Three Florida Citrus Pests of Concern

Ernie NeffPests

Lebbeck mealybug, the Bulimulus sporadicus snail and Brevipalpus mite are Florida citrus pests that were discussed at Citrus Expo in August. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) entomologist Lukasz Stelinski delivered information about the three pests for fellow UF/IFAS entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock. LEBBECK MEALYBUGLebbeck mealybug damages fruit, leaves and stems. The pest causes fruit drop and …

Israel Citrus Exports Expected to Climb

Ernie NeffExport/Import

Exports of citrus from Israel in 2021-22 are forecast to reach 158,000 metric tons, up 16% from 2020-21, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported. However, FAS cautioned that exports could be lower “if higher-than-normal freight costs and limited shipping options continue.” Israel is seeking new export markets that will be able to absorb its produce with …

Getting New Varieties to Growers

Ernie NeffAll In For Citrus Podcast, Varieties

The executive directors of two organizations that play a vital role in getting citrus varieties into the hands of growers summarize how the process works. They are John Beuttenmuller with Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP) and Peter Chaires with New Varieties Development & Management Corporation (NVDMC). When University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant breeders propose …

International Marketing Efforts for Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) described its 2020-21 international marketing efforts at last month’s meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission, which governs the FDOC. Katie Bruce, international marketing manager, discussed the FDOC’s past-year programs in the United Kingdom (UK), France, Japan, South Korea and Canada for fresh grapefruit and orange juice. Bruce also presented an overview of preliminary 2021-22 …

CREC Open House a Hit

Ernie NeffEvents

The Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Nov. 16 open house and field day “was quite a crowded event. It went off really well,” CREC Director Michael Rogers reports. Rogers says the event drew about 200 industry members, as well as 150 CREC faculty, staff and students. The CREC is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …

mandarin

Breeders Discuss Favored Citrus Varieties

Ernie NeffVarieties

Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser discuss some relatively new varieties they like – a mandarin, some oranges and a pummelo-grapefruit hybrid. Gmitter and Grosser are University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant breeders at the Citrus Research and Education Center. SUGAR BELLE® MANDARIN“Looking at Sugar Belle® and its performance against citrus greening, it’s clearly one of …

U.S. Lemons: Lower Production, Higher Prices

Ernie Nefflemons

U.S. growers produced 884,000 tons of lemons in 2020-21, the smallest lemon crop since 2016-17, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Eighty percent of these lemons (710,000 tons) went to the fresh market, a 6% decrease in quantity from 2019-20. Although most U.S. lemons are grown in California, Arizona growers typically supply about 5% of the …

Bigger Budget Approved for Florida Department of Citrus

Tacy CalliesFlorida Department of Citrus

On Oct. 27, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) approved a revised 2021–22 operating budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) of $29 million. The FCC is the governing board of the FDOC, an executive agency of the Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. The FCC voted to maintain the previous year’s …

Juice Company CEO Honored

Ernie NeffAwards

Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company founder and CEO Marygrace Sexton has been included in Inc. Magazine’s 2021 Female Founders 100. Inc. editors and writers reviewed thousands of applications to identify the 100 female founders who continued to triumph in a year filled with many challenges. “The 100 women highlighted on this list are inspiring, creative, tenacious and trailblazing role models …

citrus crop forecast

U.S. Citrus Processing Report

Ernie NeffProcessing

In 2020-21, 57% of U.S. citrus was used for processing, and most of the processed fruit was oranges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service reported in September. Florida produced 81% of all U.S. oranges for processing, while California and Texas produced the remainder. Florida and Texas had smaller orange crops for the processed market in 2020-21 compared with …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Tiller of the Soil

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

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 …

Florida Break-Even Yields and Prices

Tacy CalliesEconomics, Tip of the Week

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 …

Soaring Costs for California Citrus Growers

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner

A report issued by California Citrus Mutual (CCM) says that COVID-19 and now a devastating drought have resulted in staggering increases in costs for citrus growers, with only a minimal price correction in the market. Additionally, earlier this year, some growers in Ventura and San Diego counties reported losses due to a severe storm that uprooted trees. The storm also damaged …

Protecting Trees From Phytophthora Disease

Tacy CalliesDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Evan G. Johnson It is time to start thinking about protecting the fall root flush that will start soon and continue through November/December. This is the largest root flush of the year that stores carbohydrate reserves for next spring. Coming out of the rainy season, phytophthora has had the chance to build up plenty of inoculum, especially in groves …

Packinghouse Day Updates: Greasy Green Disorder and Cold Hardy Citrus

Ernie NeffCold Hardy, Diseases

Updates on the so-called greasy green disorder and the Cold Hardy Citrus Association were presented at the virtual Packinghouse Day on Aug. 26.   GREASY GREENThe greasy green disorder affecting fruit primarily in Florida’s Indian River region has “been getting worse the past two seasons,” researcher Mark Ritenour reported. Ritenour is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …

strategy

Pest Prompts Revised Import Requirements

Ernie NeffPests, Trade

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Aug. 20 revised the entry requirements for citrus fruit from the Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia in Australia. According to APHIS, the revision is necessary because both Riverina and Sunraysia no longer meet the requirements to be considered fruit fly-free areas for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni). …

USDA Expands Citrus Imports From Australia

Ernie NeffTrade

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is expanding the production areas in Australia from which fresh citrus fruit may be shipped to the United States. It is also revising the conditions under which citrus from Australia may be imported. Currently, imports of fresh citrus fruit are allowed into the United States from the Riverina …

Gladstone Buys Florida Groves

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

Gladstone Land Corporation announced that it acquired two lemon and orange groves, totaling 617 acres, in South Florida for approximately $5.2 million. In connection with the acquisition, it entered into a 12-year leaseback agreement with the seller. The organization did not respond to a request for information about the seller or the location of the groves. “We are excited to …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Advice From 1887

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In researching the biographies for an upcoming book on the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame members, I came across a digitized book by Google online that was written in 1887. It’s titled “Florida Facts Both Bright and Blue: A Guide Book to Intending Settlers, Tourists, and Investors From a Northerner’s Standpoint; Plain Unvarnished Truth, Without ‘Taffy’; …

EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos on Food

Ernie NeffPesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food. It said it is taking the action to better protect human health, particularly that of children and farmworkers. In a final rule released in August, EPA is revoking all “tolerances” for chlorpyrifos. The tolerances establish an amount of a pesticide that …