Deadline Approaching for Citrus Research Grants

Kelsey Fry Citrus, Citrus Greening, Legislative

Pre-applications for the emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension (CDRE) grants are available for fiscal year 2016. The estimated total program funding is $22 million, as a part of the third installment of the $125 million appropriated in the 2014 Farm Bill. To find a detailed summary of CDRE project eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit nifa.usda.gov and search “CDRE …

Heavy Department of Citrus Cuts Proposed

Josh McGill Citrus, Legislative

The Florida Citrus Commission discussed on Wednesday proposals for heavy cuts to the Florida Department of Citrus budget next season. Commission Chairman Ellis Hunt and department Executive Director Shannon Shepp discuss the projected budget for next year, the funding for it, personnel cuts and how the budget will proceed. Twelve large growers and several organizations recently requested drastic Sponsored Content5 …

CAST Award Recognizes Dr. Kevin Folta

Josh McGill Citrus

CAST Award Recognizes Dr. Kevin Folta for Excellence in Science Communication WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) announced that the 2016 Borlaug CAST Communication Award will be given to Dr. Kevin Folta, chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Folta is renowned for his …

Veteran Biologist Named Director

Kelsey Fry Citrus

Veteran Biologist Named Director of UF/IFAS Entomology Lab By Brad Buck GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Just as the Zika virus is causing concern worldwide, a University of Florida insect specialist with 36 years of experience at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory has been named the lab’s new director. Professor Jorge Rey started at FMEL, part of the UF Institute of Food …

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees

Josh McGill Citrus

Citrus Industry Legends Inducted into Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Friday, March 11, was the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Celebration Luncheon, where a crowd of over 400 citrus community and industry members welcomed three new inductees into the Hall of Fame. The inductees are Dr. William S. “Bill” Castle of Lake Alfred, John C. “Jack” Norris of Palm City, …

Slight Changes in USDA’s Florida Citrus Crop Forecast

Kelsey Fry Citrus

The only changes made in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus crop forecast were in Florida. Red grapefruit decreased 3 percent, going from 8.5 million boxes to 8.2 million boxes. The projection for honey tangerines increased from 600,000 boxes to 700,000 boxes, bringing the overall Florida tangerine total to 1.5 million boxes. Download Audio February USDA Citrus Crop Forecast …

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USDA Grant To Attack Citrus Greening

expoadmin Citrus, Citrus Greening

Researchers share $4 million USDA grant to attack citrus greening From UF/IFAS: By: Kimberly Moore Wilmoth and Kathleen Haughney GAINESVILLE, Fla. — International researchers, including ones at the University of Florida and Florida State University, are sharing in a $4 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to attack the problem of citrus greening, a disease that has …

Water Farming Success

expoadmin Citrus, Water

Two Indian River County Sites Approved for Water Farming Funding On January 12, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board approved funding for two sites in Indian River County to establish water farms to help reduce nitrogen and phosphorus being dumped into the Indian River Lagoon. The nutrient-rich fresh water being dumped into the lagoon causes massive algae …