pests

A New Pest in Citrus

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Pests

When it comes to talking about citrus bugs, Lauren Diepenbrock, an entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), is happy to join the conversation. And that’s just what she did in the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. She discussed several key pests that have been problematic for growers in recent …

protect developing

Protect Developing Fruit From Lebbeck Mealybugs

Daniel CooperPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock As the March bloom tapers off and fruit begin to set, it is time to think about lebbeck mealybug management to protect developing fruit. Damage to setting fruit causes malformed fruit that are often aborted or not marketable if they continue development (Figure 1). Early-season management is critical to both reducing early fruit damage and to maintaining …

tree health

Get an Assist in Gauging Tree Health

Daniel CooperTechnology

If there was ever a time when Florida citrus growers would want to get a better read on tree health, this season might it. A significant number of acres have been treated with new trunk-injection therapies, and growers have been monitoring groves to observe the impact of the treatments. Growers have traditionally relied on visual observation to get a sense …

tolerant

Growers Must Settle for HLB-Tolerant Trees While Waiting for Resistance

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management, Varieties

The dream of citrus varieties being totally resistant to huanglongbing (HLB) disease (citrus greening) is still a distant reality for Florida growers. For now, they must depend on tolerant varieties to lessen the disease’s impact, which is widespread throughout most of the state. Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, March 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Irrigation

As winter transitions to spring, it is important to monitor irrigation needs in citrus. This is especially true in Florida, where nearly all trees are infected with HLB. Irrigation was a topic of discussion during the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …

Florida Citrus Show – Seminar

HomeAttendSeminarsHotelExhibitSponsor2024 Seminar ProgramWednesday, April 3, 2024General Session- Indian River Research and Education Center Auditorium 8:45 a.m. Welcome Frank Giles, AgNet Media, Scott Adkins, USDA Ron Cave, UF/IFAS 9:00 a.m. Federal Agriculture Priorities in 2024 Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association 9:30 a.m. TBA 10:00 a.m. 4Roots Farm’s Reverse Demand Program Driving the Buy Local Movement Tommy Ward, 4Roots Farm …

2024 Seminar Program

HomeAttendSeminarsHotelExhibitSponsorSeminar schedule times are subject to change.Wednesday, April 3, 20248:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Registration at Trade Show EntranceDon’t wait in line, pre-register today!8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Breakfast in Trade Show Hall8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Trade Show OpenVisit exhibitor booths!11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Tailgate PartyTry exhibitor’s tailgate food and vote for your favorite!morning …

growers

Highlands Growers Learn More About Crop Transformation Center

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management

The Highlands County Citrus Growers Association hosted its annual meeting and banquet in early March in Sebring, Florida. The event was well attended. Growers were mostly in good spirits, hoping that trunk-injection therapy will be the bridge to the next breakthrough to return citrus production and quality to viable levels. Most believe the ultimate HLB solution will come in the …

Florida

Continued Commitment to Florida Ag

Daniel CooperAgriculture, Education

By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu When I arrived in Florida three and a half years ago to lead the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), my message to Farm Bureau members was, “I work for you.” I still do, but no longer as UF’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. I’ve become provost, the …

pests

Freeze Does Not Have the Same Effect on All Pests

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, freeze, Pests

The Christmas freeze event in 2022 affected some insect pests in the cold-hardy citrus region more so than others, according to Xavier Martini. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor spoke about his findings during the recent Citrus Health Forum held at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy. Martini addressed …

Zambon

All In For Citrus Podcast: Meet Flavia Zambon

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

Last year, Flavia Zambon was named University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of production horticulture of citrus and other tree crops. She is based at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce. In the February episode of All In For Citrus, Zambon discussed her new position and how she plans …

hlb

Discovery Speeds Push for HLB-Tolerant Citrus

Daniel CooperBreeding, Orange Juice, Research

It’s one thing for a hybrid citrus tree to tolerate HLB, but quite another thing for it to produce orange-like fruit that makes delicious orange juice (OJ). That holy grail of traits could be nearer, thanks to a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists. …

Switzerland

Studying Citrus Greening in Switzerland

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, HLB Management, Research

Lukas Hallman is about to embark on an internship in Switzerland to investigate the vascular system of trees affected by citrus greening. Hallman is in his final year of a Ph.D. program in horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center. He is under the guidance of Lorenzo …

march

Sneak Peek: March 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek, Soil Health

The March issue of Citrus Industry magazine is centered on tree and soil health. On the cover is Florida citrus grower Bill Lennon of Lennon’s Grove Service. The March cover story details Lennon’s efforts to learn more about survivor trees in his groves that are standing up to HLB. He is working with University of Florida Institute of Food and …

AgNet Media Set to Host Florida Citrus Show

Morgan ColeEvents, FCS24

Citrus and specialty crop producers should mark their calendars for the upcoming Florida Citrus Show, scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, in Fort Pierce, Florida. This will be the second year of AgNet Media hosting the event, which will once again feature a tailgating theme with vendors exhibiting their products and services while sharing delicious foods. In addition, general and educational …

Citrus Health Forum

Citrus Health Forum Helps Cold-Hardy Growers

Daniel CooperCold Hardy

Production in the cold-hardy citrus region is still in its infancy. Growers and industry leaders need events like the Citrus Health Forum to obtain the necessary information to help this young industry continue to flourish. The latest forum took place at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy …

CRISPR

CRISPR Is Bringing Citrus Closer to HLB Resistance

Daniel CooperBreeding, HLB Management, Research

You’ve probably heard the term CRISPR in recent years. It is a relatively new breakthrough in science that has applications in human health and even in the fight against HLB. Nian Wang, a professor of microbiology and cell science with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), has been on the forefront of CRISPR research. Here …

therapies

Nutrition Remains a Critical Element as New Therapies Roll Out

Daniel CooperNutrition

Growers have largely adopted new trunk-injection therapies to fight the effects of HLB in citrus groves. In addition, plant growth regulators have helped improve tree health and fruit retention. One University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist reminds growers to maintain their fertilizer programs as the new therapies are deployed.  Davie Kadyampakeni, UF/IFAS associate professor of …

July

All In For Citrus Podcast, February 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Nutrition

Florida citrus growers are now well into their second application of oxytetracycline (OTC) via trunk injection to treat HLB. Per the label of both registered OTC products, after two applications, there is a one-year treatment pause. So, growers will be formulating plans on what to do during the off-season for OTC-treated trees. That was the subject of discussion during the …

chlorpyrifos

Update on Chlorpyrifos Use

Daniel CooperPesticides, Regulation, Tip of the Week

By Brett Bultemeier, Mike Aerts and Lauren Diepenbrock On Dec. 28, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit revoked a previous decision related to chlorpyrifos tolerances for food. Chlorpyrifos is a broad-spectrum insecticide used in a variety of crops, including citrus. The original decision revoked all food tolerances, whereas this new ruling essentially reinstates them. This means …