Consider Vigorous Resets at Higher Densities

Tacy Calliesplanting, Rootstocks, sales

By Aaron Himrod Although there is a current lack of true resistance to HLB, making appropriate variety choices does have a significant impact on grove performance and profitability. Compromises among the various factors will have to be made. Take note of the most limiting factors in your grove and make your selection with these in mind. HLB exacerbates stresses that …

Rootstock/Scion Combos: What Works and What Doesn’t

Tacy CalliesRootstocks, Scions

By Ernie Neff For Phil Rucks and Tom Powers at Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof, Florida, selecting rootstock and scion combinations starts by acknowledging that some varieties just don’t do well with HLB. “We don’t recommend some varieties regardless of rootstock,” Rucks says. Powers says varieties that are especially difficult to grow with HLB are Hamlin, midsweet and pineapple …

grapefruit

Experts Suggest Varieties for Irma-Damaged Citrus Replanting

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, Rootstocks, Scions, Varieties

As growers decide how to use U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to recover from damages caused by Hurricane Irma — and as they cope with the ongoing impact of citrus greening — University of Florida researchers are suggesting varieties for them to replant. Producers can grow varieties that show tolerance to greening — also known as huanglongbing, or HLB. …

Global Perspectives

Brazil’s Citrus Forecast for 2018–19

Tacy CalliesGlobal Perspectives

By Marcos Fava Neves The season’s first orange crop forecast is one of the most important numbers of the year for Brazil’s orange juice business. The citrus forecast for 2018–19 was published on May 9 by Fundecitrus, in cooperation with Markestrat, University of São Paulo and São Paulo State University. SIZE AND VARIETIES Brazil expects 288.29 million boxes of oranges …

The Sweet Spot

Tacy Calliesplanting, Production, Rootstocks, Scions

Moderate spacing and medium tree size could be the quickest way Florida growers can return to producing 100 million boxes of oranges per year. By Pete Spyke, Bill Castle and Ed Stover The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) recently released the results of a study originally titled “Restoring Florida’s Commercial Orange Tree Inventory: Economic Impacts of APS vs. Traditional Plantings.” …

aphis

Final Citrus Forecast of the 2017-18 Season

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

The 2017-2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Florida citrus forecast for July is unchanged from June. The all-orange forecast remains at 45 million boxes. The total is comprised of 19 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. All-Florida grapefruit production is unchanged at 3.88 million boxes. Of the total grapefruit …

Inside Spain’s Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesProduction

By Steve Futch and Ariel Singerman Editor’s note: The authors share what they learned while touring Spain’s citrus industry in March of 2017. Spain is the leading citrus producer in the European Union (EU) with approximately 300,000 acres that yield about 21 million boxes. FOCUS ON FRESH Production is primarily focused on the fresh market, with much fruit exported to …

california

The Complex Path for New Citrus in California

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Varieties

By Len Wilcox Continuous research and development of new varieties is an important function of the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Efforts have led to hundreds of profitable varieties now being grown in California. According to a report in California Agriculture, University of California’s (UC) research journal, one of those varieties has been a source of more than $14 million …

Cold-Hardy Citrus for North Florida

Tacy CalliesVarieties

By Xavier Martini and Peter Andersen Cold-hardy citrus has a long history in North Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia. Records show that sweet orange, citron, lemon, lime and pummelo were brought to Saint Augustine, Florida, from Spain in 1565. However, it was not until the late 1700s that the Jesuits introduced satsuma (Citrus unshiu) to what is now Louisiana. SATSUMA …

Field Testing of New HLB-Tolerant Scions and Rootstocks

Tacy CalliesResearch, Rootstocks, Scions

By Rhuanito S. Ferrarezi, Jude W. Grosser, Fred G. Gmitter, Ed Stover and Kim Bowman Citrus is Florida’s most important agricultural commodity. The state produces citrus for different markets: round oranges for juice; navels, mandarins, grapefruit and lemons for the fresh-fruit industry; and lemons for extracting peel oil for processing. Huanglongbing (HLB) disease affects all citrus varieties. Since the discovery …

HLB

A Grower’s Plan to Survive HLB

Ernie NeffHLB Management

An Indian River-area grapefruit grower told the crowd at Florida Citrus Mutual’s recent annual conference about his company’s plans for coping with HLB. The plans include replanting with some diverse citrus varieties at higher densities, said Daniel Scott, vice president of Scott Citrus Management. Grapefruit has for the most part proven extremely difficult to grow profitably in the face of …

Alternatives to Rootstock Propagation by Seed: Differences, Concerns and Expectations

Tacy CalliesResearch

By Ute Albrecht Commercial citrus rootstock propagation traditionally occurs via use of nucellar apomictic seed, which generates genetically identical seedlings that are used as liners for budding. With the high demand for superior rootstocks in the age of HLB, commercial nurseries are currently experiencing a shortage of seeds for some of the most popular rootstock varieties. In addition, for many …

aphis

June Florida Citrus Forecast: Grapefruit Down Slightly

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast, Grapefruit

The 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) on June 12 is 45 million boxes, unchanged from the May forecast. The total includes 19 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason and Navel varieties) and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The forecast for non-Valencia production is finalized and harvest …

Strong Finish for 2017–18 Brazilian Citrus Season

Tacy CalliesGlobal Perspectives

By Marcos Fava Neves The last Fundecitrus announcement (April 10) of the season for the Brazilian citrus crop was 398.35 million boxes. This includes: 77.48 million boxes of Hamlin, Westin and Rubi 18.02 million boxes of Valencia Americana and Valencia Argentina 118.47 million boxes of Pera Rio 139.62 million boxes of Valencia 44.76 million boxes of Natal (Navel) SEASON SUMMARY …

The Road to Recovery

Tacy Callieshurricane

Growers discuss lessons learned from Hurricane Irma, replanting plans, grove rehabilitation, crop insurance and more. By Tacy Callies Florida citrus growers awaiting Hurricane Irma federal aid and insurance payouts are doing their best to keep crops healthy until more money is available. Paul Meador, citrus grower and head of Everglades Harvesting & Hauling in LaBelle, took a big hit from …

production

Growers Discuss Production Levels

Ernie NeffProduction

The level of fruit production in groves was one of the major topics discussed at a citrus grower roundtable meeting on May 15 in Wauchula, Florida. Several growers said their per-acre production increased this season, but one said he had huge production declines. One grower said his Valencia crop doubled. Another said he had a 50 percent crop increase, adding …

aphis

Florida Citrus Forecast Sees Slight Decreases

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) on May 10 is 44.95 million boxes, down slightly from the April forecast of 45 million boxes. The total includes 18.95 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason and Navel varieties) and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The non-Valencia production forecast …

HLB-Tolerant Interstocks

Ernie NeffHLB Management

The use of highly HLB-tolerant genotypes as interstocks on a tree with a Swingle rootstock and a Valencia scion infected with HLB is offering hope for help against HLB, Jude Grosser reports. Grosser is a plant breeder with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. “Virtually every …

Visiting Southern Gardens Citrus

Abbey TaylorCitrus

Last week, members of the AgNet Media team had the opportunity to visit the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) to meet with some of the area’s key players. During the three-day tour, the team explored various agricultural operations, including Southern Gardens Citrus. The Southern Gardens Citrus visit began with a tour of Devil’s Garden Grove, led by grove manager Luke Davis. …

Florida orange

Florida Citrus Forecast: Oranges Hold Steady, Grapefruit Tumbles

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released on April 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is 45 million boxes, unchanged from the March forecast. The total includes 19 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The Row Count survey, conducted March 27-28, showed 99 percent of the early-midseason rows …