Like much of the rest of the world, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has closed its research and Extension facilities to visitors because of COVID-19. The closures are intended to protect the public and UF/IFAS employees from the coronavirus. Additionally, all UF/IFAS-sponsored events have been cancelled through the end of April. But UF/IFAS employees …
U.S. Citrus Supply and Prices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook report on March 31. The report shows that the forecast for the U.S. citrus crop is down 4 percent from last season and how this is affecting imports, exports and pricing. LOWER PRODUCTIONU.S. all-orange production is expected to decrease by 1.6 percent, largely due …
Large Citrus Grove Sold
A large citrus grove in Hendry County, Florida, recently sold for just over $14 million, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate reported. The 1,675-acre Sunrock Grove produces a variety of oranges, tangelos and grapefruit. It is improved with a substantial irrigation drip system and approved Southwest Florida Water Management District water permits through 2029. SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler …
Town Hall Meeting on COVID-19 and Florida Agriculture
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick held a town hall meeting on Thursday with the state’s agriculture community on pressing issues. Some of the topics of discussion included: Ensuring agriculture and all related industries are essential at the federal, state and local levels. Promoting the continued and efficient processing of H-2A worker visas. Inter- and intra-state weight waivers for …
Sanitation, Social Distancing Increase in Citrus Industry
Social distancing and enhanced sanitation practices have been adopted in many Florida groves and facilities in an effort to curtail spread of the coronavirus. “Growers are making the necessary adjustments by increasing sanitation and keeping workers separated,” said Steve Smith, executive vice president of Gulf Citrus Growers Association. “The larger growers with multiple locations are keeping crews separated into small …
Citrus Canker Management Through the Year
Plant pathologist Megan Dewdney with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences offers suggestions for managing citrus canker at different times of the year. She is an associate professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Dewdney suggests that copper sprays begin when fruit reach three-eighths of an inch in diameter in groves …
HLB and Citrus Root Health
“We’re not going to have a silver bullet” for HLB, says Lorenzo Rossi, an assistant professor at the Indian River Research and Education Center. Instead, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) root biologist says that researchers are trying to keep citrus producing profitably. Rossi described some of his research efforts that focus on root health …
Irrigation Management for Young Citrus Trees
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Arnold Schumann, Mongi Zekri and Chris Oswalt Irrigation management is important for achieving optimal citrus tree growth and promoting high water- and nutrient-use efficiencies in young trees. In the era of HLB, poor water-management practices, such as infrequent irrigation, lead to water stress in trees resulting in limited growth and impaired root development. On the other hand, …
UF Citrus Entomologist Receives Recognition
(UF/IFAS) — One of the University of Florida’s (UF) most promising professors has been nationally recognized as an industry leader for her scholarship and service. Lauren Diepenbrock, an assistant professor of entomology working at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center recently received the 2019 Southern Region Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center Friends …
Citrus Research and Development Foundation Updates
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) agreed March 24 to seek very focused research projects that will answer growers’ questions about proper nutrition in the face of HLB. The questions were formulated by CRDF’s Nutrition Working Group, a panel of growers, scientists and others. FOCUS ON NUTRITION “We know it’s (nutrition) important and we have to get it right …
Sneak Peek: April 2020 Citrus Industry Magazine
As everyone strives to stay healthy amid the coronavirus crisis, the April issue of Citrus Industry magazine focuses on another kind of health — young tree health. In the first of four articles focused on practices for planting new trees, University of Florida (UF) researchers Ozgur Batuman and Megan Dewdney give growers advice on what to watch for when receiving …
California Citrus Mutual Recommends Letters for Essential Business Workers
As part of the state effort to control the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a statewide stay-at-home order that went into effect immediately. The order does not apply to workers in essential businesses, which includes agriculture. In some parts of the state, the order is being aggressively enforced by local law enforcement. Reports are circulating that some …
Even in Times of Crisis, Citrus Research Continues
(UF/IFAS) —The coronavirus has upended daily routines, events and schedules. From work to schools to shopping, every aspect of life changed overnight and continues to change with each passing day. Even with a global pandemic, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus researchers plow forward in their quest to find answers to fighting the devastating disease …
Hemp Advice: Start Small, Be Cautious
There are numerous challenges facing potential growers of industrial hemp in Florida, said Jerry Fankhauser at the recent Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference. Fankhauser is assistant director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and lead oversight manager of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Industrial Hemp Pilot Project. Researchers involved in the project are looking …
North Florida Meeting Addresses Citrus Production Practices
By Clint Thompson Citrus was the focus of an annual meeting held in Quincy, Florida, on March 12. Growers from Florida and Georgia converged at the North Florida Research and Education Center to learn about various citrus management practices for the region. GROWER-GUIDED AGENDA Danielle Sprague, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agent in Jefferson …
March Citrus Crop Forecast Sees Slight Decreases
Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) reported the latest update to the 2019-2020 citrus crop forecast on March 10. Non-Valencia Oranges The Florida non-Valencia forecast is lowered 1 million boxes to 30 million boxes. The row count survey conducted Feb. 25-26 showed 98 percent of the early-midseason rows are harvested. California remained at …
Fried Addresses Citrus Issues
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried delivered the keynote address at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Lakeland on March 6. She also discussed citrus issues with Citrus Industry magazine editor Tacy Callies. Fried says the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), which she directs, is working with the state Legislature on a variety of budget …
Viruses Might Help Control Asian Citrus Psyllids
(UF/IFAS) — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are working toward establishing a new biological method that may help growers control the insect that transmits the deadly greening disease into citrus trees. Greening is present in about 95 percent of the citrus trees in Florida, so by using a virus that may kill the insect, …
Nutrition: No One Size Fits All
By Tripti Vashisth Constant supply and soil application of macronutrients and micronutrients can improve the health and productivity of HLB-affected citrus. A 20 to 50 percent higher than University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recommended rate of micronutrients is beneficial for HLB-affected trees. However, the nutrition program should be customized for each grove, as no one …
Georgia Citrus Grower: It’ll Be Years Before Market Gets Saturated
By Clint Thompson Georgia grower Joe Franklin believes the citrus market will stay profitable despite industry leaders expecting the state’s citrus acreage to double by the end of this year. SALES OUTLETS“The school systems are a good outlet for us,” Franklin said. “I was in Atlanta (recently). I’ve never seen so many people in my life. It’s like that in …