Long-Term Rootstock Evaluation Is Best

Ernie NeffRootstocks

A variety of different findings in recent rootstock trials led to a conclusion that long-term evaluation of rootstocks is necessary to assess economic benefits to growers. That conclusion was part of a take-home message in Ute Albrecht’s virtual Citrus Expo presentation. Albrecht is a researcher with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Her report was …

McKown, Stitt to Join Ag Hall of Fame

Ernie NeffAwards

Two people who had major impacts on Florida citrus, Bobby McKown and John Stitt, are among four who will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2021. They will be inducted at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 16. McKown spent his career championing and defending Florida agriculture and the Florida citrus …

Marketing North Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffMarketing

North Florida growers have planted several citrus groves in recent years. “A lot of those groves are starting to become productive,” Kevin Athearn said during a Sept. 23 Cold Hardy Citrus Association annual meeting, held virtually. Athearn, a regional specialized Extension agent, familiarized new citrus growers with some citrus terminology and suggested possible marketing strategies. “It’s important that we all …

fresh

Orange Juice Import Impacts

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Economist Tom Spreen discussed the impact of imports in the United States orange juice (OJ) market at the Sept. 16 Florida Citrus Commission meeting. Spreen is retired from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Spreen’s analysis began with increased imports in 2017 after Hurricane Irma struck Florida. Largely as a result of the storm, nearly 24 …

orange

Fight Phytophthora Root Rot in Citrus

Josh McGillSponsored Content

Citrus growers need every available tool to fight disease, reduce tree stress and keep groves healthy against Phytophthora root rot. According to the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), Phytophthora root rot is one of the most important diseases threatening citrus yield. This disease can be caused by different species within the genus Phytophthora, a water mold in the …

scott

New Guide to USDA Disaster Programs

Ernie NeffIndustry News Release

To better assist agricultural producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a new brochure, Disaster Assistance Programs at a Glance. The brochure is a quick reference guide to available Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) assistance programs. The guide gives a short description of each program and lets growers quickly …

CRDF Defers Project Funding

Ernie NeffResearch

Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) directors on Sept. 22 had a lengthy discussion about a nutrition research proposal from Rhuanito (Johnny) Ferrarezi. Ferrarezi is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor at the Indian River Research and Education Center. Because of budgetary concerns expressed by CRDF, Ferrarezi cut $158,000 from his original proposed project …

agricultural engineer

Guzmán Honored for Irrigation Work

Ernie NeffAwards

Precision irrigation scientist Sandra Guzmán was recently named a 2020 Outstanding Young Extension Worker by the Florida Section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Guzmán is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher with expertise in artificial intelligence for water management. She works at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center …

Sneak Peek: October 2020 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

Get the dirt on soil in the October 2020 issue of Citrus Industry magazine! Soil is not the most glamorous subject, but it’s one that seems to be getting more attention in the citrus industry lately. As citrus growers work to keep trees productive in the HLB era, they are implementing practices to improve soil health. Providing roots with a …

PIECES OF THE PAST: How to Manage a New Grove — in 1928

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was looking for inspiration for this month’s column and was trying to tie it in with this issue’s focus, which is grove management. Lo and behold, I came across a 44-page booklet I had tucked away called the “Book of Truth for Planters of New Groves” by Ocklawaha Nurseries, Inc. of Lake Jem, Florida. The …

citrus greening

Use More Micronutrients for HLB

Ernie NeffNutrition

HLB-affected citrus trees benefit from micronutrients at higher-than-recommended rates, Tripti Vashisth reported in a virtual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute presentation. Vashisth, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher, said that a 20 percent higher-than-recommended rate of micronutrients can improve productivity in trees with HLB. The Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute is normally held in Avon Park in …

chemicals

Needle-Assisted Trunk Infusion for Trees

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

With the devastating impacts of HLB on the citrus industry, growers are seeking alternative solutions to reduce Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (the bacteria that causes HLB) levels in trees and prevent disease-induced decline. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are developing an automated method for delivering therapeutic liquid materials into the vascular tissue of citrus …

Benefits of Biological Fungicides for Citrus Production

Josh McGillSponsored Content

Since many of the regions where citrus trees grow have warm, humid climates, bacterial and fungal diseases can easily run rampant. Preventative methods are the best way to control diseases in citrus, because if problems occur once new leaves, shoots and fruit are developing, it is likely too late to stop the disease during that growing season. Growers can use …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, September 2020

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, Sponsored Content

National recognition, new findings on black spot control, and research on antimicrobial peptides highlight the September episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Citrus Research and Education Center Director Michael Rogers starts the episode with the announcement that the University of Florida was ranked in the top 10 of U.S. News and World Report’s Top Public Schools list. Rogers …

Peptide Could Restore Florida Citrus

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

CghSAMPa, the peptide found in the fruit of greening-tolerant Australian finger limes, is believed to be the first substance capable of controlling huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening). University of California, Riverside and Invaio Sciences, Inc. have partnered to advance the peptide research with hopes of bringing an HLB solution to commercialization by 2023. During a recent seminar hosted …

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Reduced

Ernie NeffPests

Federal and Texas regulators on Aug. 25 removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine area in Harlingen, Texas. Harlingen is in Cameron County. Dale Murden, a grower and president of Texas Citrus Mutual, said only 550 acres of Texas citrus remain under quarantine out of a state total of approximately 27,000 acres of citrus. “So we are happy about that,” …

CCM Supports Plan to Address Imports

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Trade

On Sept. 10, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) commended the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) for the actions they recently announced to address the injury caused by increased imports of seasonal and perishable products. The federal Report on Seasonal and Perishable Products in U.S. Commerce was announced earlier this …

Row-Middle Weed Management Methods

Tacy Calliesweeds

By Ramdas Kanissery, Miurel Brewer, Davie Kadyampakeni and Sarah Strauss Florida growers face problems with weeds throughout the year due to favorable weather conditions that allow rapid proliferation and lush growth of weeds in groves. While a weed-free tree row is desired to minimize competition with citrus, it is also essential to manage the weeds or vegetation in the row …

HLB

Genetics and Nutrition Are the ‘Way Forward’

Ernie NeffNutrition

“The combination of improved scion/rootstock genetics and optimized nutrition is clearly the way forward” for Florida’s HLB-stricken citrus industry, Jude Grosser declared in a Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute virtual presentation. Grosser is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant breeder. The Growers’ Institute is normally held in April but was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. …

HLB Solution Could Be Available in Three Years

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

University of California, Riverside (UCR) scientist Hailing Jin believes she has found a substance capable of controlling the deadly citrus greening disease known as huanglongbing (HLB). The potential cure Jin discovered is a peptide found in the fruit of greening-tolerant Australian finger limes, which have been consumed by humans for hundreds of years. Invaio Sciences, Inc., a multi-platform technology company …