Vegetable learning stations will be open at the Florida Citrus Show for growers to visit with experts on various production-oriented topics. The stations will be in the lobby of the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. Plan to visit the stations from 2:00–2:30 p.m. or after the vegetable speakers’ session concludes. The learning stations will feature the following topics: …
Highlands Growers Learn More About Crop Transformation Center
The Highlands County Citrus Growers Association hosted its annual meeting and banquet in early March in Sebring, Florida. The event was well attended. Growers were mostly in good spirits, hoping that trunk-injection therapy will be the bridge to the next breakthrough to return citrus production and quality to viable levels. Most believe the ultimate HLB solution will come in the …
Continued Commitment to Florida Ag
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu When I arrived in Florida three and a half years ago to lead the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), my message to Farm Bureau members was, “I work for you.” I still do, but no longer as UF’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. I’ve become provost, the …
Find UF/IFAS Citrus Resources Online
By Michael E. Rogers Were you unable to attend a recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) event and want to hear what you missed? Many past presentations are available online. The UF/IFAS Citrus Research Website archives presentations made by UF/IFAS faculty at various meetings across the state. These can be found by scrolling down and …
HLB Could End Georgia’s Citrus Industry
One California citrus leader believes Georgia should respond more aggressively to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) for the sake of the industry’s future in the state. Roger Smith, fourth-generation citrus producer and executive of AC Foods, spoke during the recent Georgia Citrus Association meeting in Tifton. He discussed the disease that devastated citrus production in Florida and could …
California Fruit Fly Quarantines Expanded Again
Agriculture officials expanded the Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis/OFF) quarantine in California’s San Bernardino and Riverside counties on Dec. 22, 2023. On Dec. 27, 2023 and Jan. 17, 2024, they expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata/Medfly) quarantine in Los Angeles County. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) …
Freeze Does Not Have the Same Effect on All Pests
The Christmas freeze event in 2022 affected some insect pests in the cold-hardy citrus region more so than others, according to Xavier Martini. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor spoke about his findings during the recent Citrus Health Forum held at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy. Martini addressed …
All In For Citrus Podcast: Meet Flavia Zambon
Last year, Flavia Zambon was named University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of production horticulture of citrus and other tree crops. She is based at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce. In the February episode of All In For Citrus, Zambon discussed her new position and how she plans …
Discovery Speeds Push for HLB-Tolerant Citrus
It’s one thing for a hybrid citrus tree to tolerate HLB, but quite another thing for it to produce orange-like fruit that makes delicious orange juice (OJ). That holy grail of traits could be nearer, thanks to a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists. …
Citrus Showcase Coming to California
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) will host the 2024 Citrus Showcase on March 14 at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California. The event will feature informational workshops, continuing education unit-approved courses, a trade show and an industry luncheon. The luncheon keynote speaker will be California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. “We are extremely pleased to have a …
Seeking Nominations for the Citrus Achievement Award
Since 2001, the Citrus Achievement Award honor has grown into the gold standard of industry recognition for those who have made and continue to make a significant impact within and even beyond the citrus community. This year, the award is moving to Citrus Industry magazine to keep the tradition thriving for many years to come. The Citrus Achievement Award is …
Scheuerer Crowned Miss Florida Citrus
Alana Scheuerer was crowned the 2024 Miss Florida Citrus on March 2 in Winter Haven. She was chosen during the Miss Florida Citrus and Miss Winter Haven Program at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven. The event was the program’s 100th anniversary. Scheuerer, 26, of Coral Springs, has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and tourism and a master’s degree …
HLB Management Different for North Florida Citrus
Living with huanglongbing (HLB) disease (citrus greening) is a much different process for citrus growers than protecting their crop from it. Growers in the cold-hardy citrus region are currently trying to keep the devastating disease out of their area. Industry experts like Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center director, are …
The Florida Citrus Show Is a Month Away!
Citrus and specialty crop growers are invited to gather on April 3 in Fort Pierce at the Florida Citrus Show. The event takes place at the Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S Horticultural Research Laboratory. The trade show and breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m. Take the time to network with exhibitors before the general session begins at …
Irrigation During the Dry Season to Increase Yield of HLB Trees
By Tripti Vashisth and Mary Sutton Prolonged water deficits can negatively impact flowering, fruit growth, crop load and fruit quality. Unfortunately, HLB-affected trees are more susceptible to water deficits than healthy trees due to extensive root loss. Observing HLB-affected trees throughout the dry season showed that severely symptomatic trees consistently had lower leaf water potential than mildly symptomatic trees. This …
Surviving to Fight Another Day
Bill Lennon is working with researchers to learn more about survivor trees that are standing up to HLB. Bill Lennon is a fifth-generation citrus grower who can recall the industry’s glory days when Central Florida had hundreds of thousands of citrus acres before the 1980s freezes pushed production southward in the state. But he’s remained dedicated to the area, managing …
Florida Southern College Has New Major
Florida Southern College (FSC) in Lakeland will offer a new horticulture, land and resource management major in August for incoming students and current students who want to add a major or switch majors. It consists of 28 credit hours (without general education courses). Sixteen of those hours come from horticulture science, and the rest are business oriented with a focus …
PIECES OF THE PAST: Reflections on Fertilization
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In his book, “The Cultivation of Citrus Fruits,” first published in 1926 by The MacMillan Company, H. Harold Hume covers a variety of topics, including the use of fertilizers and the different needs of young trees versus bearing trees. Following are insightful excerpts: “Young adult trees differ in their fertilizer requirements. Young trees use their food …
Georgia Citrus Industry ‘Looking Forward’
The citrus industry has found footing in Georgia and needs continued support as this promising industry marches toward the future. Events like the Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting on Feb. 27 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center provided information tailored to protecting growers’ investments. “One of the things we wanted to do differently this year is remind …
Studying Citrus Greening in Switzerland
Lukas Hallman is about to embark on an internship in Switzerland to investigate the vascular system of trees affected by citrus greening. Hallman is in his final year of a Ph.D. program in horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center. He is under the guidance of Lorenzo …