New Potential Pest for Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffPests

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI) recently issued a pest alert about snout scale (Florinia proboscidaria), a potential Florida citrus pest. The alert is aimed at preventing the pest’s introduction to and establishment in commercial citrus in Florida. “This is a heads up that we have a new potential pest to keep an …

Row-Middle Weed Management Methods

Tacy Calliesweeds

By Ramdas Kanissery, Miurel Brewer, Davie Kadyampakeni and Sarah Strauss Florida growers face problems with weeds throughout the year due to favorable weather conditions that allow rapid proliferation and lush growth of weeds in groves. While a weed-free tree row is desired to minimize competition with citrus, it is also essential to manage the weeds or vegetation in the row …

Stefanou to Lead USDA Economic Research Service

Ernie NeffEconomics

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist Spiro Stefanou has been appointed as U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA/ERS) administrator. Stefanou was a professor in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department. The mission of USDA/ERS is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment and rural America and to conduct high-quality, …

stormwater

BMPs Impacted by New Florida Water Act

Ernie NeffBMPs

Florida’s new Clean Waterways Act impacts agricultural landowners and producers enrolled in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Best Management Practices (BMPs) program. The act went into effect July 1. FDACS is required to undertake implementation verification (IV) site visits on properties enrolled in the BMP program every two years. During these IV site visits, FDACS Office …

Oak Leaf Extract and Mulch for HLB

Ernie NeffCitrus Expo

Researchers on the Indian River have proved “there is something in the oak leaf that can work” against HLB, said Lorenzo Rossi. “I’m not saying that I found the cure, and I’m not saying that oak extract will save the citrus industry.” He described oak extract, and possibly oak mulch, as another tool against HLB. Rossi, a University of Florida …

AI Will Be Another Tool for Citrus Greening

Ernie NeffAll In For Citrus Podcast

Artificial intelligence (AI) will likely help growers and researchers cope with citrus greening (huanglongbing, known as HLB) and other citrus problems over the long run. That’s the belief of J. Scott Angle, the new head of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Angle, UF’s vice president for agriculture and natural resources, says AI is a …

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 …

How Has COVID-19 Impacted Your Operation?

Ernie NeffCOVID-19

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have opened the second round of surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s agriculture and marine industries. The surveys are intended to capture changes in operations for the first half of the year.  The Assessment of COVID-19 Impacts on Florida surveys were first deployed in mid-April and …

nutrition

CRDF Addresses Leaf Sampling and Breeding Research

Ernie NeffResearch

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board recently chose leaf sampling timing and frequency as its top priority for a new nutrition research project. The board also agreed to create a Select Committee on Plant Improvement to help plant breeders decide which new cultivars should go into final field trials. CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler discusses the board’s …

Citrus Production Guide Available

Ernie NeffProduction

The 2020-2021 Florida Citrus Production Guide is now available. See the online version of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences resource. Hard copies of the guide can be obtained at local UF/IFAS Extension county offices. Get the list of citrus Extension agents here. It is always best to email or call the agent ahead of time …

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. …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, August 2020

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, Sponsored Content

August brings a special episode of the All In For Citrus podcast as listeners hear from the new leader of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and get an update on digital offerings. Citrus Research and Education Center Director Michael Rogers starts the episode by announcing a redesign to the UF/IFAS Citrus Research website. The …

Citrus Researcher Yu Wang Recognized

Tacy CalliesAwards

She’s early in her career, but food scientist Yu Wang is making great strides in her research. Recognizing Wang’s work, the Agricultural and Food Chemistry division (AGFD) of the American Chemical Society (ACS) recently named her a fellow. Wang, a flavor chemist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, may …

Cover Crops and Nematicides for Sting Nematode Management

Tacy CalliesPests

By Larry Duncan, Johan Desaeger and Sheng-Yen Wu The citrus row middle habitat changed profoundly beginning in the 1970s as mowing replaced disking for weed management. This change ended the costly cycle of cutting and regrowing citrus roots near the soil surface and reduced soil erosion, among other benefits. Mowing also allowed a seasonal succession of native plants to flourish, …

Citrus Researcher Earns National Award

Tacy CalliesAwards, Industry News Release

Researcher. Scholar. Change agent. Nian Wang, a professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), has been recognized for all of these roles with an award from the American Phytopathological Society (APS) at its 2020 annual meeting. Wang received the Ruth Allen award, which honors people who have made an outstanding, innovative research contribution that has …

nutrition

Citrus Expo to Cover Wide Range of Production Topics

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo

The Citrus Expo team and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have joined forces to offer educational sessions in a virtual format for this year’s Citrus Expo. On Aug. 19–20, the 2020 seminar program will debut online at CitrusExpo.net at 9:30 a.m. Attendees will be able to watch videos of research presentations. With safety as …

Mexfly Quarantine Reduced in Texas

Ernie NeffPests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in late July removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine area in Lasara, Texas. Lasara is in Willacy County. The quarantine in Lasara had been established in January. The agencies had restricted interstate movement of regulated articles from the area to …

Growing Finger Limes in Florida: Lessons Learned So Far

Tacy CalliesLimes

By Manjul Dutt and Jude Grosser Finger lime, a distant relative of sweet orange and grapefruit, is a relatively new crop species for Florida. It is an Australian native species that has been gaining in popularity and importance in the last few years because of its unique fruit characteristics and disease tolerance, which sets it apart from conventional sweet orange …

Sneak Peek: August 2020 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

The August issue of Citrus Industry is traditionally the Citrus Expo issue. While the Citrus Expo tradition continues this year, it will be in a new format. Due to coronavirus, the event will be virtual. Growers will still have the opportunity to see seminars and network with vendors. In the August issue, you’ll find the citrus, vegetable, specialty crop and …

Hurner Moving From Extension to County Position

Ernie Neffextension

Laurie Hurner is resigning as Highlands County Extension director and citrus agent Aug. 4 to become Highlands County assistant county administrator. “There are no negative reasons for leaving, just an opportunity here for me to better serve my home county and even help UF (University of Florida) before it is over,” Hurner stated. “I feel that it is time in …