The use of canines or “sniffer dogs” is again being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for early detection of HLB-infected trees. Through the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) program, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has invested millions of dollars in the research and training of detector canines for finding HLB-positive trees. A recent full-day meeting in …
New Planting Options for Citrus Growers
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 …
Sneak Peek: August 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
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 …
Final Citrus Forecast of the 2017-18 Season
The 2017-2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Florida citrus forecast for July is unchanged from June. The all-orange forecast remains at 45 million boxes. The total is comprised of 19 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. All-Florida grapefruit production is unchanged at 3.88 million boxes. Of the total grapefruit …
Inside Spain’s Citrus Industry
By Steve Futch and Ariel Singerman Editor’s note: The authors share what they learned while touring Spain’s citrus industry in March of 2017. Spain is the leading citrus producer in the European Union (EU) with approximately 300,000 acres that yield about 21 million boxes. FOCUS ON FRESH Production is primarily focused on the fresh market, with much fruit exported to …
Sneak Peek: July 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
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 …
Certis for Citrus Program Helps Fund Fight Against HLB
The biopesticide company, Certis USA, presented the non-profit Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (CRDF) with a check for $20,000 to help fund research projects in an effort to find a cure for huanglongbing (HLB; citrus greening). The presentation was made during the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference that took place at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa. …
Researchers Find How HLB Bypasses Citrus Immune System
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) claim they have made an important step in understanding the molecular mechanism of huanglongbing (HLB). They believe they have found the mechanism by which the disease evades detection and destruction by the natural immune system of citrus trees. HLB, or citrus greening disease, has devastated groves in Asia, South America and the …
Sneak Peek: May 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
Emerging biogenetic technologies are explored in two articles in the May issue of Citrus Industry magazine. University of Florida researchers discuss the tools they are using to try to win the battle against HLB. The first article takes a look at how scientists are experimenting with handheld gene guns and the citrus tristeza virus vector in order to improve citrus …
Modern Irrigation Methods Save California’s Resources
By Len Wilcox California’s consistent sunshine makes for long growing seasons and allows tremendous varieties of foods to be grown, but it isn’t a perfect environment. Chronic water shortages create challenges for everything except cactus grown for tequila or jelly — but not many growers specialize in that. The rest of them, including citrus growers, have to deal with water …
Florida Citrus Forecast: Oranges Hold Steady, Grapefruit Tumbles
The 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released on April 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is 45 million boxes, unchanged from the March forecast. The total includes 19 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges and 26 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The Row Count survey, conducted March 27-28, showed 99 percent of the early-midseason rows …
Sneak Peek: April 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
Water is a key ingredient in achieving a healthy citrus crop, but too little or too much can be detrimental. Two articles in the April issue of Citrus Industry magazine address irrigation management. In the first article, growers will learn about irrigation scheduling methods and get production pointers for trees impacted by HLB and Hurricane Irma. The second article looks …
Citrus Growers in Waiting Game for Hurricane Aid
Frustration is growing among Florida citrus growers awaiting the distribution of $2.36 billion in federal disaster-relief money for agriculture losses sustained in Hurricane Irma. “We’re still waiting, maybe not as patiently as we were to start with,” Florida Citrus Commission Chairman G. Ellis Hunt said Wednesday. President Donald Trump signed the disaster-relief package in February, five months after Hurricane Irma …
Citrus Industry Priorities for the Next Farm Bill
Crop insurance fixes and the continuation of research funding are top priorities for the citrus industry when it comes to developing the new farm bill. Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy with the United Fresh Produce Association, recently discussed these issues with AgNet Media Founder and President Gary Cooper. They spoke during the recent Crop Insurance Industry Convention …
California Judge Stops CDFA Pest Control Spraying
A California Superior Court judge has ordered the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to temporarily stop spraying pesticides for agricultural pest control. The judge decided in favor of a lawsuit filed by 11 environmental activist groups and the city of Berkeley. Private citizens will still be able to use chemical insecticides on their property, but the order requires …
California Researchers Work Toward Early HLB Detection
Although the Florida and California citrus industries may differ, they are both vulnerable to citrus greening disease. The brightest minds from both states are working to detect, manage and control this devastating disease. Most recently, University of California researchers have been working to find methods for early detection of huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease. AgNet West’s Taylor Hillman has …
HLB Conference to Be Held in California
The sixth International Research Conference on Huanglongbing (IRCHLB VI) will be held in California. The conference has been scheduled for March 12-16, 2019, at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside. This is the first time the conference will be held in California. Sponsored by the California Citrus Research Board (CRB) with the support of California’s citrus industry partners, the gathering …
Sneak Peek: March 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine
By Tacy Callies Citrus growers and researchers alike are learning more about the role intensive nutrition management plays in keeping HLB-infected trees productive. The March issue of Citrus Industry magazine provides two features on nutrition management. The first is a foliar nutrition research update from a team of University of Florida scientists. The article offers a summary of results on …
California Watershed Order Revised
The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) recently adopted significant revisions to the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed Agricultural Order. The order will impact all irrigated regulatory programs statewide, including those that do not currently operate with a coalition system as in the Central Valley. Two years ago, the SWRCB released the first draft of revisions to the order …
Tools for Integrated Management of Citrus Psyllids and Leafminers
By Jawwad A. Qureshi, Philip A. Stansly and Lukasz L. Stelinski Pest management has always been important for citrus production in Florida. It has become even more critical following invasion of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and citrus leafminer (CLM), due to their association with huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening) and canker diseases, respectively. ACP and CLM develop and reproduce …





























