psyllids

Combating Citrus Greening with Fungus

Tacy CalliesCitrus Greening

By Breanna Kendrick The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is testing an insect-killing fungus to combat the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Pasco Avery, biological scientist at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce, is researching the use of fungus-oil sprays and assessing the effects on ACP, the insect that transmits the …

florida

Florida Citrus Recovery Grant Program for Hurricane Irma

Daniel CooperCitrus, hurricane

The Florida Citrus Recovery Grant Program (CRGP) is available to citrus producers who maintain an active citrus farming operation and who suffered citrus crop damage as a result of Hurricane Irma. In order to qualify for CRGP, producers must first apply for the Federal 2017 USDA Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP). Producers receiving assistance under either CRGP or WHIP must obtain …

Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award Winners Include Citrus Growers

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the recipients of the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which recognizes the environmentally innovative farming techniques of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. This year’s recipients are: Jim Strickland of Blackbeards’ Ranch in Manatee County, Chuck Allison of Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla and James Shinn of Shinn Groves/ Tree O’Groves in Lake Alfred. Florida’s …

whip

Citrus Block Grant Funding Coming Soon

Daniel CooperCitrus, hurricane, Industry News Release

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Florida Citrus Mutual continue to push for the prompt disbursement of funds associated with Hurricane Irma relief. Mutual is optimistic the Hurricane Irma Block Grant program administered by the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) will begin in earnest next week. Administrators of the Block Grant will hold an internal Florida Citrus …

Sneak Peek: September 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

Some fruit drop in citrus is a naturally occurring process, but other types of drop can and should be avoided. In the September issue of Citrus Industry magazine, University of Florida researchers discuss HLB-associated pre-harvest fruit drop and glyphosate-related fruit drop. Not only does HLB increase fruit drop, it also negatively impacts fruit flavor. Another research article in the September …

Citrus Expo Presentations Now Available

Abbey TaylorCitrus Expo

The 27th annual Citrus Expo saw great success as growers piled into the Lee Civic Center on Aug. 15–16 in North Fort Myers, Florida. Growers experienced the biggest trade show in Citrus Expo history, as well as extended citrus seminar sessions. The educational program, titled “Planting Tomorrow’s Profits,” featured presentations on the latest research from the University of Florida Institute …

aphis

Florida Citrus Acreage Declines Again

Ernie NeffAcreage

Florida’s citrus acreage continued a long descent in 2018, decreasing 2 percent to 447,012 acres. The total number of acres is the least since the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service began keeping count in 1966. The 2018 count was released on Aug. 28. There was a gross loss of 20,114 acres in 2018, partially offset by new …

hurricane

Bournique Earns Florida Citrus Packers’ Highest Honor

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release

Florida Citrus Packers honored Douglas C. Bournique with its John T. Lesley Award for Excellence at Packinghouse Day on Aug. 23. The award is the organization’s highest recognition, reserved for individuals making sustained and outstanding contributions to Florida’s fresh citrus industry. The list of recipients reads like a “who’s who” of the Florida citrus industry. Bournique brought his talents and …

grapefruit

Experts Suggest Varieties for Irma-Damaged Citrus Replanting

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release, Rootstocks, Scions, Varieties

As growers decide how to use U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to recover from damages caused by Hurricane Irma — and as they cope with the ongoing impact of citrus greening — University of Florida researchers are suggesting varieties for them to replant. Producers can grow varieties that show tolerance to greening — also known as huanglongbing, or HLB. …

psyllids

Control of Citrus Flush Timing Could Improve Psyllid Control

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, HLB Management, Industry News Release, Research

They say timing is everything in life, and that’s certainly true of the Asian citrus psyllid, which has devastated Florida agriculture for the past decade by transmitting citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing or HLB. To reproduce, this small, flying insect must lay eggs on citrus “flush” – the tender new leaves and shoots that citrus trees produce several …

Grower Wins Gun Safe at Citrus Expo

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo

Congratulations to citrus grower Jimmy Carter of JK Carter Groves in Lake Wales, Florida, the winner of the John Deere gun safe giveaway at Citrus Expo 2018! This popular Citrus Expo annual giveaway is a tradition made possible by sponsorship from Everglades Equipment Group. All growers who pre-register for Citrus Expo are eligible for the drawing. Megan Price, Miss Florida …

growers

New Florida Citrus Production Guide Debuts at Citrus Expo

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Production

Beginning this week, Florida citrus growers will have an updated resource to help them keep groves productive despite the ever-present threat of huanglongbing, the bacterial malady also known as HLB or citrus greening disease. Experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have just completed a 180-page technical handbook, “Florida Citrus Production Guide 2018-2019.” It …

New Planting Options for Citrus Growers

Tacy CalliesVarieties

By Fred Gmitter, Ed Stover, Randy Driggers, Greg McCollum and Jude Grosser The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service citrus breeding program has a long history of releasing successful scion and rootstock cultivars. There had been a 15-year lapse in creating new hybrids, and the recently released cultivars largely reflect breeding efforts that preceded the onslaught of HLB …

Citrus Expo

Nutrient Recommendations for Citrus Greening

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Irrigation, Nutrition, Research

As Florida citrus growers look to recover from the damages of Hurricane Irma and continue to cope with citrus greening, University of Florida (UF) scientists suggest using a complete and balanced nutrient program in their groves. “Mineral nutrition plays a vital physiological role in the growth and development of a plant and as well as in plant-defense response,” said Tripti …

Citrus Expo Is Next Week!

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo

With more education, more exhibits and more diversity, growers won’t want to miss Citrus Expo 2018! Florida’s premier agricultural event for citrus, vegetable and specialty crop growers takes place Aug. 15–16 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. Time is running out to pre-register for the event. Online pre-registration ends Friday, Aug. 10. Pre-registration helps save time …

UF/IFAS Researchers Search for Solutions to Citrus Diseases with Citrus Initiative Funds

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Greening, Industry News Release, Research

From nutritional supplements to managing irrigation to grower outreach and education, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are finding additional ways to support Florida citrus growers in their fight against citrus greening disease. Twelve projects were funded by the state legislature-funded Citrus Initiative program in 2017-2018 that looked at possible short- and long-term solutions that …

Global Perspectives

Brazil’s Citrus Forecast for 2018–19

Tacy CalliesGlobal Perspectives

By Marcos Fava Neves The season’s first orange crop forecast is one of the most important numbers of the year for Brazil’s orange juice business. The citrus forecast for 2018–19 was published on May 9 by Fundecitrus, in cooperation with Markestrat, University of São Paulo and São Paulo State University. SIZE AND VARIETIES Brazil expects 288.29 million boxes of oranges …

Chaires Succeeds Chadwell at Citrus Administrative Committee

Ernie NeffCAC

Peter Chaires will succeed Arthur B. (Duke) Chadwell as manager of the Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC) on Aug. 1. Chadwell, who has managed the committee since January 1987, will retire today. Chaires becomes the fourth manager of the committee in its 80-year existence. He is also executive vice president of Florida Citrus Packers and executive director of New Varieties Development …

fungus

Scientists Use Fungus to Manage Asian Citrus Psyllids

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release, Psyllids, Research

  Fighting plant disease with jet blast sprays is standard practice for citrus growers. But, to spray a fungus to control a single insect that carries a disease-causing pathogen is uncommon. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability researchers have begun to test an insect-killing fungus applied with horticultural oil …

Sneak Peek: August 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo, Sneak Peek

At the center of the August issue of Citrus Industry magazine is the Citrus Expo show guide. Readers will find everything they need to know about Florida’s leading agricultural event. This year, Citrus Expo is expanding its reach to include vegetable and specialty crop growers. The Citrus Expo seminar and trade show is August 15–16 at the Lee Civic Center …