citrus greening

HLB Found in California Citrus Birthplace

Abbey TaylorCalifornia Corner, Citrus Greening

A citrus tree in the city of Riverside tested positive for huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The detection is the first case of HLB found in a major citrus-producing county and the most northern in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the detection of HLB disease in a sample taken from a grapefruit tree located in a Riverside …

Capitol building

California Budget Adds Funds to Fight HLB

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Legislative

California is adding funds to help the fight against HLB. Governor Brown signed the 2017 Budget Act this week, which authorizes $10 million to fight the spread of the invasive Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) insect and the deadly and incurable plant disease it can carry, huanglongbing (HLB). “California Citrus Mutual applauds Governor Brown and members of the California Legislature for …

California’s Pesticide Worker Laws Updated

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Citrus, Regulation

By Len Wilcox Effective January 1, California updated its pesticide worker safety standards to comply with the new federal Worker Protection Standard. The update addressed re-entry to application exclusion zones, fieldworker training, new posting requirements, eyewash equipment and hazard communication. It also made other refinements to the state’s existing standards. Bill Griffin, pesticide supervisor for the Fresno County Agriculture Commissioner, …

Capitol building

California to Increase Citrus Grower Fees

Len WilcoxLegislative

The California State Assembly approved a bill that will allow the citrus industry to increase fees to provide funds for activities to protect residential and commercial citrus trees from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the deadly huanglongbing (HLB) plant disease it can carry. SB 243 by Senator Galgiani (Stockton) allows for an additional $9.6 million in grower assessments to …

acp

New Case of HLB Found in Southern California

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Psyllids

Huanglongbing (HLB) was confirmed in a single citrus tree in the city of La Habra in Orange County, California, on April 11, 2017. This new find will result in a new HLB quarantine area, which will link the existing quarantines into a contiguous zone spanning portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Additionally, two samples of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) …

California Tarping Regulations Delayed

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Regulation

A new tarping regulation for citrus loads was put on hold by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Ag leaders say the industry should still make plans to comply, since the rules will soon be enforced. An enforcement date has not been announced, but could come as soon as April 1. The new regulation, which was supposed to …

endophytes

Orange Forecast Drops for Florida and California

Taylor HillmanCitrus, Crop Forecast

The citrus crop forecast, delivered by Mark Hudson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service in Washington, D.C., showed a 4 percent drop in Florida oranges and a 2 percent drop in California oranges. In total, the U.S. all-orange forecast for the 2016-2017 season dropped 3 percent from last month and is down 13 percent from …

citrus crop forecast

Citrus Pest Concerns California Industry

Daniel CooperCitrus, HLB Management, Industry News Release

California recently passed a state law designed to combat the spread of an Asian citrus pest. All citrus loads transported through California now must be covered, no matter where it’s coming from or where it’s headed. Sponsored ContentTake the Sting Out of Fire AntsApril 1, 2026Take the Sting Out of Fire AntsMarch 6, 2026Grower Results With ReMedium TI® Mirror Researcher …

California Citrus Challenges: Water Tops HLB

Josh McGillCitrus

Asian citrus psyllids are detected sporadically in the San Joaquin Valley — home to most California oranges and mandarins — and are endemic in Southern California lemon country. But as far as anyone knows, the pests that spread HLB in Florida and Texas have not spread the disease into California’s commercial citrus groves. California HLB detections have been limited to 17 …

leader

Leadership Program Offers Opportunities for Young Ag Professionals

Daniel CooperEducation

The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation is seeking applicants for Class 16 of the Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP). Designed for professionals ages 25 to 40, the program has graduated more than 160 participants since 2011. Its purpose is to develop leaders to be strong advocates for Florida agriculture. Through immersive sessions and direct exposure to the industry’s top leaders, participants …

fruit fly

Fruit Fly Quarantine Updates

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and state agriculture officials recently updated fruit fly quarantines in California and Texas. CALIFORNIA: ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY (OFF) On March 23, APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) removed the OFF quarantine in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, designated the Jurupa Valley quarantine. This …

robot

Irrigation Robot Aims for ‘More Crop per Drop’

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Irrigation, Technology

Water management is a major challenge facing agriculture in California and other dry regions. A new University of California Riverside (UCR) system can map soil moisture tree by tree, so growers water only where and when it’s needed. The system, detailed in the journal Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, is the work of Elia Scudiero’s research group. Scudiero is associate …

Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual Reports on Washington Visit

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Mutual

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), reported on a recent trip that he, FCM President Kevin Koppleman and other FCM staff members made to Washington, D.C. Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation Executive Director Steven Hall accompanied the group. During their visit, the National Citrus Council convened to discuss challenges facing citrus. …

Forecast Projects Increased Florida Citrus Crops

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

Despite a winter freeze in Florida that many thought would reduce the citrus crop, the April 9 federal citrus forecast increased production estimates for all Florida varieties. The forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) also included forecasts for other U.S. citrus-producing states. FLORIDAThe new orange forecast for Florida is 12.2 million boxes, up …

crdf

CRDF Board Funds More Research Projects

Daniel CooperCRDF, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors held a lengthy discussion about the upcoming merger with the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation during its March meeting. Then the board considered research projects and funded four of them. A project by Hailing Jin of the University of California Riverside will test trees in Florida which contain …

sweet orange scab

Sweet Orange Scab and HLB Quarantines Updated

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

Agriculture officials announced the expansion of the sweet orange scab (SOS) quarantine and establishment of a new HLB quarantine area, both in California. SWEET ORANGE SCAB On March 11, the quarantine area for SOS in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles County was expanded by 80 square miles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service …

global

Global Grapefruit and Lemon/Lime Projections

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report — Citrus: World Markets and Trade — included global fresh grapefruit and fresh lemon/lime projections for 2025–26.  GRAPEFRUIT UP Global fresh grapefruit production is forecast up 2% to 7 million tons on larger crops in China, the United States and the European Union (EU). China production is forecast …

Global

Global Tangerine/Mandarin Projections

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report — Citrus: World Markets and Trade — included global tangerine/mandarin projections for 2025–26.  Global fresh tangerine/mandarin production is forecast up less than 1% to 38.4 million tons. Larger crops in China, Turkey, Morocco, South Africa and Japan more than offset smaller European Union (EU) and U.S. harvests. Processing …

plan

Georgia Needs Management Plan for Citrus Greening

Daniel CooperGeorgia, HLB Management

Citrus greening disease has yet to find its footing in Georgia’s commercial citrus. But if it does, Georgia’s growers need a plan in place to manage the disease. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA), emphasized that message during last week’s GCA annual meeting in Tifton. “There is a very small amount of the disease in commercial …