Sneak Peek: July 2022 Citrus Industry

Josh McGill Rootstocks, Sneak Peek, Varieties

HLB continued to contribute to reduced production and lower quality fruit for Florida growers this season. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are working to help alleviate these problems by delivering improved rootstocks and varieties. The July issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes an in-depth look at this work. Read “Juice for Florida’s future” to …

Results of the Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum

Josh McGill CRDF, Regulation, Research

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that the state’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. The results of the ballots returned yielded 76% “yes” votes representing 69% of total citrus acres. The Florida Citrus Research Order has a six-year cycle and is subject to renewal …

Brazil’s First Orange Forecast for 2022–2023

Josh McGill Brazil, Crop Forecast

The 2022–2023 initial orange crop forecast for Brazil’s São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt is 316.95 million boxes. The forecast was published on May 26 by Fundecitrus and its cooperators. The projected volume is 20.53% higher than the previous crop, which totaled 262.97 million boxes. The orange production forecast includes:• 59.48 million boxes of Hamlin, Westin and Rubi• …

High Summer Temperatures Take a Toll on Trees

Josh McGill Research, Weather

By Anirban Guha and Christopher Vincent A quick body temperature test is common these days before entering many workplaces, hospitals and clinics due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose is to screen people for fevers, usually with a non-contact infrared thermometer. Measurement of plant body temperatures also has become common for many field crops, not to screen for infectious …

Pests, Pathogens and IPCs

Josh McGill IPCs, Pests, Research

By Lauren Diepenbrock, Megan Dewdney, Fernando Alferez, Jawwad Qureshi and Ozgur Batuman Individual protective covers (IPCs) are becoming commonplace in citrus production to support the development of young trees after planting. IPCs are made of fine mesh and are intended to keep Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) off young plants. Because ACP can transmit the pathogen that causes citrus greening/huanglongbing, preventing …

Chile Ships First Citrus of Season to United States

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International

The Chilean citrus season began recently with the first shipment of clementines to the United States. Chile, the largest exporter of citrus in the southern hemisphere, will also supply mandarins, navel oranges and lemons to the United States. Promotional support will run from June to October. The forecast for citrus production in Chile is 45,000 tons of clementines, 120,000 tons …

Review of the 2020–21 California Citrus Season

Josh McGill California Corner, Citrus

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) released its 2020–21 Final California Citrus Season Perspective report, which included the following summary conclusion: For the majority of the season, the fruit quality was excellent. The movement was steady, and shippers managed to hold prices fairly steady. The crop size, however, proved challenging as the season drew on. The 2020–21 season may go down in …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Governor Furthers Florida’s Citrus Industry

Josh McGill Pieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In the 1940 Annual Citrus Edition of Orlando’s The Sunday Sentinel-Star, the “No. 1 Citrus Man of the Year” was Spessard L. Holland. The citrus industry article reads as follows: “SMALL GROWER ELECTED GOVERNOR — Pledged to keep partisan politics out of the Florida Citrus Commission and the administration of the state’s citrus laws, Spessard L. …

Growing Matters: IPM Essential for Pollinator Protection

Josh McGill Growing Matters, News from our Sponsor

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and practices are a critical component of pollinator protection approaches in farming. The 2022 BeSure campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition reminds industry members that pollinators play a vital role in agriculture and need to be kept safe. Field Development Representative for Gowan, Dr. Shine Taylor said there are several ways that growers can keep …

Promising New Research Discussed at Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute

Josh McGill HLB Management, Research

Growers gathered in Avon Park at South Florida State College for the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute on April 5. The event, organized by regional citrus Extension agents with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, aims to provide timely research that can be applied in groves today. It also was an opportunity for growers to get updates …

Working With Citrus Growers to Select New Varieties

Josh McGill All In For Citrus Podcast, Varieties

John Chater joined the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in January as an assistant professor of horticultural sciences. His mission is to act as a conduit between citrus plant breeders and growers to find fits for new rootstock and scion selections. Chater’s love of plants was inspired by his grandfather who was a plant breeder …

How to Reduce Bingo Tree Loss to Stem Dieback

Josh McGill Diseases, Research

By Christopher Vincent, Megan Dewdney and Liliana Cano Bingo mandarin hybrid is a variety with many promising characteristics, but it brings specific challenges to profitable production. One challenge identified early in the push to plant Bingo was stem dieback that led to tree loss. After looking into this problem for the past four years, University of Florida Institute of Food …

Highlights From Highlands Citrus Growers Meeting

Josh McGill Citrus, Florida

Growers and industry stakeholders recently gathered in Sebring, Florida, to celebrate the 32nd annual meeting of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA). LEADERS ELECTEDNew HCCGA officers and directors were elected. Officers for the 2022 board of directors include: Emma Ezell, president  Hank Crutchfield, vice president Charlie Wilson, treasurer Aaron Nelson, secretary New board members are Joe Collins, Billy Barben, …

Lemon Production in Turkey to Skyrocket

Ernie Neff Export/Import, International

Lemon production in Turkey is expected to increase 27% to 1.4 million metric tons (MT) in 2021-22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported recently. Last season, lemon production reached 1.1 million MT. Producers are increasing orchard areas due to lemon’s profitability compared to other citrus fruits. The main problems reported by lemon producers in Turkey are diseases …

Sneak Peek: March 2022 Citrus Industry

Josh McGill Sneak Peek

The March issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes an abundance of advice on getting trees off to a good start. According to citrus grower Brad Turner, healthy soil is key to setting up trees for success. In his article, he gives growers pointers on soil preparation prior to planting. Other topics he addresses include mulch considerations, nutritional needs, pest management …

HLB Reduces Phytophthora Management Efficacy

Josh McGill HLB Management, Research

The pathogen phytophthora has long presented problems for Florida citrus growers. But the HLB disease that has plagued Florida since 2005 reduces the efficacy of phytophthora management, citrus pathologist Ozgur Batuman reported in a recent virtual seminar. Batuman, who works for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, said improved fungicide timing, number of applications and rates …

Increasing Pesticide Effectiveness With Adjuvants

Josh McGill CEU

By Ajia Paolillo Editor’s note: THIS ARTICLE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR CEU CREDIT. Pesticides are widely used in commercial agriculture to manage insects and other arthropods, diseases and weeds. Each application needs to be as effective as possible in managing the target pest. Many factors, such as environmental conditions, tank-mix incompatibility and solution pH, can cause a pesticide application …

Sneak Peek: February 2022 Citrus Industry

Josh McGill Sneak Peek

In the February issue of Citrus Industry magazine, Florida growers will find out what diseases to watch for this season. Megan Dewdney’s annual foliar fungal disease round-up reports on what some of the major problems are likely to be in 2022. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant pathologist and Extension specialist provides tips on …

Florida Orange Brix Levels Not So Sweet Yet

Josh McGill Orange Juice, Processing

Florida citrus growers and orange juice processors are reporting low Brix levels as the 2021–2022 harvest season continues. The Jan. 10 edition of the Market News Bulletin from Florida Citrus Mutual noted average Brix of 9.83. According to Bob Behr, chief executive officer of Florida’s Natural Growers, juice oranges being harvested now are running below average. “Citrus greening continues to …