Citrus Expo to Host U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue

Abbey Taylor Citrus Expo

Citrus Expo is proud to announce that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be attending the first day of the show on Wednesday, August 16, with U.S. Representative Tom Rooney. Perdue and Rooney are looking forward to walking the tradeshow floor and viewing the top-of-the-line products and services the Citrus Expo exhibitors have to offer. While on the trade …

Capitol building

California Budget Adds Funds to Fight HLB

Len Wilcox California Corner, Legislative

California is adding funds to help the fight against HLB. Governor Brown signed the 2017 Budget Act this week, which authorizes $10 million to fight the spread of the invasive Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) insect and the deadly and incurable plant disease it can carry, huanglongbing (HLB). “California Citrus Mutual applauds Governor Brown and members of the California Legislature for …

Georgia Prison Gets Citrus Plot

Tacy Callies Citrus

By Tacy Callies With the recent birth of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA), many small commercial citrus groves are getting started in the state. Georgia’s newest citrus planting, however, is not a commercial grove. It’s a 100-tree installation that was planted this spring at the Mitchell County Correctional Institute. Dubbed MitCo Grow by a 4-H student, the project is the …

Managing Multiple Risks in a Citrus Farming Operation

Tacy Callies Citrus

By Ariel Singerman and Stephen H. Futch Uncertainty can be defined as imperfect knowledge, and risk as uncertain consequences, particularly unfavorable consequences. To take a risk then is to expose oneself to a chance of loss, in some cases expecting a gain in return. Many decisions in agriculture involve risk and uncertainty. Risk management is concerned with reducing the possibility …

Argentine Lemons Entering U.S. Market Despite Objections

Len Wilcox California Corner, Legislative, Trade

The Trump administration is moving to permanently allow Argentine lemons to enter the U.S. market. This is despite objections from California citrus growers and warnings of dire consequences for California lemons, including exposing the industry to new pests and diseases. “It is evident that the California citrus industry is the pawn in a greater trade deal between the Trump administration …

Putnam, Graham Gear Up for Governor’s Race

Daniel Cooper Industry News Release

By Dara Kam and Lloyd Dunkelberger The News Service of Florida Ending months of speculation, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam filed papers Monday to run for governor in 2018. The Republican’s entree into the race to succeed Gov. Rick Scott, forced to leave office next year because of term limits, was little more than a formality. Putnam, a former congressman …

Drought Remains Top Concern Despite Recent Floods

Kelsey Fry California Corner

By Len Wilcox The wettest year in recent history is bringing relief to California growers. The relief may be short-lived, however, unless state water officials make permanent changes in water management and address the supply shortfall during drought years. A new executive order has been issued by the state to improve conservation measures and water-management procedures. The short-term outlook is …

South Korea Could Be a Lucrative Market for Florida Growers

Tacy Callies Grapefruit

By Brad Buck, 352-294-3303, bradbuck@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — How about grapefruit as a dessert or snack? That is how many South Koreans, especially younger ones, view the fruit. Therefore, Florida grapefruit growers may want to expand their shipments to that Asian nation, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers say. UF/IFAS researchers are doing a series …

Citrus Grower Goes Undercover

Tacy Callies HLB Management

Ed Pines’ solution to citrus greening is to grow fruit in a citrus undercover production system. By Catalina Pines “It’s said that necessity is the mother of all invention, and today I toured one way the citrus industry is fighting back against greening,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam on Twitter after touring Precision Citrus on September 23. In …

bactericides survey

Florida Citrus Mutual Sells its Building

Josh McGill Industry News Release

LAKELAND, FL (November 10, 2016) -Florida Citrus Mutual announced today the trade organization has sold its downtown Lakeland headquarters to Publix Super Markets Inc. for an undisclosed amount. FCM has been at the site – located at the southeast corner of Orange Street and Massachusetts Avenue – for 68 years. “Florida Citrus Mutual had a long run here and there …

Citrus Guide

Table of Contents Citrus Nurseries/Citrus Seed Crop Protection Events Fertilizers Grove Equipment & Supplies Grove Services Insurance/Crop Insurance Nutritionals Citrus Nurseries/Citrus SeedCompany: Agromillora Florida, Inc. Contact: Clay Pederson Mailing Address: 9038 CR 229, Wildwood, FL 34785 Business Phone: (352) 399-2328 Mobile Phone: (352) 661-0139E-mail: cpederson@agromillora.com Website: agromillora.com/en Products or Services: Providing quality citrus liners for wholesale. Crop ProtectionCompany: FMC CorporationContact: …

citrus crop forecast

How to Irk the Crop Forecast Lady

Tacy Callies Forecast

Candi Erick is keenly involved in production of Florida’s citrus crop forecasts. She’s easy to get along with, but there is one way to get under her skin. By Ernie Neff If you want to irritate Candi Erick, whose primary job is overseeing data collection leading to Florida’s citrus crop forecasts, just tell her, “It’s good enough for government work.” …

Citrus Expo

Scenes from Citrus Expo’s Silver Anniversary

Taylor Hillman Citrus, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

Citrus Expo 2016 Citrus growers and industry members turned out in full force for the 25th anniversary of Citrus Expo. They came seeking answers on citrus greening and other production challenges, as was evidenced by the large turnout at the “Now Is the Time” seminar program. Sponsored Content5 Facts About Fire Ants and How to Control ThemApril 30, 2024BRAZILIAN RESEARCH …

2016 Citrus Expo Gun Safe Winner Announced

Tacy Callies Citrus Expo

Congratulations to Caleb Shelfer, the winner of the John Deere gun safe giveaway at Citrus Expo 2016! Shelfer is with Joshua Citrus Inc. in Arcadia. This popular Citrus Expo tradition is made possible by sponsorship from Everglades Farm Equipment. Stephanie Capon, Miss Florida Citrus, drew the winning card. Gary Cooper, AgNet Media founder and president, announced the lucky name to …

New Book to Debut at Citrus Expo

Kelsey Fry Citrus, Citrus Expo

Citrus growers now have yet another reason to attend the 2016 Citrus Expo. They can receive a complimentary copy of a brand new book, “The Critical Importance of Citrus Tree Nutrition.” Authored by citrus Extension agent Mongi Zekri, the book will debut at the Citrus Expo Shindig, a special party to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary. The shindig takes place …

Sneak Peek: August 2016 Citrus Industry

Tacy Callies CEU, Citrus Expo

The August issue of Citrus Industry magazine is coming soon! In this edition, growers will have the opportunity to earn one Core CEU by reading an article on pesticide formulations and taking the accompanying test. Other features offer new knowledge on citrus black spot and guidelines on how to evaluate HLB treatments in the grove. In addition, University of Florida …

IndexBox Marketing: Orange Market in Crisis

Kelsey Fry Citrus, Citrus Greening

According to a report by IndexBox Marketing, the orange market is in crisis.  One of the main reasons is the citrus greening disease, widespread in the key centers of orange cultivation. This is why a reduction of the global orange market volume is expected once again in 2016. Orange yield reduction affects consumption worldwide. In this case, a distinction should …

bactericides survey

Sparks Discusses Citrus Tariffs and PFD

Ernie Neff Legislative, Pests

Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks discusses the association’s annual conference this week, including the election of a new association president, the U.S. presidential race from a tariff perspective, and postbloom fruit drop (PFD). During the conference, Mutual’s trade attorney reported on presidential candidates’ views regarding tariffs, which can impact citrus trade. Sparks comments on that report: “When you hear …

Disrupting Psyllid Mating to Control HLB

Josh McGill Citrus, Citrus Greening

By: R. W. Mankin, B. Rohde and S. McNeill The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the primary vector of the devastating huanglongbing (HLB) disease of citrus. Efficient monitoring of ACP at low population densities is essential to conduct management programs with timely effectiveness for protection of Florida groves. Extensive research is being conducted to better understand ACP biology and behavior, …

Plant Pathologist Joins UF/IFAS

Josh McGill Citrus

Plant pathologist joins UF/IFAS to help solve citrus industry issues By: Robin Koestoyo FORT PIERCE, Fla. – A plant pathologist with 12 years of experience in plant-microbe interactions has joined the faculty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) to help citrus growers. Following an international search for a …