Attention Vegetable Growers: The Florida Citrus Show Is for You, Too!

Morgan ColeEvents, FCS24

For many years, the Florida Citrus Show has provided citrus growers with an excellent networking opportunity and educational program. Now, the event has added vegetable programming that growers will not want to miss. Show planners are developing a unique program for commercial vegetable growers that will combine traditional seminars with a “build-your-own” learning experience. After the morning general session, which …

Florida Growers Can Apply for TEAM Card

Tacy CalliesAgriculture, financial, Florida

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson recently announced that farmers can apply for the Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) Card beginning Jan. 1, 2024. The card can be used for sales-tax-exempt purchases of agricultural materials. The Florida Department of Revenue will accept online and mailed applications. The plastic wallet-sized Florida Farm TEAM Card is a physical alternative to …

Bud Advisories Help Growers Time Psyllid Sprays

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is reminding citrus growers that flower bud advisories are now being issued. The UF/IFAS advisories can help growers determine when to spray for HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids and when to stop spraying in an effort to protect pollinating bees. Tripti Vashisth, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences, will …

Canada’s Plastic Proposal Concerns Florida Growers

Tacy CalliesInternational, Regulation

The Florida produce industry, including citrus, recently voiced concerns regarding Canada’s proposal to reduce the use of fresh produce plastic packaging. Organizations represented in a Florida letter to the director of Canada’s Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division include Florida Citrus Packers, Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA), Florida Blueberry Growers Association, Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Florida Farm …

climate

Heat Wave in Brazil Concerns Citrus Growers

Daniel CooperBrazil, Production, Weather

According to the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA), a new heat wave in Brazil’s São Paulo state has been concerning citrus growers. Temperatures are higher than those registered in the last wave in September and are lasting longer. Many producers say that the weather may affect 2024–25 production, but it is still too early to estimate possible …

TEMP Act Aims to Provide Freeze Insurance for Growers

Josh McGillfreeze, Legislative

A U.S. senator and Congress members from Florida have introduced legislation to direct the Risk Management Agency to research and develop a crop insurance policy to cover losses caused by cold exposure and freezes. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced the Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies (TEMP Act). Representatives Scott Franklin, Darren Soto, Cory Mills and Greg Steube introduced companion legislation in …

Cold Protection Resources for Citrus Growers

Josh McGillfreeze, Weather

Citrus growers in Florida’s Panhandle will have a greatly reduced citrus harvest this year because of a hard freeze in December 2022, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reported. To help growers reduce damage in future freezes, UF/IFAS has tools that aid with citrus cold protection. Water is the most common form of cold protection …

Calling All Florida Citrus Growers for Survey

Josh McGillFlorida, Survey

There’s a lot going on in Florida citrus. New trunk-injection therapies have been approved to treat HLB as groves bounce back from last year’s hurricanes. It’s a good time to get a sense of the mood of growers as we start the new Florida citrus season. If you are a grower or a consultant/caretaker (who can answer generally on behalf …

Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers Gather for Field Day

Josh McGillCold Hardy, Events

Production in the cold-hardy citrus region was under the spotlight during a recent field day in Quincy, Florida. Growers and industry leaders visited the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) to learn about various facets of citrus production. Topics like controlled-release fertilizers, crop diversification and implementation of artificial intelligence …

HLB Resources for California Growers

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, HLB Management

Recently, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared an HLB quarantine in Ventura County following the first detections of the disease in the county. In response, the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) issued a list of HLB resources. The resources are intended to help inform the citrus industry about what changes to expect from the quarantine, …

BMPs Discussed at Gulf Citrus Growers Luncheon

Josh McGillBMPs, Gulf, Water

The Gulf Citrus Growers Association hosted a member luncheon last week at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. Speakers at the event focused on water and nutrient management. West Gregory, director of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), spoke during the event. He outlined his priorities for …

Egyptian Citrus Imports Would Be ‘Calamity’ for California Growers

Josh McGillInternational, Trade

Egyptian citrus could be on the way to the U.S. market after a request was made to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A pest risk assessment has been drafted by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Jim Cranney, president of the California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC), said the assessment is for fresh oranges and tangerines, which would …

Growers May Comment on Farm Bill at Listening Session

Josh McGillLegislative

UPDATE: Both the Oct. 9 and Oct. 13 listening sessions have been postponed. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson will host a farm bill listening session with U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack in attendance on Oct. 13. The session will allow Florida’s growers and ranchers to voice recommendations for the 2023 U.S. farm bill and related agricultural issues. The farm bill …

Peace River Growers See Hopeful Signs in Groves

Josh McGillEvents, HLB Management, Pests

The Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association hosted a grower forum in September to discuss how trees are looking after the first application of oxytetracycline (OTC) has been injected. The event had a good turnout, and growers were mostly optimistic about what they are seeing in groves. Nearly all in attendance have treated at least some portion of their acreage …

vote

Florida Growers Vote to Amend Federal Marketing Order

Josh McGillFlorida, Marketing, Regulation

Florida citrus producers voted to amend the federal marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Aug. 29. In a referendum held April 1–May1, all amendments met the requirement of being favored by two-thirds of the producers voting or by two-thirds of the volume represented. The …

Texas Growers Rebounding From 2021 Freeze

Josh McGillfreeze, Texas

Texas growers appear to be back on track after Winter Storm Uri caused significant setbacks to many groves in February 2021, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. ACREAGE STATUSDespite citrus production losses to the storm, Juan Anciso, AgriLife Extension horticulturist at Weslaco, said he was pleasantly surprised that the industry was faring much better than he expected. …

Growers Get Update on Federal Relief Programs at Expo

Josh McGillCitrus Expo, Legislative

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), reported that a group of Florida citrus growers spoke to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency representatives about federal relief programs at the recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The Expo was held this year at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. “This year’s …

Georgia Citrus Meeting Informs and Updates Growers

Josh McGillGeorgia

Meetings have become an integral part of the production process for Georgia citrus growers. The University of Georgia’s (UGA) most recent meeting allowed producers to hear from scientists about research pertaining to a growing industry in the region. Topics like changing weather patterns, rootstock research, HLB and the use of ethylene to degreen satsuma mandarins were presented during an Aug. …

Growers Learn About Cost-Share Opportunities

Josh McGillEvents, financial

The Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka hosted the first annual Growing Together: Central Florida Partners for Agriculture Symposium on July 27. The event was for both beginning and experienced growers and explored various tax, regulatory and insurance issues farm businesses must deal with. Several presentations focused on irrigation and nutrient management and how growers can obtain cost-share funds …

Georgia Citrus Growers Get Valuable Resources

Josh McGillGeorgia

Since Georgia’s citrus industry is still in its infancy, leaders are determined to educate growers about the resources that are available to them. With help from Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently hosted an event to share many of those resources with growers. The meet-and-greet workshop took place July 12 at …