce Matt Bardin, Glades Crop Care Inc., Jupiter Gracelyn Byrd, U.S. Sugar, Moore Haven …
New UF/IFAS Extension Agent for Highlands County
Lourdes Pérez Cordero is the new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent for Highlands County. She did not grow up in the citrus industry, but you wouldn’t know that upon meeting her. Pérez, who recently started her new job, is eager and enthusiastic to engage with local citrus and vegetable growers and connect them to …
Free ACP Scouting Service
Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), California and Texas citrus growers can apply for the use of detection dogs to survey their groves for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). The ACP-hunting canine scouts are highly trained and have shown to be more than 90% accurate when tested in various environments. The information obtained from the scouting can …
HLB: The Problem for Processors
Many stories have been written about the woes HLB disease has caused Florida’s citrus growers; fewer have been written about the problems HLB causes Florida citrus processors. Kristen Carlson presented the processors’ side of the story during the recent International Citrus & Beverage Conference hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Carlson is executive director …
Florida Break-Even Yields and Prices
By Ariel Singerman For processed oranges grown in Southwest Florida during 2020–21, the estimated cultural costs were $1,508 per acre. Total costs of production were $1,882 per acre. Those estimates are down $214 per acre compared to the previous season. This is the result of growers reducing costs across all grove programs, except for fungicides and irrigation. Such a cutback …
Stepping Up Phosphorus Sustainability
Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have joined a national research effort to promote phosphorus sustainability across the United States. The researchers will work under the funding auspices of the National Science Foundation’s Science and Technology Center in the newly established Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS). In addition to the University of …
Regular Leaf Nutrient Analysis Improves HLB-Affected Trees
By Tripti Vashisth and Davie Kadyampakeni Nutrition management is complex! Multiple factors affect the nutrient uptake and availability in trees. For example, high soil pH can limit the uptake of soil-applied micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). Oxide forms of nutrients might be less available than nitrate or sulfur forms. Moreover, the time and method of nutrient application …
Brown Rot Management Advice
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo discussed brown rot management in the September Extension newsletter, Citrus from the Ridge to the Valley. Her article follows. As we move into September, it is essential to remember that brown rot can impact yield, especially early varieties. Brown rot is caused by either …
Shekels Joins Certis Biologicals
Lee Shekels has joined Certis Biologicals in a newly created role, Florida citrus sales specialist. He will work with the company’s existing Florida sales and field development teams. “Lee’s expertise and knowledge of the citrus industry will be key in bringing biologicals as proven crop protection tools to growers with sustainable product solutions to support growth in the industry,” said …
Lessons on Yield and Root Health From Modified Nutrition
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Evan Johnson, Kelly Morgan and Ali Atta Citrus production in Florida has been decreasing over the last 15 years due to several factors, with huanglongbing (HLB) a major driver. This disease has severe effects on citrus growth and production, including stunted vegetative growth, misshapen small fruits and poor color development, root mortality, stunted branches, excessive fruit drop, …
Improve Yields With Gibberellic Acid
Many Florida citrus growers were among the approximately 300 people who registered for a Sept. 21 virtual seminar telling how gibberellic acid (GA) can improve Valencia orange yields. Valencias, at 30.1 million boxes, made up slightly more than half of Florida’s total citrus crop in the 2020-21 season. Presenter Tripti Vashisth started her presentation by saying that GA, already available …
New Fruit Crop Agent in Florida
Brandon White became the new commercial fruit crop agent for Lake and Orange counties on Aug. 16, working at the Lake County Extension office in Tavares. White was born and raised in Florida and lives in Ocoee. “Not having grown up in agriculture, I have been in it to some capacity for over a decade since I changed my major …
E-commerce Works, ‘Even in Wauchula’
Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) Chairman Steve Johnson noted that as consumers continue to navigate life in a pandemic, growth of e-commerce shopping is expected to continue. “Even in Wauchula, Florida, Kroger delivery is taking hold,” Johnson wrote. Wauchula, with a population of about 5,000, is home to numerous citrus growers and grove workers. Johnson stated that the Florida Department of …
Impact of High-Density Planting and Enhanced Nutrition on HLB-Affected Grapefruit
By Rhuanito S. Ferrarezi, Waqar Shafqat, Hernan Soto, Mark Ritenour, Lorenzo Rossi,Davie Kadyampakeni, Evan Johnson and Kelly Morgan Florida citrus growers have been using high-density planting and different soil and foliar fertilizer application strategies to compensate for the adverse effects of huanglongbing (HLB). Recent studies indicate that high-density plantings and enhanced nutritional programs with higher micronutrient levels, such as the …