The University of Florida honored College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) alumnus Michael Joyner (Bachelor of Science, 1986) with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the agriculture industry and his dedication to serving the university. Throughout his career, Joyner has made a lasting impact on the lives of agriculturists, shaping policies and initiatives …
Indian River State College Students Help Decode Asian Citrus Psyllid Genome
A groundbreaking research collaboration led, in part, by Indian River State College Professor Tom D’Elia, has resulted in the successful annotation of the Asian citrus psyllid genome. This marks a significant advancement in the fight against citrus greening disease. The research, published in GigaScience, represents an achievement in both scientific discovery and undergraduate education, featuring 28 Indian River State College …
Florida Land Protection Program Accepting Applications
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced the opening of an application cycle for landowners to apply to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program partners with farmers and ranchers through rural lands protection easements to preserve working agricultural operations. Landowners can submit applications online through Jan 29, 2025. FDACS will then review the applications …
Two New Early-Season Sweet Oranges for Florida Growers
By Manjul Dutt, Sheetal Ramekar and Gary England Developing new citrus cultivars, whether through conventional breeding or genetic engineering methods like transgenics or CRISPR is potentially the most viable long-term strategy to combat huanglongbing (HLB). Identifying potential survivor trees — citrus trees that exhibit disease tolerance in areas with endemic HLB — can also serve as a useful strategy for …
Improved Cost-Share Opportunities for Implementing Florida BMPs
There have been some changes and new opportunities for growers to benefit from a cost-share program available from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP). We asked John “JP” Fraites to provide some insights on what the OAWP does and the cost-share program. First, what is your role with FDACS? FRAITES: As …
Problematic Diseases Following Hurricanes
Hurricanes bring immediate tree damage from high winds and torrential rainfall, but storms also can lay the groundwork for citrus disease problems. Soon after Hurricane Milton passed through citrus-growing regions, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a webinar that covered various topics including post-storm disease management. CANKER Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant …
Florida Pesticide Examination Process Changing
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently announced changes to the Florida pesticide examination process. It noted that pesticide applicators often rely on UF/IFAS Extension to obtain pesticide education, training and support, and to take their respective exams. All 67 county offices have historically offered free exams, through paper or using a computer. The changes …
How Produce Safety Rule Changes Will Impact Your Operation
By Taylor O’Bannon, Clara Diekman and Michelle Danyluk In July 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized changes to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Subpart E, which covers preharvest agricultural water. Since then, the clock has been ticking on farms’ implementation of the rule changes. Large farms have nine months after the effective date to …
New BMP Cost-Share Application Launched
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Water Policy (FDACS OAWP) recently announced updates to the Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost Share Program. A new application portal is now open. Applications can be submitted directly via smartphone or computer. Learn more about the BMP Program, including how to request project funding, here. There are now clearer …
Milton Ag Losses May Be as High as $2.5 Billion
Preliminary crop and infrastructure losses from Hurricane Milton are estimated between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) reported the preliminary estimate a week after Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 near Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 hurricane. The information in the FDACS document, Preliminary Estimates of Damage to …
Hurricane Milton Added to Loan Program
Eligible Florida farmers, ranchers and growers impacted by Hurricane Milton can apply for low-interest or interest-free loans of up to $500,000, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced. Impacted agricultural producers can learn more and apply here for the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Loans may be used to restore, repair or replace …
Hurricane Milton: Assessing and Reporting Losses and Damages
The University of Florida Institute of Food And Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program is deploying a survey to assess the agricultural impacts of Hurricane Milton. Once it is safe to do so and immediate needs are met, Florida’s agricultural producers are encouraged to complete the following steps related to assessing and reporting agricultural losses and damages: This UF/IFAS survey is …
Hurricane Milton Resources
Hurricane Milton is currently expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. It will likely impact a large portion of the state. In anticipation of the hurricane and its aftermath, Florida Citrus Mutual has canceled its crop estimate luncheon that was scheduled for Oct. 11 in Zolfo …
Florida Ag Eligible for Loans After Hurricane Helene
Florida farmers, ranchers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers can use loans to restore, repair or replace essential physical property — including fences, equipment, greenhouses and other buildings — or to remove vegetative debris. The loan availability was announced …
Update on Efforts to Lower Required OJ Brix Level
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and federal lawmakers from Florida are pushing legislation that would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required Brix level of not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The change has been requested because many Florida oranges no longer produce juice that meets the 10.5% Brix requirement. FCM Chief …
Citrus Nutrient Management Recommendations Continue to Evolve
When HLB arrived in Florida, it changed the world for citrus growers, and a lot of other things had to change with it. One of the biggest changes has been how growers manage their fertilizer programs. The nutrient recommendations that had been developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) before HLB became outdated because …
Assistance Available for Compliance With Revised Ag Water Rule
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a final rule that revises pre-harvest agricultural water provisions in the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. It replaces the previous microbial quality criteria and testing requirements with systems-based, pre-harvest agricultural water assessments. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is committed to providing support for farms that …
Symposium Unites Growers and Ag Industry Professionals
The second annual Growing Together Symposium was hosted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in early August. The event was a forum for growers and agricultural industry professionals to learn about various business-related topics. Center director Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski welcomed attendees and noted the Apopka, Florida, facility is continuing its …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Strong Support for Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers
By Peter Chaires The citrus research program at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) includes several projects aimed at assisting growers in the cold-hardy citrus region. Let’s take a look at what researchers are working on. EVALUATING SCIONS AND ROOTSTOCKS Presently, the citrus industry in North Florida faces …
ReMedium TI Receives Exemption From Two-Year Restriction on Applications
ReMedium TI® has received a special local need label from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services (FDACS). The label will remove the requirement that applications to treat citrus greening (HLB) cannot be made beyond two years in a row. For Florida citrus growers, this means those who have applied ReMedium TI® over the past two seasons now will …