citrus

Orange Production to See Global Increase

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

Global orange production for 2020–21 is forecast to rise 3.6 million metric tons from the previous year to 49.4 million metric tons. Favorable weather leading to larger crops in Brazil and Mexico will offset declines in Turkey and the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Consequently, consumption, processing fruit and fresh exports are also …

UF/IFAS VP Scott Angle on HLB Efforts

Tacy CalliesHLB Management, Research

Florida’s citrus growers are counting on research to help sustain what’s left of an industry decimated by huanglongbing (HLB). The disease remains a focal point of research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Scott Angle, vice president for agriculture and natural resources at UF/IFAS, understands the ramifications if improved HLB management options aren’t available …

Scout Early Bloom for PFD

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Diseases, Tip of the Week

By Andre B. Gama and Megan M. Dewdney Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus is a disease caused mostly by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. This fungus survives by producing resting structures on leaves and stems. When flowers start to appear in groves, these resting structures produce spores that can cause PFD. However, the fungus requires specific weather conditions to be …

Foliar Disease Management in 2021

Tacy CalliesDiseases

By Megan Dewdney There were many challenges in 2020, but fortunately the Florida season for foliar citrus diseases was relatively normal. Little to no postbloom fruit drop (PFD) was reported during the 2020 bloom because of a sudden dry spell as the flowers opened. As spring 2021 approaches, the forecast is for a La Niña weather pattern with slightly warmer …

Update on Florida OJ Supply and Demand

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

In the Feb. 3 Florida Citrus Commission meeting, Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus director of economic and market research, provided an update on Florida orange juice (OJ) movement and availability. External trends, such as fruit drop and increased demand during the pandemic, may significantly impact the availability of orange juice throughout the season. Coming into the 2020–21 season, beginning …

Field-Testing Natural Compounds to Fight HLB

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast, HLB Management

Field tests of numerous antibacterial products and plant-derived compounds are underway with the goal of eliminating the HLB-causing bacteria in citrus and reversing plant damage to restore tree health. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant root biologist Lorenzo Rossi discusses a new research project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of …

Wind Damages California Lemons

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Weather

Wind damage sustained last week in California is still being assessed by county agriculture commissioners in San Diego and Ventura counties. However, damage appears to be limited to lemons and avocados. The wind damage was the result of a series of storms that swept through Southern California last week. The region experienced strong winds with gusts of nearly 100 mile-per-hour …

acp

ACP Monitoring Efforts in Georgia

Tacy CalliesGeorgia

The citrus industry is expanding in Georgia. With that growth comes the need to slow the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the vector of HLB disease. Although not yet found in Georgia’s commercial citrus production, there have been confirmed HLB-positive residential citrus trees. The disease has the potential to greatly hinder the state’s citrus industry. Therefore, University of …

Uncle Matt’s Launches E-Commerce Site

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release

Uncle Matt’s Organic® has made its juices and functional beverages accessible to more consumers with the launch of a new e-commerce site. Currently, shipping is available to most of the East Coast, with plans to expand nationwide. The online store brings organic orange juice, lemonade and functional beverage bundles directly to consumers’ doors in one to two days via FedEx. Because …

Seminar to Address Fruit Drop Questions

Tacy CalliesFruit Drop

Citrus fruit drop before harvest has been a perennial problem for Florida growers but has been particularly challenging this season. Tripti Vashisth and Fernando Alferez of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will present their latest research on fruit drop and answer questions from growers in a Zoom seminar on Feb. 16. The seminar is …

Cold Acclimation and Leaf Freezing Temperatures

Tacy CalliesWeather

Citrus Extension agent Chris Oswalt reports the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is determining the acclimation of Florida citrus trees to cold weather by measuring citrus leaf freezing temperatures. “Certain environmental conditions will initiate this acclimation process,” says Oswalt. “These environmental cues will cause physiological changes to occur within the plant that will depress the …

Time to Cut the Dead Wood

Tacy CalliesTip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney, Tripti Vashisth and Lauren Diepenbrock Dead wood has long been challenging for fresh citrus fruit production. Spores in twigs can form which cause blemishing diseases that downgrade fruit for lower profits. More recently, it has come to light that there are horticultural and entomological reasons to remove this wood as well. Many growers are familiar with melanose, …

Making Sense of Biologicals: Interest Increasing in Biologicals

Tacy CalliesBiologicals, MSOB

By Clint Thompson Increased interest in biologicals stems from their long-term sustainability and the belief that synthetic materials have reached their ceiling of productivity. Tate McPherson, vice president of marketing and business development at Douglas Plant Health (DPH), shares those sentiments about biologicals, which represent a group of products derived from living organisms. Farmers utilize these environmentally friendly products in …

The Goals of Pest Management

Josh McGillCEU

By Ajia Paolillo Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. Integrated pest management (IPM) uses a combination of methods to keep pest populations at an acceptable level, which are economical …

Pieces of the Past: Waverly’s Window

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I grew up in Winter Haven and have driven by Waverly Growers Cooperative countless times when traveling around Polk County. But I never knew that at one time there was a formal garden and picnic grounds adjacent to the Waverly Welcome House.  Founded in 1914 by a group of local growers led by Charles Hillery Walker …

Mandarin Production to Increase in Europe

Ernie NeffCrop Forecast, International

European Union (EU) mandarin production for 2020-21 is forecast to rise 10 percent from the previous year, to 3.1 million metric tons (MMT). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported this figure. The higher production is mainly the result of expected increases in major mandarin-producing nations Spain and Italy. Spain’s production is forecast to rise strongly to …

CRDF Selects Rootstocks for Trials

Tacy CalliesCRDF

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) directors recently ratified the rootstock selections for the planned rootstock field trials and discussed the organization’s involvement in future research, CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler reported. The board ratified 10 rootstock selections for the new field trials, overseen by CRDF’s Select Committee on Plant Improvement. According to Dantzler, the field trials will evaluate …

Growers Wanted for Nutrition Box Program

Tacy CalliesNutrition

Last year, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists offered Florida citrus growers soil and leaf testing along with tailored quarterly nutrition counseling in an effort to improve tree health. The Citrus Nutrient Management Program, more commonly known as the nutrition box program, has successfully supported 75 growers from 17 counties across the state. Michael Rogers, …

Soilless Substrate Project Update

Ernie NeffResearch

By Jeb Fields (Editor’s Note: A previous Citrus Industry article described a Soilless Substrate Science project led by Jeb Fields, assistant professor and Extension specialist at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. The article noted that citrus growers are beginning to explore the potential of soilless culture. This is an update to that article.) Initially we had envisioned a physical …

Advice for Using Soil Moisture Sensors

Tacy CalliesIrrigation, Technology

Proper irrigation management is key to optimize water use and increase crop yield. Water is a limiting factor in Florida citrus production during most of the year due to extremely sandy soils with low water-holding capacity and non-uniform distribution of rainfall. Soil moisture sensor systems may provide the most reliable data for effective citrus irrigation scheduling under these conditions. Rad …