Update on Grapefruit Nutrition

Ernie Neff Grapefruit, Nutrition

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi reports on research leading to fertilizer recommendations for grapefruit, especially in the Indian River area. Grapefruit has been especially hard hit by HLB, the devastating citrus disease discovered in Florida in 2005. “We are entering the second season (of the research project) and we hope to have …

The Facts on Preharvest Fruit Drop

Tacy Callies Production, Research

By Tripti Vashisth, Lisa Tang and Sukhdeep Singh In citrus, huanglongbing (HLB) causes an increase in the mature fruit drop rate up to three months prior to commercial harvest. This preharvest fruit drop results in a great reduction in yield and overall grove productivity. Since the plant growth regulators that improve fruit retention on healthy trees do not have consistent …

Research

Citrus Research at SWFREC

Ernie Neff HLB Management, Research

Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) Director Kelly Morgan provides an update on citrus research being conducted at the center. SWFREC is operated by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Morgan says most of the research is “related to greening, but not all of it.” Greening is another term for huanglongbing (HLB), the citrus …

Psyllids

Psyllids, Yield and Weed Control

Ernie Neff Psyllids, weeds

Recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research shows that HLB-spreading psyllids can feed on weeds, and that good weed control can increase fruit yield. The research results were presented by UF/IFAS weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery, who works at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee. Kanissery said his work on psyllids feeding …

orange

Orange Grower: ‘Best Year I’ve Ever Had’

Ernie Neff Production

Hardee County orange grower Kenny Sanders said at a grower roundtable meeting on June 25 that he produced 409 boxes per acre in the 2018–19 Florida citrus season. “This is the best year financially I’ve ever had in the citrus business,” Sanders said at the Wauchula gathering hosted by Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association. “In 2012, I picked 500 …

Sneak Peek: July 2019 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy Callies Sneak Peek

Four articles on grove management will give citrus growers food for thought in the July issue of Citrus Industry magazine. The first article tells how one grower handles HLB. Del Murphy discusses production practices that have helped him cope with the disease. Bactericides, irrigation and nutrition management are among the topics he addresses. The second article is for growers who …

citrus greening

Studying Citrus Greening with an Integrated Approach

Daniel Cooper Citrus Greening, Diseases, HLB Management, Industry News Release, Psyllids, Research

While citrus growers continue to look for best management approaches to deal with the deadly greening disease, scientists will take an integrated look at how to protect young trees by using existing tools growers can use. Five scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will compare insect management tools, including insect-proof netting. Researchers also …

CUPS

Many Aspects of CUPS Addressed

Ernie Neff CUPS, Research

Arnold Schumann, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor of soil science, reports on his five years of research into citrus under protective screen (CUPS) for fresh fruit. He is one of the first researchers in Florida to do extensive, hands-on research into the system. His discussion is part of the current All In For Citrus …

forecast

CRAFT Program Moving Forward

Ernie Neff Citrus, Research

A direct support organization (DSO) to be established within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will reportedly run the massive Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRAFT) program. Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks announced the pending arrangement June 13 during the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs. The CRAFT program features an expected 5,000 acres of …

CRDF to Retain Steve Futch

Ernie Neff CRDF

Multi-county citrus Extension agent Steve Futch is set to retire from the University of Florida on June 30. He will become a contract scientist with the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) on July 1. CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler announced the decision to retain Futch at a CRDF meeting in May. Dantzler said Futch will “help us out …

img citrus

Rogers Discusses Media Reports on Bactericides

Ernie Neff Bactericides

Michael Rogers, Citrus Research and Education Center director, focuses on recent media coverage about the use of antibiotics, or bactericides, in Florida citrus. Most of the coverage in the mainstream media has been negative.  His discussion is part of the current episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, a partnership of the University of Florida Institute of Food and …

mandarin

Fast Track Has Winners and Losers

Ernie Neff Varieties

At a recent meeting to discuss the release of the Marathon mandarin in the Fast Track citrus evaluation program, the program manager said Fast Track selections have had varying fortunes. “The purpose of this program is to take things that look promising and then get them out into the hands of nurseries and growers as fast as possible,” says Peter …

Giving Back to Orie Lee

Ernie Neff Research, Rootstocks

The late Orie Lee was renowned for his long and generous cooperation with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists conducting citrus research on his property. One of those researchers, plant breeder Jude Grosser, says the industry is now giving a little back to the Lee family. Grosser discusses 12 federally funded trials in which rootstocks …

April

All In For Citrus Podcast, May 2019

Taylor Hillman All In For Citrus Podcast

Growers won’t want to miss the May All In For Citrus podcast. This episode addresses concerns about bactericide use in citrus, includes an interview with Scott Angle, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and provides a summary of citrus under protective screen research. First, Michael Rogers, Citrus Research and Education Center director, focuses …

Redefining Orange Juice?

Ernie Neff Orange Juice

Some Florida citrus processors, scientists, grower representatives and others recently started discussions about the feasibility of changing the legal standard of identity for orange juice (OJ). Under current U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards of identify for OJ, only sweet orange can be used in OJ products without limitation. Only 10 percent of juice from mandarins or citrus hybrids can …

An Important Reminder on Citrus Tristeza Virus

Tacy Callies Diseases

By Amit Levy and Ozgur Batuman Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is an important citrus pathogen that, in the past, had a dramatic effect on the citrus industry and caused the loss of almost 100 million trees worldwide. These trees were propagated on sour orange rootstock. The disease created a need for tristeza-tolerant rootstocks to sustain the citrus industry, because only …

CUPS

Grower Optimism Tempered by Pricing

Ernie Neff Citrus, CUPS, Economics

Central Florida citrus grower Jerry Mixon of KLM Farms recently expressed optimism that is tempered by current orange prices. “I am optimistic, and it seems like the industry does have that same feeling,” Mixon says. “Yields are up. I have heard a little bit that (pound) solids are up a little bit, particularly Valencia crops … Trees look better.” Mixon …

production

Media Investigating Bactericide Use in Citrus

Ernie Neff Bactericides

Potential human resistance to antibiotics as a result of bactericide use to treat HLB is the apparent topic of upcoming media stories. The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has recently responded to national and local reporters’ questions about the topic. Questions “have mostly touched on resistance in humans,” according to an FDOC spokesperson. The spokesperson said the reporters were with …

California Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program Report Released

Len Wilcox California Corner

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released the 2018 annual report from the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP). According to the report, California citrus is a $3.3 billion industry, providing 21,600 jobs and covering 268,500 acres. HLB (huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening disease) is the leading threat in citrus today. In 2018, HLB was found …

grapefruit

Grapefruit Grown Under Protective Screens Maximizes Fruit Yield

Daniel Cooper Citrus Greening, CUPS, Grapefruit, Industry News Release, Research

Growers of one of Florida’s signature citrus crops may see more production and possibly less of the deadly citrus greening disease. Researchers have worked for four years growing grapefruit under protective screens on a 1-acre experimental plot at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), and they’re seeing encouraging results. UF/IFAS scientists and a few commercial …