texas

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Actions

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture have taken several Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine actions in Texas since mid-August. DONNA On Aug. 15, the agencies established a Mexfly quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County. This is in response to the confirmed detection on Aug. 10 of Mexfly larvae in …

Brix level

Update on Efforts to Lower Required OJ Brix Level

Daniel CooperLegislative, Orange Juice

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and federal lawmakers from Florida are pushing legislation that would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required Brix level of not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The change has been requested because many Florida oranges no longer produce juice that meets the 10.5% Brix requirement.     FCM Chief …

survey

Survey to Determine Hurricane Helene Ag Impacts

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Survey

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has started a study to estimate the agricultural impacts resulting from Hurricane Helene in the state of Florida. Results of a survey, which can be accessed here, will be combined with a detailed baseline database on agricultural assets in Florida to estimate and communicate production losses. The information UF/IFAS …

variety displays

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Get Out and About at Variety Displays and Field Days

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Events, Varieties

By Peter Chaires Each year, citrus breeding and research teams go to great lengths to host variety displays, research reviews, tours and field days. These events not only showcase the collective pursuit of industry needs and priorities, but they afford stakeholders an opportunity to monitor the progress and interact directly with scientists and support staff. This is an investment of …

Danyluk

Association Names Danyluk Researcher of the Year

Daniel CooperAwards

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has presented University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Professor Michelle Danyluk its 2024 Researcher of the Year Award. The award was presented at FFVA’s recent annual convention in Marco Island. The honor is given to individuals who have dedicated themselves and their work to improving Florida agriculture. Danyluk works in …

citrus crop

Research Aims to Diversify Georgia’s Citrus Crop

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Varieties

Satsuma mandarins helped establish the citrus crop in Georgia. Alternate varieties will help the state’s industry continue to grow. Mary Sutton’s appointment as the new University of Georgia (UGA) citrus Extension specialist should help growers implement varieties that have been tested and are suitable for Georgia growers. Part of her role will be to research alternatives to satsumas to see …

citrus

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Legacy of Citrus Service

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I recently met Megan and Jeffrey Forbes at a presentation I gave on the Citrus Label Trail during Preservation on Main Street’s annual meeting in Tallahassee. They are interested in adding Alachua and Marion counties to the Citrus Label Trail. Megan is a board member of the Old Florida Heritage Highway, and Jeffrey is the development …

harvest

Cold-Hardy Citrus Concerns Prior to Harvest

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Harvesting

Cold-hardy citrus growers are on the cusp of starting another harvest season. Management options need to continue up until the first crops are plucked from the trees, according to Certified Crop Adviser Bill Barber with Ag Services LLC. Barber spoke at a citrus workshop on Sept. 24 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office …

organic citrus

Transforming Organic Citrus Production

Daniel CooperBiologicals, Cover Crops, Organic

Organic citrus growing presents unique hurdles in Florida, Texas and other southern states. Poor soil quality, nutrient deficiencies and a limited range of pest control options plague organic production. But the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Davie Kadyampakeni is poised to transform the future of organic citrus growing. He aims to do that with a …

brown ro

What To Do if Brown Rot Surprises You

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney It is late summer or early fall, and the usual time to consider brown rot treatment options has passed. However, you smell a sharp fermented fruit odor. When you look closer, fruit have the telltale soft brown lesions of brown rot. What options exist to minimize losses now? It is too late for the traditional control options …

Hurricane Debby

Hurricane Debby Citrus Production Losses Could Reach $13 Million

Daniel CooperEconomics, hurricane

There were no reports of significant or widespread losses for citrus crops due to August’s Hurricane Debby, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reported recently. But the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program stated in a preliminary assessment of agricultural damages that low-level production losses across a wide swath of citrus acreage could reach $13 million. …

breeder

Georgia Citrus Breeder Says New Varieties Will Take Time

Daniel CooperBreeding, Georgia

The University of Georgia’s new citrus breeder is preaching patience for South Georgia growers wanting new varieties to work with. Dario Chavez emphasized during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting in Valdosta that it could take a decade or longer to research and find new citrus varieties that will help Georgia’s blossoming industry. “I think some of the growers are …

pageant

Bringing Back the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant

Daniel CooperAwards, Miss Florida Citrus

This is the third installment of Q&A features with Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the 2024 Citrus Achievement Award winner. What was the motivation to revive the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant and what did it take to get the program up and running again? Burnette: LaVoyce Leggett Porter, the 1966 Florida Citrus Queen, asked me if I would be interested in resurrecting …

expanded

Citrus Disease Quarantines Expanded in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) officials, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), recently expanded the areas quarantined for huanglongbing (HLB) and sweet orange scab (SOS) in the state. HLB The quarantined area in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties has been expanded by approximately 50 square miles. Additionally, the …

initial

Initial 2024–25 Forecasts for California Navels and Mandarins

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, has issued initial 2024–25 forecasts for California’s navel orange crop and for part of the mandarin crop. NAVEL ORANGES The initial 2024-25 California navel orange forecast is 78 million cartons, up 2% from the previous year. The forecast is based on …

symposium

Psyllid Control Discussed at South African Citrus Symposium

Daniel CooperBrazil, Events, Psyllids

Researchers Marcelo Miranda and Haroldo Volpe with Brazil’s Fundecitrus discussed control of the HLB-spreading psyllid during a recent visit to a South African research symposium and accompanying events. During the Citrus Research Symposium in Drakensberg, Miranda discussed studies developed at Fundecitrus on the management of the HLB-spreading psyllid (Diaphorina citri). In South Africa, HLB is caused by a bacteria different …

chair

Citrus Executive Named Chair of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has named Steven Callaham, chief executive officer of Dundee Citrus Growers Association, as its chair for 2024–26. “Steven Callaham has long been a driving force in Florida’s citrus industry. His leadership, vision and dedication have strengthened the resilience and future success of the agricultural community,” said FFVA President Mike Joyner. “With his commitment …

diverse

Big Year Expected for Diverse Georgia Citrus Crop

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Production

Georgia’s citrus industry is growing and so are the diverse varieties producers are planting every year. Jake Price, University of Georgia citrus agent, said at the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting last week in Valdosta that there were 4,400 citrus acres planted in South Georgia. At approximately 145 trees per acre, this equates to about 638,000 trees. What started out …

quality

Nutrients for Improving Fruit Growth and Quality

Daniel CooperNutrition, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth, Jeff Brecht, Yu Wang and Faisal Shahzad In the last decade, fruit quality and size has become a major issue. Moreover, fruit peel color is another challenge to overcome for citrus growers who intend to sell for fresh fruit consumption. Many nutrients are known to improve fruit growth and quality in citrus trees. For example, potassium increases …

medfly

Medfly Quarantine Issued in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

A portion of Alameda County in California has been placed under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) following the detection of one wild mated female in Fremont. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Alameda County agricultural commissioner and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are working collaboratively on the project. The quarantine area in Alameda County measures approximately …