By: Brad Buck GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A chemical treatment known as a bactericide could help preserve citrus trees from the potentially deadly and costly greening disease, a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) study shows. Citrus is estimated as a $10.9 billion-a-year industry in Florida and the finding could be key to helping the state’s …
Strauss Joins UF/IFAS Fight Against Citrus Greening
A new researcher has joined the University of Florida’s fight against citrus greening, which has devastated the state’s industry. Sarah Strauss, a soil microbiologist most recently from Davis, California, has accepted a position at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. Strauss, an assistant professor with an Extension appointment, …
HLB in Brazil: What’s Working and What Florida Can Use
By Evan G. Johnson and Renato Bassanezi In February 2016, I (Evan Johnson) had the opportunity to tour citrus production areas in Parana and São Paulo states in Brazil as part of collaborations with researchers at Fundecitrus, a grower-supported research foundation. In addition to the fruitful discussions with research colleagues, I also had the opportunity to visit with growers in São …
Citrus Forecast Has Valencia Oranges Up Slightly
The final citrus crop forecast of the 2015-16 season, issued by Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Statistics Board, is up 100,000 boxes, now at 81.5 million boxes. The total comprises 36.1 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, Navel and Temple varieties), unchanged from last month, and 45.4 million boxes of Valencia oranges, up 100,000 boxes …
A Wage and Hour Primer for the Citrus Industry
As an agricultural employer, you face many business challenges and you must comply with a number of employment-related laws every day, especially if you work with labor-intensive crops. Ensuring that your employment policies and pay practices comply with the law not only helps you avoid liability for potential labor violations, but keeps your workforce productive and motivated. Simply stated, complying …
Citrus Crop Forecast Has Slight Increases
Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service in Washington, D.C., issued the June citrus crop forecast. The 2015-2016 Florida all-orange forecast released is raised to 81.4 million boxes. The total includes 36.1 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, Navel and Temple varieties) and 45.3 million boxes of Valencia oranges. For the previous nine …
UF/IFAS Method Detects 83% of Immature Citrus; Helping Cut Costs
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have found a new way to detect immature citrus 83 percent of the time, which lets growers know where to apply fertilizer and water and perhaps save on labor costs for the $10.9 billion-a-year Florida industry. By detecting green, immature citrus more accurately and efficiently, …
Deadline Approaching for Citrus Research Grants
Pre-applications for the emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension (CDRE) grants are available for fiscal year 2016. The estimated total program funding is $22 million, as a part of the third installment of the $125 million appropriated in the 2014 Farm Bill. To find a detailed summary of CDRE project eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit nifa.usda.gov and search “CDRE …
Essential Oil Could Help Prevent Citrus Black Spot
By: Robin Koestoyo FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Dipping fruit after harvest with hot water and essential oil dips may reduce postharvest development of citrus black spot (CBS) lesions per fruit by up to 50 percent, according to new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research. The new management techniques are the result of Jiaqi Yan’s recently …
CRDF’s Browning Clarifies Recent USDA Funding
The funding was made available through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program, which was appropriated by the $125 million dollars allocated from the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The $22 million dollars will be used for a variety of citrus greening-related channels, …
Improved Rootstock Selection Tool
Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide: New Custom Query Option The third edition of the Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide was recently released online at flrootstockselectionguide.org and has now been expanded to include an expert system to aid growers in rootstock selection. The expert system was developed as a collaborative effort of Steve Rogers, Bill Castle, Steve Futch and Andrew Persaud. …
Veteran Biologist Named Director
Veteran Biologist Named Director of UF/IFAS Entomology Lab By Brad Buck GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Just as the Zika virus is causing concern worldwide, a University of Florida insect specialist with 36 years of experience at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory has been named the lab’s new director. Professor Jorge Rey started at FMEL, part of the UF Institute of Food …
Discussing Genetic Engineering With a Concerned Public
By: Kevin Folta Our farm producers have brought unprecedented low-priced, safe food to the United States and the world. Despite the success, there are challenges to sustained production that may best be solved with genetic engineering. These technologies have proven safe and effective for almost two decades, mostly in the arena of high-acreage agronomic crops like corn, soy and cotton. …
Plant Pathologist Joins UF/IFAS
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 …
What to Consider When Putting a New Grove in Place
By: Mongi Zekri There is a high degree of planning and preparation that goes into making a new citrus tree planting successful. Site preparation, installation of an irrigation system, selection of varieties and rootstocks, tree spacing, purchasing trees from reputable nurseries, and tree planting and care are all important. Site Preparation The planting site should be well prepared. Soils at …
Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees
Citrus Industry Legends Inducted into Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Friday, March 11, was the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Celebration Luncheon, where a crowd of over 400 citrus community and industry members welcomed three new inductees into the Hall of Fame. The inductees are Dr. William S. “Bill” Castle of Lake Alfred, John C. “Jack” Norris of Palm City, …
Update on the 2016-17 Citrus Appropriations and Legislation
[nextpage title=”Update on Citrus Appropriations…”] Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), distributed the following update on Florida citrus appropriations and legislation: Dear FCM Board and Members: I have some very positive news to share. The items/proposals/appropriations I’ve highlighted below have been approved by the Legislature and Governor Scott. This news came about quickly after our e-mail …
Citrus Crop Forecast Increases
Mark Hudson, of the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA/NASS) in Washington, D.C., issued the March citrus crop forecast. Although there was no increase in the non-Valencia oranges for this month, an increase was reported for the Valencias. There also was a slight increase for white grapefruit. Florida crop forecast: Download Audio Full crop forecast: …
Legislative Progress for Florida Citrus Growers
In a message below, Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, reports positive news on the current status of the citrus industry’s agenda items in the legislative session. Dear FCM Board and Members: It’s been a whirlwind 2016 in Tallahassee and with a week left in the scheduled legislative session, I have some very positive news to share. …
Slight Changes in USDA’s Florida Citrus Crop Forecast
The only changes made in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus crop forecast were in Florida. Red grapefruit decreased 3 percent, going from 8.5 million boxes to 8.2 million boxes. The projection for honey tangerines increased from 600,000 boxes to 700,000 boxes, bringing the overall Florida tangerine total to 1.5 million boxes. Download Audio February USDA Citrus Crop Forecast …