November

All In For Citrus Podcast, September 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Fresh, Packing

Mark Ritenour, professor of postharvest technology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), joined the September episode of the All In For Citrus podcast to provide a recap of Packinghouse Day. The event was held Sept. 12 at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Based at the Indian River Research and …

October

Sneak Peek: October 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek

With the news that oxytetracycline (OTC) has been approved for a third consecutive year of trunk injection in Florida citrus, growers are looking to optimize their applications for the coming season. The October cover story in Citrus Industry magazine aims to help growers make the most of their OTC injections. University of Florida researchers tell the good, the bad and …

organic citrus

Transforming Organic Citrus Production

Daniel CooperBiologicals, Cover Crops, Organic

Organic citrus growing presents unique hurdles in Florida, Texas and other southern states. Poor soil quality, nutrient deficiencies and a limited range of pest control options plague organic production. But the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Davie Kadyampakeni is poised to transform the future of organic citrus growing. He aims to do that with a …

brown ro

What To Do if Brown Rot Surprises You

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney It is late summer or early fall, and the usual time to consider brown rot treatment options has passed. However, you smell a sharp fermented fruit odor. When you look closer, fruit have the telltale soft brown lesions of brown rot. What options exist to minimize losses now? It is too late for the traditional control options …

symposium

Psyllid Control Discussed at South African Citrus Symposium

Daniel CooperBrazil, Events, Psyllids

Researchers Marcelo Miranda and Haroldo Volpe with Brazil’s Fundecitrus discussed control of the HLB-spreading psyllid during a recent visit to a South African research symposium and accompanying events. During the Citrus Research Symposium in Drakensberg, Miranda discussed studies developed at Fundecitrus on the management of the HLB-spreading psyllid (Diaphorina citri). In South Africa, HLB is caused by a bacteria different …

quality

Nutrients for Improving Fruit Growth and Quality

Daniel CooperNutrition, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth, Jeff Brecht, Yu Wang and Faisal Shahzad In the last decade, fruit quality and size has become a major issue. Moreover, fruit peel color is another challenge to overcome for citrus growers who intend to sell for fresh fruit consumption. Many nutrients are known to improve fruit growth and quality in citrus trees. For example, potassium increases …

HLB Incidence

HLB Incidence Exceeds 44% in Brazil’s Citrus Belt

Daniel CooperBrazil, HLB Management

Fundecitrus’ annual survey of HLB in Brazil indicates that disease incidence rose from 38.06% in 2023 to 44.35% in 2024 throughout the Citrus Belt of São Paulo and Triângulo/Southwest Mineiro. This is the seventh consecutive year of growth for the disease. HLB was found in approximately 90.36 million trees. In total, there are 203.74 million orange trees throughout the Citrus …

medfly

Medfly Quarantine Issued in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

A portion of Alameda County in California has been placed under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) following the detection of one wild mated female in Fremont. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Alameda County agricultural commissioner and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are working collaboratively on the project. The quarantine area in Alameda County measures approximately …

commercial

HLB and Psyllids in Georgia Commercial Citrus

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Psyllids

One of Georgia citrus growers’ worst fears is slowly becoming a reality. Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), was observed in a Georgia commercial citrus grove for the first time in 2023. This is alarming news for the industry, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “We knew HLB was here in residential …

tree age

Tree Age and Yields: Implications for Trunk Injection

Daniel CooperEconomics, HLB Management

By Ariel Singerman This article examines the impact of HLB and other factors on yield by tree age group in Florida using U.S. Department of Agriculture statewide average data from 1994 to 2021. To focus on the impact of HLB and other relevant lasting factors, seasons in which there were hurricanes or freezes are excluded. YIELD REDUCTIONS Figures 1 and …

Syngenta

Syngenta Seeks Citrus Interns for Summer

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

Syngenta Crop Protection has announced it is accepting applications for its summer 2025 citrus internship program. These are paid internships offering hands-on experience in the agriculture industry. Applications can be made online. Applicants should complete the survey and upload their resumes here. The deadline for applying is Nov. 8, 2024.  ABOUT THE INTERNSHIPS Interns are assigned to mentors and territories …

new grove

Factors to Consider When Planting a New Grove

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, planting

Growers have numerous things to think about when planting a new grove. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus genetic improvement specialist John Chater discussed this topic during a recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo presentation. Following are highlights from his talk on establishing new varieties in a new citrus grove. PESTS AND DISEASES Soilborne pests …

greasy spot

Symptoms and Management of Brown Rot and Greasy Spot

Daniel CooperDiseases

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) presenters on Aug. 30 discussed symptoms and management of the fungal citrus diseases brown rot and greasy spot. Plant pathologist and associate professor Megan Dewdney, the featured speaker, focused on management. Multi-county citrus Extension agent Mongi Zekri, who hosted Dewdney’s talk, described disease symptoms. BROWN ROT Brown rot is usually …

nutrient management

Citrus Nutrient Management Recommendations Continue to Evolve

Daniel CooperBMPs, Florida, Nutrition

When HLB arrived in Florida, it changed the world for citrus growers, and a lot of other things had to change with it. One of the biggest changes has been how growers manage their fertilizer programs. The nutrient recommendations that had been developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) before HLB became outdated because …

Brazil’s

Heat and HLB Hurting Brazil’s Production

Daniel CooperBrazil, Production

Brazil’s citrus crop is suffering this season, according to Franklin Behlau, a senior researcher for Fundecitrus. That was the focus of a recent presentation he provided at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. “Things have changed in Brazil this season,” Behlau said. “We are a little behind …

citrus floral rot

Risk of Citrus Floral Rot in Brazil

Daniel CooperBrazil, Diseases

Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently issued an alert about the risk of citrus floral rot during the current citrus flowering period. Citrus flowering periods must be on growers’ radar to avoid damage to orchards caused by citrus floral rot, also known as starlet. Attention must be doubled, especially if the flowering coincides with rainy periods, a determining factor in the occurrence of …

sweet orange scab

Sweet Orange Scab Requirements Revised

Daniel CooperDiseases, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) recently revised sweet orange scab (SOS) requirements. APHIS revised the conditions for the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock (CNS) and updated the inspection requirements for CNS to be eligible for shipment. The federal order also updates the APHIS-Approved Packinghouse Procedures for Elsinoë australis, Causal Agent of Sweet …

early-season

Seeking Early-Season Sweet Oranges

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Varieties

HLB has reduced citrus production across the board, but early varieties like Hamlin have taken an even bigger hit. Hamlin has been plagued by the disease and fruit drop, which has left a void in the juice-processing segment in the early season. Growers who have been replanting have mostly relied on later-season varieties like Valencia because it seems to be …

breast cancer

Sunkist Partners With National Breast Cancer Foundation

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, Marketing

Sunkist Growers, Inc. recently announced a partnership with National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF) to raise awareness about breast cancer and provide resources to those impacted by the disease. “Through their (Sunkist) support, they will help us provide early detection, education and support services to women affected by breast cancer across the country,” said Candice Hensley, NBCF senior manager of …

Northeast Citrus Show

Fundecitrus Researchers Participate in Northeast Citrus Show

Daniel CooperBrazil, Events

Fundecitrus researchers Silvio Lopes and Wellington Ivo Eduardo participated recently in the second edition of the Northeast Citrus Show in Aracaju, Brazil. Lopes gave a lecture on the two main Brazilian citrus diseases: citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and citrus greening. “In the orchards of Bahia and Sergipe, greening has not yet been detected, but there are psyllids,” Lopes reported. He …