How much life lives in a tiny bit of soil? A lot, according to Sarah Strauss, assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “The estimate I often mention is there can be over a billion microorganisms in a gram of soil, which is about this size of a quarter,” she said during the …
Register Now for the Florida Grower Citrus Show
The event’s fresh format will pack plenty of education and fellowship in a single day. The Florida Grower Citrus Show, scheduled for April 13, is fast approaching. The event opens at 7:30 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m. Growers and industry stakeholders are invited to sign up for complimentary preregistration. NEW LOOK AND LOCATION This year, the …
Leafminer Management Vital for Freeze-Impacted Trees
Cold-hardy citrus growers need to protect their trees against the citrus leafminer this year, more so than ever. A lack of control could have negative consequences for trees still recovering from the Christmas freeze last December. Xavier Martini, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center, …
Disaster Relief Discussed at Annual Meeting
The Highlands Country Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA) held its annual meeting in early March, celebrating 33 years of service to its membership. The event turned out a packed house in Sebring, with growers optimistic despite a challenging season. Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, spoke during the event and outlined a busy list …
Orange County Schools Seek Fresh Produce
Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida are seeking growers to join the Farm to School Partner Program. The program provides students access to nutritious, high-quality, local fruits and vegetables throughout the school year. Set to begin August 2023, the program runs through July 2025. OCPS is looking for a variety of produce items. Desired citrus items are grapefruit, lemons, …
Campaign Promotes Best Neonicotinoid Practices
Growing Matters has kicked off its annual BeSure! campaign to promote best stewardship practices when using neonicotinoid products. Using a wide range of media channels, the campaign reminds growers, crop protection applicators and others to follow label directions to minimize any potential impact on pollinators and other wildlife. Since its inception in 2019, the BeSure! campaign is estimated to have …
Nutrient Uptake Potential of Rootstocks
The objective of a new study published in HortScience was to evaluate and understand the nutrient uptake potential of citrus rootstocks. Conducted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers, it is one of the first citrus studies to report nutrient uptake efficiency and the potential of rootstocks. The information presented in the study can be …
CRDF Funds Project to Arrest HLB Bacteria
At the latest Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors meeting, funding was approved for a project by Robert Turgeon. He is a professor of plant biology at Cornell University. “Dr. Turgeon is considered by some to be the world’s foremost expert on phloem physiology. If his project succeeds, it could solve our problem with HLB,” CRDF chief …
OJ Standard of Identity Discussed
No action was taken after numerous speakers discussed potential changes to the standard of identity for orange juice (OJ) at a March 1 public workshop. Taking place at Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) headquarters in Bartow, the workshop was titled “Continuing the OJ Standards Conversation.” FCM Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner offered background on the standard of …
Top 10 Best Practices for Trunk Injection
By Ute Albrecht Replicated field studies have demonstrated positive effects of oxytetracycline administered by trunk injection to manage HLB. In October 2022, a 24(c) special local need label was approved that allows the use of this technology in Florida, and final clearance was given in January. When practicing trunk injection, it is important to do so properly and to be …
Satsumas Look ‘Pretty Darn Good’ Post-freeze
Satsumas in the Sweet Valley Citrus region appear to have aced their first test of multiple days of subfreezing temperatures. It is still a wait-and-see approach with other varieties, however. One grower was extremely optimistic about satsumas, the cold-hardy mandarins that look to have survived December temperatures in the teens. “Satsumas are pretty darn good. We lost some leaves, got …
The Advantage of Youth
Morgan McKenna Porter brings new energy to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation. By Ernie Neff New Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board President Morgan McKenna Porter was born Feb. 29, 1992. There’s only a Feb. 29 every fourth year, a leap year. “So,” she quipped, “CRDF has a seven-year-old president if we go by my leap year age.” …
HLB Concerns Government Officials in Brazil
Brazil’s Fundecitrus on Feb. 15 participated in a meeting with state and local government representatives to discuss the country’s citrus greening (HLB) situation. Representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Supply (SAA) of the state of São Paulo and mayors of some municipalities in the citrus belt also attended. Mayors and representatives of city halls expressed concern about the economic …
First Step Taken to Establish a Georgia Citrus Commission
The Georgia House of Representatives Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee passed legislation that would establish a Georgia Citrus Commission. It must now go to the House Rules Committee before being discussed in the Senate. A citrus commission would be a huge step for an industry that has already exploded in Georgia, said Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association …
IPCs Changing the Florida Citrus Landscape
The use of individual protective covers (IPCs) to safeguard young citrus trees from HLB has become a common practice in Florida groves in recent years. Fernando Alferez, an assistant professor of citrus horticulture with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), has led the research effort to study IPCs and their effectiveness in preventing HLB. He …
Examining Hamlin Survivor Trees
By Gary England, Fred Gmitter and Manjul Dutt In 2014, most groves in Central Florida had citrus greening infection rates approaching 100%, but a Lake County grower reported that some trees in his Hamlin on Swingle blocks seemed to be relatively healthy. Some visual HLB symptoms were observed on these “surviving” trees, but they did not have the massive fall …
New President Has Plans for Cold Hardy Citrus Association
Mark Clikas, who became president of the Cold Hardy Citrus Association (CHCA) in February, has a recovery focus and sales goal for the group. “My focus is to get the members of CHCA more involved in the organization to help the growers improve the citrus trees’ health after the major freeze event around Christmas 2022,” he said. “My goal is …
New Miss Florida Citrus Crowned
Casana Fink of Ocala was crowned the 2023 Miss Florida Citrus Feb. 25 in Winter Haven. She will help promote the Florida citrus industry over the next year. Fink was chosen during the Miss Florida Citrus and Miss Winter Haven Program held at Polk State College. Fink, 24, is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she was a …
In Defense of Florida’s Citrus Industry
By Marisa L. Zansler The Florida citrus industry has endured many challenges throughout its storied history, but never more so than over the past 18 years. During this time, the devastating impact of HLB has become more apparent and entrenched as the root cause of declines in the production of oranges, grapefruit and specialty citrus. HLB, combined with recent weather-related …
Florida Citrus Land Sales Remain Strong
While the real estate boom in Florida has cooled somewhat in the past year, it didn’t temper the turnout for the annual Lay of the Land Conference, which is hosted by SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate. The Feb. 23-24 event drew record attendance to the recently opened Bonnet Springs Park event center in Lakeland, Florida. The event hosts speakers …