scott

$25 Million Citrus Emergency Loan Program

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Industry News Release

Governor Rick Scott activated a $25 million Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program to support citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Irma. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide interest-free loans to citrus growers that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm. The application period will begin next week and be open through …

A Look Back at 100 Years of Citrus Innovation

Tacy Callies History

By Beverly James, Alec Richman, Brad Buck, Samantha Grenrock and Tom Nordlie The year was 1917. In April, the United States entered World War I. Florida’s population was fast approaching 1 million, and agriculture was the state’s most important economic driver. Citrus cultivation, introduced to Florida 400 years earlier by Spanish explorers, had spawned an industry following the Civil War. …

$760 Million: Initial Estimate of Irma’s Florida Citrus Damage

Tacy Callies Citrus, hurricane

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced on Oct. 4 that the preliminary agricultural damages caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida total more than $2.5 billion. In an initial report, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimated losses for each segment of agriculture. The preliminary economic assessments account for current crop losses and ancillary losses, such as …

Changes to Citrus Crop Estimate Event

Tacy Callies Crop Forecast

Florida Citrus Mutual announced that its Oct. 12 Citrus Crop Estimate Luncheon will be in a different format than initially planned. The morning clay shoot will not take place, and there has been a change in location for the event. The new location and tentative agenda is as follows: Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center Sam Polston Auditorium 4509 George …

scott

Federal Program Provides Help for Irma Storm Damage

Josh McGill Weather

Release from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service If your area suffers damage from a natural disaster, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help. The Emergency Watershed Protection Program relieves imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, wind­storms and hurricanes. Aid may include financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, protect …

Sneak Peek: October 2017 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy Callies Sneak Peek

The October issue of Citrus Industry magazine celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). An in-depth article recaps the history of the University of Florida center, decade by decade. Also included is a timeline of major citrus events as well as CREC’s greatest accomplishments over the years. In addition, the issue looks at the present …

psyllids

Asian Citrus Psyllid Alert: Post-Irma Control Needed

Tacy Callies Psyllids

By Phil Stansly Impact on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) populations: Psyllids that survived the storm will find plenty of food thanks to a huge flush that is following defoliation from the hurricane. This and almost ideal temperature conditions will spawn an explosion of ACP, starting with the first post-Irma generation less than three weeks after the storm. By five weeks and …

Sneak Peek: June 2017 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy Callies Citrus, Sneak Peek

There is no doubt that the biggest risk Florida citrus growers currently face is HLB disease. But there are many other risks that can and should be managed effectively. University of Florida’s Ariel Singerman and Steve Futch provide risk management advice for growers in the June issue of Citrus Industry magazine. Their article offers practical information on production, market, financial, …

HLB

Tree Assistance Program Aids Florida Citrus Growers

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Citrus Greening, Industry News Release

By Lauren Moore, FSA Public Affairs Specialist Adversity isn’t a stranger to Florida citrus growers. Throughout Florida’s history of citrus production, producers have dealt with damages left in the wake of multiple hurricanes and freezes. Larry Black is a fifth-generation citrus grower and general manager of Peace River Packing Company in Polk County, Florida. His family has been a part …

Continuing a Legacy of Leadership

Tacy Callies Citrus, Citrus Greening, Citrus Health Management Areas, Regulation

By Tacy Callies Callie Walker comes from a long line of Florida farmers. In 1875, her family set up homestead in Alva. Her father, uncles, grandfather and great-grandfather have been involved in a diversity of agricultural fields including citrus, cattle, sugar cane, vegetables and row crops. “My dad and his three brothers still run the family operation — citrus and …

Grapefruit production costs

Grapefruit Production Costs Drop; Profitability Is Elusive

Ernie Neff Bactericides, Economics, Grapefruit

A decrease in grapefruit production costs among Indian River growers allowed the average grower to approach the break-even point in the 2015-16 season, a University of Florida economist reports. Ariel Singerman made his report at the recent Florida Citrus Show in Fort Pierce. The report was based on a July 2016 survey of 70 growers representing a majority of grapefruit …

Citrus Health Management Areas vs. Individual Sprays

Tacy Callies Citrus Health Management Areas

CHMAs have proven to be an effective strategy for psyllid control, so why isn’t there more grower participation? By Ariel Singerman and Pilar Useche It has long been recognized that mobile pests with the ability to move between farms compromise the effectiveness of individual (uncoordinated) sprays. This is because neighboring growers share the pest and, therefore, crop damage is dependent …

Managing the Health and Productivity of HLB-Affected Groves

Tacy Callies HLB Management

By Tripti Vashisth In 2005, huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening disease) was first discovered in Florida. Florida orange production changed from 242 million boxes in the pre-hurricane, pre-HLB, 2003–2004 season to 81.5 million boxes in 2015–2016. This dramatic reduction in yield is attributable to multiple causes, including a reduction in citrus acreage, citrus canker and other citrus diseases. HLB is …

putnam talks citrus

Adam Putnam: Citrus Industry ‘Still Blocking and Tackling’

Ernie Neff Bactericides, Citrus Greening

“We’re an industry who’s a group of fighters,” Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam says in summarizing his talk Friday at the Indian River Citrus League’s annual meeting in Vero Beach. “With all the challenges that we’ve seen here on the River – from canker to hurricanes and the devastation caused by greening – we’re still blocking and tackling and …

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.” …