Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) provided additional information about the issue of low Brix oranges in its Nov. 19 Triangle newsletter. It reported that Florida growers and processors “are bracing for another season of low Brix oranges.” Earlier this year, FCM sought enforcement discretion regarding Brix in pasteurized orange juice, not from concentrate (NFC), from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) with the …
Farm Stress Help for Florida
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out a new Farm Stress Awareness and Reduction Initiative in Florida. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the grant on Nov. 3, National Stress Awareness Day. With the grant, FDACS will launch an outreach campaign to …
Workshop Provides Black Spot Advice
Information to help growers find and control citrus black spot (CBS), as well as CBS regulatory procedures, were provided in an Oct. 26 training workshop in Arcadia. The workshop was hosted by multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant pathologist Megan Dewdney discussed the pest’s lifecycle, potential spread due to …
Updates From the Citrus Health Response Program
Callie Walker, chief of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control, recently provided an update on the Citrus Health Response Program. Topics she addressed include trip tickets, personnel and the citrus inspection database. Walker recommended reiterating to harvesters about the importance of trip tickets being filled out completely and accurately. Those with …
Brix Decision Disappoints Florida Citrus Mutual
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not agree with Florida Citrus Mutual’s (FCM) request for discretion in enforcing the Brix limit for not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice. In its Oct. 22 Triangle newsletter, FCM reported that it had sought enforcement discretion “to protect growers from the likely contingency that Florida’s 2021-22 orange crop may not meet FDA’s minimum Brix …
The Past and Potential of Parson Brown
By Gary K. England and Manjul Dutt The Parson Brown is an early-season sweet orange that was identified in 1875 by J.L. Carney and named the Carney Parson Brown (CPB). In a 1923 article titled ‘History of the Parson Brown Orange,’ E.L. Carney described how his brother Capt. J.L. Carney sought a sweet orange of acceptable quality for budding onto …
HLB: The Problem for Processors
Many stories have been written about the woes HLB disease has caused Florida’s citrus growers; fewer have been written about the problems HLB causes Florida citrus processors. Kristen Carlson presented the processors’ side of the story during the recent International Citrus & Beverage Conference hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Carlson is executive director …
Florida Citrus BMPs: Update and Suggestions
Work on finalizing a newly revised citrus best management practices (BMPs) manual has slowed, and that’s a good thing, according to Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA) Executive Director Ray Royce. In a recent HCCGA newsletter article, he stated that a number of issues, especially related to nutrient management and application efficiency, need to be better understood. “It is the …
Kaolin Helps With ACP and HLB
According to researchers in Florida and California, kaolin clay, especially red kaolin, aids in the management of Asian citrus pysllids (ACP) and the HLB they spread, among other attributes. Christopher Vincent of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Monique Rivera of the University of California at Riverside recently presented a webinar about kaolin. The University …
Before You Spray
By Matt Smith Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. We often think about pesticide safety and best management practices when we are in the field spraying. You’re outside, you’re …
Farmworker Advisory Council Created
A Farmworker Advisory Council was recently created under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). According to FDACS, a previous statewide farmworker advisory council was established in 1979 but later disbanded. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried announced the creation of the council at a press conference at Tamiami Park in Miami. She was joined by Óscar Londoño of WeCount!, Susana …
Change in Grove Practices Leads to Award
Brad Turner has worked in Florida citrus more than 40 years as a grower, production manager, caretaker and nursery owner. For most of that time, he focused on using synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides as the necessary inputs for citrus management. But a change in the way he thought citrus should be grown led to him being named a …
Grower BMP Concerns
Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA) Executive Director Ray Royce recently discussed grower concerns about Florida’s Best Management Practices (BMP) program. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) runs the program. According to Royce, growers are concerned about the BMP implementation, verification audits, some of the information they’ve been asked for by the FDACS staff and what may …
BMPs Give Growers Less Peace of Mind
Editor’s note: A correction has been made to this article. It previously stated that “UF/IFAS’ current highest recommendation for phosphorus on citrus is 16 pounds per 100 pounds of fruit per acre annually if soil tests and tissue samples indicate insufficient phosphorus content.” The information has been corrected to 16 pounds per 100 boxes. For years, participation in Florida’s Best …
Fruit Fly Pests of Florida Citrus
Exotic fruit flies are considered some of the most serious of the world’s agricultural pests due to their potential economic harm and threat to the food supply. They have a wide host range of fruit, vegetables and nuts. Most of Florida’s crops fall within the host range, including the fragile citrus industry. For this reason, it’s imperative to act quickly …
Florida’s Aldicarb Decision Challenged
Amid arguments about the troubled citrus industry and the health of farmworkers, a chemical company is challenging a state decision to block aldicarb, a pesticide that could help fight citrus greening disease. AgLogic Chemical, LLC filed an administrative challenge on May 11, about three weeks after the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) denied an application to use …
Aldicarb Denial Disappoints Associations
Two Florida citrus grower associations expressed disappointment over the recent Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) decision to deny the use of the pesticide aldicarb in Florida citrus. “We are frustrated in the decision as we believe aldicarb will provide a powerful tool in the fight against citrus greening and can be used safely,” said Florida Citrus Mutual …
Grower Views Differ on Aldicarb Denial
Two growers expressed different views about the recent decision to deny the use of the pesticide aldicarb in Florida citrus. The denial was made by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). One termed the decision “disappointing.” The other referred to it as a “a blessing.” “It is disappointing to lose any tool that would strengthen our existing …
Aldicarb Registration Denied for Florida Citrus
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) denied AgLogic Chemical LLC’s state pesticide registration application for the pesticide aldicarb on citrus crops in the state of Florida. Aldicarb is an N-methyl carbamate insecticide primarily used as a nematicide. Responsible for the worst known outbreak of pesticide poisoning in North America, aldicarb is one of 28 active pesticide ingredients …
Florida Water Policies for Agriculture
Water is the lifeblood of any farming operation. Many involved in the agriculture sector are working to do all they can to help Florida conserve water and make the most of this essential natural resource. Tatiana Borisova, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) water resource economist, gave an overview of the water-quality policies and programs in …