Sneak Peek: July 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

The most successful citrus growers are often the ones who are able to adapt to new techniques and technologies. The July issue of Citrus Industry magazine offers a look at tools designed to help growers increase efficiency and productivity. Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in electronic devices, social media and internet search engines. But did you know this technology is …

california

The Complex Path for New Citrus in California

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Varieties

By Len Wilcox Continuous research and development of new varieties is an important function of the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Efforts have led to hundreds of profitable varieties now being grown in California. According to a report in California Agriculture, University of California’s (UC) research journal, one of those varieties has been a source of more than $14 million …

Cold-Hardy Citrus for North Florida

Tacy CalliesVarieties

By Xavier Martini and Peter Andersen Cold-hardy citrus has a long history in North Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia. Records show that sweet orange, citron, lemon, lime and pummelo were brought to Saint Augustine, Florida, from Spain in 1565. However, it was not until the late 1700s that the Jesuits introduced satsuma (Citrus unshiu) to what is now Louisiana. SATSUMA …

Field Testing of New HLB-Tolerant Scions and Rootstocks

Tacy CalliesResearch, Rootstocks, Scions

By Rhuanito S. Ferrarezi, Jude W. Grosser, Fred G. Gmitter, Ed Stover and Kim Bowman Citrus is Florida’s most important agricultural commodity. The state produces citrus for different markets: round oranges for juice; navels, mandarins, grapefruit and lemons for the fresh-fruit industry; and lemons for extracting peel oil for processing. Huanglongbing (HLB) disease affects all citrus varieties. Since the discovery …

HLB

A Grower’s Plan to Survive HLB

Ernie NeffHLB Management

An Indian River-area grapefruit grower told the crowd at Florida Citrus Mutual’s recent annual conference about his company’s plans for coping with HLB. The plans include replanting with some diverse citrus varieties at higher densities, said Daniel Scott, vice president of Scott Citrus Management. Grapefruit has for the most part proven extremely difficult to grow profitably in the face of …

Alternatives to Rootstock Propagation by Seed: Differences, Concerns and Expectations

Tacy CalliesResearch

By Ute Albrecht Commercial citrus rootstock propagation traditionally occurs via use of nucellar apomictic seed, which generates genetically identical seedlings that are used as liners for budding. With the high demand for superior rootstocks in the age of HLB, commercial nurseries are currently experiencing a shortage of seeds for some of the most popular rootstock varieties. In addition, for many …

aphis

June Florida Citrus Forecast: Grapefruit Down Slightly

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast, Grapefruit

The 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) on June 12 is 45 million boxes, unchanged from the May forecast. The total includes 19 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason and Navel varieties) and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The forecast for non-Valencia production is finalized and harvest …

Don’t Graze in the Weed Garden!

Ernie Neffweeds

A weed garden established this spring beside the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee is intended to help growers, Extension agents and others identify weeds in the grove. “The key ingredient in a weed management toolbox is to correctly identify the weed,” says Ramdas Kanissery, weed scientist at the center. “We’d like to invite groups to this garden. …

HLB

Zinkicide Could Help Manage HLB

Ernie NeffHLB Management

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher Evan Johnson reports that the product Zinkicide appears promising as a management tool for HLB. “Zinkicide is a zinc-based nanoparticle that is designed to become systemic inside the tree and has high bactericidal activity so that hopefully it can target Liberibacter,” Johnson says. Liberibacter is the causal agent of HLB. …

The Road to Recovery

Tacy Callieshurricane

Growers discuss lessons learned from Hurricane Irma, replanting plans, grove rehabilitation, crop insurance and more. By Tacy Callies Florida citrus growers awaiting Hurricane Irma federal aid and insurance payouts are doing their best to keep crops healthy until more money is available. Paul Meador, citrus grower and head of Everglades Harvesting & Hauling in LaBelle, took a big hit from …

citrus research

CRDF 2018 Funding Cycle Is in Full Swing

Tacy CalliesCitrus

Column sponsored by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) On April 24, the CRDF board of directors approved research priorities for two separate research funding programs. One is for projects that will lead directly to the development of commercial products, tools or recommendations (Commercial Product Development Committee, CPDC-18). The other is for projects with broader, fundamental researchable questions (Research …

HLB

Rucks on Citrus Varieties and Industry Recovery

Ernie NeffHLB Management, hurricane, Varieties

Phil Rucks of Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery weighs in on the increasing demand for late versus early orange varieties, the impact of Hurricane Irma and HLB. Rucks notes that over the past 30 years, the demand for early-season oranges versus late-season oranges has essentially reversed. In the past, he says, early varieties accounted for about 60 percent of plantings. Now, …

PIECES OF THE PAST: An Industry Acronym You Don’t Hear Every Day

Tacy CalliesCitrus, History

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I love scouring eBay and antique stores for citrus memorabilia because it’s always interesting to see how we, as an industry, used to do things “back in the day.” With that said, I recently came across an old ad from the Florida Citrus Processors Association for citrus pulp titled “Love at first bite because it’s highest …

Study Shows Economic Impact of Citrus in California

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner

The total economic impact of California’s citrus industry is $7.117 billion according to a new study commissioned by the Citrus Research Board (CRB). “In updating our economic analysis, we selected a well-known expert, Bruce Babcock, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside, to conduct the research. His findings quantified the significant impact …

aphis

Florida Citrus Forecast Sees Slight Decreases

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) on May 10 is 44.95 million boxes, down slightly from the April forecast of 45 million boxes. The total includes 18.95 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason and Navel varieties) and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The non-Valencia production forecast …

florida

Crafting Details of the Florida Citrus Hurricane Recovery Block Grant

Abbey Taylorhurricane

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $340 million block grant that will go toward Florida citrus growers for Hurricane Irma losses to production expected during the 2018 through 2020 crop years. It includes reimbursement for the cost of buying and planting replacement trees – including resetting and grove rehabilitation – and for repair of damages to …

Citrus Growers Needed for Survey Participation

Tacy CalliesEconomics

Ariel Singerman, University of Florida assistant professor, will be conducting his annual production cost survey for processed oranges grown in Southwest Florida. The survey will consist of grower meetings in two locations. The first meeting will take place on May 18 at 9:00 a.m. at the Hendry County Extension Office (Dallas Townsend Ag Center) in LaBelle. To confirm your participation in …

fresh

A Talk on the Fresh Side

Ernie NeffFresh

Greg Nelson, president of Egan Fruit Packing in Fort Pierce, Florida, summarizes the status of the fresh citrus industry and discusses opportunities for the future. “We’ve seen a slight decline in fresh orange consumption over the past 20 years, but a more significant, dramatic decline in fresh grapefruit consumption,” Nelson says. “But a lot of that is driven by lack …

Crime

Bloom Good, but Growers ‘Waiting on Pins and Needles’

Ernie NeffCrop Forecast

Citrus bloom has been good this year, but growers are anxious to see what fruit set will be this summer, says Highlands County grower Ned Hancock. “We were encouraged by the bloom,” Hancock says. “Everybody was scared after (Hurricane) Irma, (about) what would happen. We’re all kind of waiting on pins and needles to see what kind of crop we …

research

Committed to Clientele-Focused Leadership

Tacy CalliesNews from our Sponsor

By John Arthington Column sponsored by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation Hello. I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my new role at the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). As many of you are aware, Harold Browning retired as chief operations officer (COO) to pursue other opportunities in private industry. At that time, Larry Black …