Managing Pests in a CUPS System

Ashley RobinsonCUPS

Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) does a great job of safeguarding trees from the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids. However, CUPS does not protect trees from all other pests. The benefits of eliminating HLB are immediate and include rapid, normal tree growth, higher yields of premium-quality fruit and less fruit drop. Since CUPS is a relatively new system, researchers are still …

Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute Returns

Ernie NeffEducation

The annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute, hosted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension, will be held on April 6. The event will be delivered via a Zoom webinar from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. “We hope to reach a broad audience despite the limits imposed on us because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chris …

Field Trials for Cultivar Evaluation; Soil and Root Health

Ashley RobinsonAll In For Citrus Podcast, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus researchers are collaborating on ground-breaking research projects to fight against HLB. They are working with researchers at the University of California-Riverside (UC-Riverside), Texas A&M and Washington State University on a project to field-test new citrus cultivars for tolerance or resistance to HLB. The research is funded by the U.S. …

Managing COVID-19 Risks in the Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesCOVID-19

By Joyjit Saha, Matthew Krug and Michelle D. Danyluk The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed so much. SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is primarily transmitted person-to-person, with no evidence it is transmitted by food or food packaging, including citrus and citrus products. Managing COVID-19 among workers is extremely important. COVID-19 impacts on the health of employees can have catastrophic …

production

Irrigating Young Trees in High-Density Plantings

Tacy CalliesIrrigation

Florida citrus yields have declined by almost 56 percent since 2005. With such a large decrease, growers have been forced to replant trees at much higher densities to counter-balance tree loss. In November 2017, researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) initiated a study to determine how …

UF/IFAS Collaborates on HLB Research

Ernie NeffResearch

Several University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty are collaborating with other universities and organizations on research, especially for HLB. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), summarizes the work they are doing on a variety of grant-funded projects. Rogers starts with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded project led by …

Research Update on Individual Protective Covers

Tacy CalliesPests

By Fernando Alferez, Susmita Gaire, Ute Albrecht, Ozgur Batuman, Jawwad Qureshi and Mongi Zekri It has been nearly three years since the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) started its studies on individual protective covers (IPCs). The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of IPCs as a strategy to prevent HLB infection of …

Keeping Farmworkers Safe From COVID-19

Ernie NeffCOVID-19, Labor

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts are working with farmworkers to help keep them safe from COVID-19. The experts are connecting the farmworkers with COVID-19 free testing, safety information and training – a role they have been serving throughout the pandemic. Extension agents are partnering with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), …

Understanding the Fate and Persistence of Herbicides in Soils

Tacy CalliesHerbicides, soil

By Ramdas Kanissery, Rachel Fenn, Biwek Gairhe and Davie Kadyampakeni Chemical weed control, using herbicides to manage weeds, is an important production practice in citrus groves. Herbicides applied in groves can end up in the soils from direct spray hits, indirect or non-target spray movement (also known as drifts) or release from the dead weeds and vegetation. In soil, the …

Artificial Intelligence System Wins UF Honors

Ernie NeffAwards, Technology

UF Innovate | Tech Licensing recently recognized an artificial intelligence (AI) system known as Agroview as a UF Invention of the Year. The AI system was invented by Yiannis Ampatzidis and his research team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC). The system utilizes images from drones and satellites …

McKown, Stitt to Join Ag Hall of Fame

Ernie NeffAwards

Two people who had major impacts on Florida citrus, Bobby McKown and John Stitt, are among four who will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2021. They will be inducted at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 16. McKown spent his career championing and defending Florida agriculture and the Florida citrus …

IPCs Prevent HLB Infection

Ernie NeffCitrus Expo, HLB Management

The use of individual protective covers (IPCs) for young trees prevented Asian citrus psyllid transmission and HLB infection in a trial near Immokalee, Fernando Alferez reported during the recent virtual Citrus Expo. Alferez said citrus trees planted at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in January 2018 and covered with IPCs have been HLB-free for 32 months. Alferez …

Kanissery Wins Extension Award

Ernie NeffAwards

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery has earned a Dallas Townsend Extension Professional and Enhancement Award. Kanissery works at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee. “The award recognizes a state Extension specialist for demonstrating an outstanding ability to plan and implement Extension programs that address needs that have …

Root Architecture, Propagation Method and Citrus Tree Growth

Tacy CalliesRoot health

By Ute Albrecht, Sameer Pokhrel and Kim D. Bowman The rootstock has received increased attention as a management strategy to alleviate the devastating effects of HLB. In commercial citrus nursery production, rootstocks are typically propagated by seed. This is possible because citrus produces polyembryonic seeds with nucellar embryos, which develop into plants that are genetically identical to the mother plant. …

New University of Florida Economist in Immokalee

Tacy CalliesEconomics, Industry News Release

Morgan graduated from the University of Florida three times. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and then master’s and doctoral degrees in food and resource economics, all from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Mostly recently, she began her position as associate professor of food and resource …

Valencia Oranges Hit by Heavy Fruit Drop

Ernie NeffCOVID-19, Processing, Weather

Heavy fruit drop and weather issues reportedly could lead to reduction in Florida’s Valencia orange crop. Some in the citrus industry said COVID-19 issues in processing plants have also limited the intake of Valencias from groves, but the Florida Citrus Processors Association (FCPA) says that is not likely the case. “Processors have slowed down presumably due to COVID-19 … They …

weed management

Herbicide Synergy and Safety: Keys to Successful Weed Management

Taylor Hillmanweeds

As most growers in the Sunshine State know, weed management can be difficult in Florida’s climates. “When you think about Florida citrus production, weeds flourish in citrus tree lines and tree rows because there is a constant supply of moisture and nutrients,” said Ramdas Kanissery, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weed science assistant professor. “So …

Research on Water and Nutrient Retention

Ernie NeffNutrition, Research, Water

New research is using repurposed straw to create a tool that can help crops retain water and nutrients. Gang Chen, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, led the research. It uses straw left over from processing crops like rice, wheat and corn to produce hydrogels. Hydrogels are molecules that …

Weed Management: Use Multiple Methods

Tacy Calliesweeds

Citrus growers have multiple options in their weed management toolbox to tackle such problems as parthenium, ragweed, sweet clover and amaranth. Ramdas Kanissery, weed scientist and assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, believes the right tool or combination of tools can improve yields and help protect trees. …

citrus

Pests in CUPS and IPCs

Ernie NeffCUPS, Pests

Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) and young trees covered with individual protective covers (IPCs) have generally been well protected from HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids, but not from all other pests. Entomologist Jawwad Qureshi says the psyllids only get to trees when a CUPS structure or IPC is damaged, as happened to CUPS during Hurricane Irma in 2017. “Otherwise they do …