Heavy Fruit Loads in Rootstock Trials

Ernie NeffRootstocks

Heavy fruit loads have created a problem for Owari satsuma rootstock trials in Valdosta, University of Georgia Extension agent and Lowndes County Extension Coordinator Jake Price reported recently. “It has been a struggle the last month or so to keep fruit off the ground because of the heavy fruit load,” says Price. “Fruit touching the ground will rot and fall …

Understanding Mandarin Blooming and Fruit Set Requirements

Tacy CalliesProduction

By Fernando Alferez, Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser Citrus trees bloom profusely. It is estimated that a healthy adult tree can produce more than 200,000 flowers every year. This figure is much higher than the number of fruits the tree can maintain and develop. Normally, only 1% to 5% of flowers set fruit that develops, matures and can ultimately be …

Packinghouse Day Updates: Greasy Green Disorder and Cold Hardy Citrus

Ernie NeffCold Hardy, Diseases

Updates on the so-called greasy green disorder and the Cold Hardy Citrus Association were presented at the virtual Packinghouse Day on Aug. 26.   GREASY GREENThe greasy green disorder affecting fruit primarily in Florida’s Indian River region has “been getting worse the past two seasons,” researcher Mark Ritenour reported. Ritenour is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …

strategy

Pest Prompts Revised Import Requirements

Ernie NeffPests, Trade

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Aug. 20 revised the entry requirements for citrus fruit from the Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia in Australia. According to APHIS, the revision is necessary because both Riverina and Sunraysia no longer meet the requirements to be considered fruit fly-free areas for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni). …

Will Georgia Fruit Have a Home?

Tacy CalliesGeorgia

Citrus acreage in Georgia continues to increase. While it didn’t double like it did in 2020, it still increased by 50%, says Jake Price, University of Georgia Lowndes County Extension coordinator. During a citrus growers’ summer update meeting on Aug. 25 in Lowndes County, Price said that Georgia’s citrus acreage has ballooned to 2,700 acres in 46 counties. The state …

tangerines/mandarins

Turkey Tangerine Forecast Climbs

Ernie NeffInternational

Tangerine production in Turkey is expected to climb 14% in 2020-21, to 1.6 million metric tons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported. The fruit will have good harvest quality due to favorable timing of rains and temperatures. Production will exceed that of 2019-20 because of freezing conditions and heavy storms during the 2019-20 bloom period, but will …

Trees Delayed From Nurseries

Tacy Calliesnurseries

Citrus acreage is expanding across South Georgia and North Florida. But those interested in planting more acres may have to wait years to receive trees from nurseries, says Jake Price, University of Georgia Lowndes County Extension coordinator. “If you’re wanting a tree now, it’s probably going to be 2023. If you had ordered it six months ago, it might have …

Georgia Citrus Industry Ripening

Tacy CalliesGeorgia

One Georgia grower sees citrus as an emerging industry in Georgia with huge potential. Justin Corbett even compares it to another popular crop that’s dominated the state’s fruit landscape. “I think it has the potential to be a big industry. I compare it to blueberries 10 or 15 years ago. I just hope we don’t follow the same path they …

rootstock

Georgia Owari Rootstock Trial Update

Ashley RobinsonGeorgia, Rootstocks

Ongoing citrus rootstock trials being conducted by the University of Georgia (UGA) hold promise for Georgia’s growing citrus industry. Jake Price, UGA Extension agent and Lowndes County Extension coordinator, has produced six local citrus rootstock/variety trials with varying objectives. The oldest trial, planted in 2014, is growing Owari satsuma trees on standard and new trifoliate hybrid rootstocks. Each year, as …

Cold Hardy Citrus Association Building a Solid Foundation

Tacy CalliesCold Hardy

The Cold Hardy Citrus Association (CHCA), founded in 2017, was established to ensure all growers, large and small, have a unified voice in an emerging industry and to provide education on best management practices in light of HLB. CHCA members include growers, packers, processors, industry suppliers, nurseries, consultants, homeowners and academia representing Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Kim Jones …

Fire Ant Management in Citrus

Tacy CalliesPests

By Lauren M. Diepenbrock While there are many species of ants in Florida, the invasive fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is the one most people are familiar with. These ants can be pests in agriculture, landscapes and structures. The pest’s ability to use a variety of habitats and resources makes it challenging to manage. In citrus groves, fire ants can be …

Control Methods for Major Pests of Cold-Hardy Citrus

Tacy CalliesPests

By Xavier Martini and Danielle Sprague Cold-hardy citrus, that is, citrus grown above the 30th parallel north, is a blooming industry. In less than 10 years, the acreage in North Florida has gone from almost nonexistent to approximately 1,000 acres. Growers in the region plan to plant more in the coming years. In Georgia, there are approximately 2,000 acres across …

Georgia Trials Offer Rootstock Choices

Ernie NeffRootstocks

Ongoing citrus rootstock trials being conducted by University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension in Lowndes County hold promise for increased yields, improved fruit quality and greater disease resistance. Jake Price, UGA Extension agent and Lowndes County Extension coordinator, has six local citrus rootstock/variety trials with varying objectives. The trees are custom-produced by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-certified citrus nurseries in …

New Louisiana Citrus Research Facility

Ernie NeffResearch

The Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation has constructed a citrus research facility at the Docville Farm in partnership with the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter. The new facility, called the Center for Louisiana Citrus Innovation and Research, is in Violet, Louisiana. “This facility will be utilized to support Louisiana citrus growers as well as promote citrus and other specialty …

Georgia Citrus Pest and Disease Update

Tacy CalliesDiseases, Georgia, Pests

As the Georgia citrus industry continues to grow and prosper, growers should be aware of the potential signs of citrus pests and diseases that could be looming in their groves. Bill Barber, Certified Crop Advisor and owner of Barber Ag Services, delivered a presentation during the 2021 virtual Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. He addressed pests and diseases presently …

Third Packer for Cold-Hardy Citrus

Ernie NeffPacking

A third packinghouse started packing fresh South Georgia and North Florida citrus in 2020. The newest packer, The Satsuma Company, is in Tifton, Georgia. The others, Corbett Brothers in Lake Park, Georgia, and Florida Georgia Citrus in Monticello, Florida, have been packing citrus since 2016. “I have visited all three facilities in South Georgia and North Florida,” said Lindy Savelle, …

Louisiana Faces Several Citrus Woes

Ernie NeffLouisiana

Hurricanes, development, demographics, disease and other issues combined in recent decades to severely reduce citrus acreage and crops in Plaquemines Parish, which has the majority of Louisiana growers. According to Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, the state has only 841 acres of citrus remaining. Anna Timmerman, LSU AgCenter horticultural Extension agent, discussed the industry’s woes in the parish that she …

Citrus Holiday Traditions

Tacy CalliesTip of the Week

By Ruth Borger and Megan Dewdney Oranges and other citrus have a special place during holiday celebrations. We find them in our decorations, on our dinner table, shipped to friends and families across the country, and sometimes, if you are really good, in your Christmas stocking. But where did these traditions come from? And when did they become part of …

pruning

Pruning Principles for High-Quality Citrus

Tacy CalliesPruning

Planting citrus varieties for fresh market production has increased in popularity. With these potentially high-value crops come concerns about management practices, including pruning. Recently, Fernando Alferez informed growers in a virtual presentation about manual pruning principles. Alferez is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus horticulturist at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. According to …

Marketing North Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffMarketing

North Florida growers have planted several citrus groves in recent years. “A lot of those groves are starting to become productive,” Kevin Athearn said during a Sept. 23 Cold Hardy Citrus Association annual meeting, held virtually. Athearn, a regional specialized Extension agent, familiarized new citrus growers with some citrus terminology and suggested possible marketing strategies. “It’s important that we all …