COVID-19 Testing for Hendry County Farmworkers

Tacy CalliesCOVID-19

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced COVID-19 testing sites in Hendry County for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins. The announcement follows COVID-19 testing for farmworkers that was made available earlier this month in Miami Dade, Hillsborough and St. Lucie counties. Testing is made possible by a partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management and local county governments. …

Irrigation Problem Prevention

Tacy CalliesIrrigation, Tip of the Week

By Ajia Paolillo To keep your irrigation system running efficiently, it is important to perform routine maintenance throughout the year. There are many types of issues that can affect your irrigation system, causing it to run poorly. Poly tubing and emitters can become clogged. Emitters can be blocked by weeds or broken through normal wear and tear. When these issues …

OJ Sales at Pre-2017 Levels

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice, sales

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) reports that 100 percent Florida orange juice (OJ) sales finished strong for the 2019–20 season. FOR THE PERIODMarisa Zansler, FDOC director of economic and market research, gave an in-depth overview of the final Nielsen OJ Retail Sales Report for the 2019–20 season through the four-week period ending Sept. 26, 2020. She presented a summary …

Sallin Named Woman of the Year in Ag

Ernie NeffAwards

Veronique Sallin has been named the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced. The recognition is for women who have made exceptional contributions to Florida agriculture. Honorees come from throughout the agriculture community. “Ms. Sallin’s unique leadership, passion and commitment continue to influence and broaden markets …

USDA Finalizes Conservation Rule

Ernie NeffEnvironment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The rule makes updates to the program as directed by the 2018 farm bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others.  CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is …

Protecting Trees: Beyond CUPS and IPCs

Ernie NeffHLB Management

Many Florida citrus growers have been using individual protective covers (IPCs) for several years primarily to protect trees from HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP). Smaller but increasing numbers of growers are utilizing the more expensive citrus under protective screen (CUPS) system to protect trees from ACP and HLB. Recently, Fernando Alferez informed growers in a virtual presentation about some other …

CTV Technology Getting Closer to Growers

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, HLB Management

Including recent news about a peptide derived from finger limes, researchers have found many compounds over the last several years that could help growers manage or even fend off huanglongbing (HLB) disease. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Research Assistant Scientist Choaa El-Mohtar and his team have developed a new way to see how compounds can possibly …

Keeping Farmworkers Safe From COVID-19

Ernie NeffCOVID-19, Labor

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts are working with farmworkers to help keep them safe from COVID-19. The experts are connecting the farmworkers with COVID-19 free testing, safety information and training – a role they have been serving throughout the pandemic. Extension agents are partnering with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), …

FFVA Selects Emerging Leader Class

Ernie NeffEducation

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently announced the selection of 13 agriculture industry leaders for Class 10 of its Emerging Leader Development Program for the coming year. Class 10 members are: Sherri Atwell of Feeding Florida, Tallahassee Ariel Bauer of Hardee Fresh, Sebring Federico Boscolo of Cultiva Farms USA, Jennings Sasha Burgin of Burgin Farms, Wauchula Nathan Carson …

Sequencing Brings HLB Resistance Closer

Ernie NeffBreeding, Research

University of Florida (UF) scientists achieved a major milestone in their quest to develop an HLB-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a fruit plant that’s a close cousin to citrus trees. HLB is also known as greening disease. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers sequenced the genome from trifoliate orange, in collaboration with scientists from the University …

Phosphite Best for Algal Spot

Ernie NeffDiseases

Algal spot had rarely been seen in Florida groves until fairly recently, Megan Dewdney reported in a virtual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute presentation. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant pathologist said she started hearing from concerned orange growers within the past five years. Those growers told her that copper, the historical recommendation for the disease, …

Understanding the Fate and Persistence of Herbicides in Soils

Tacy CalliesHerbicides, soil

By Ramdas Kanissery, Rachel Fenn, Biwek Gairhe and Davie Kadyampakeni Chemical weed control, using herbicides to manage weeds, is an important production practice in citrus groves. Herbicides applied in groves can end up in the soils from direct spray hits, indirect or non-target spray movement (also known as drifts) or release from the dead weeds and vegetation. In soil, the …

H-2A Program Updates

Tacy CalliesLabor, Regulation

When the U.S. government announced its decision to suspend visa processing in Mexico on March 18 to combat the spread of COVID-19, growers around the country immediately expressed concerns that the action could have a major impact on agriculture and the U.S. food supply. The concern, of course, was due to the vital role that foreign workers play in the …

Indian River Variety Trial Attracts Visitors

Ernie NeffVarieties

Forty-nine growers and others participated in a self-guided, drive-through tour of the Millennium Block variety performance trial at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) on Oct. 9. “Several growers highlighted trees are off to a good start, and despite the fact they’re young, they could see clear differences,” said host and IRREC researcher Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi. Ferrarezi works …

HLB

Varieties and Rootstocks Reviewed

Ernie NeffRootstocks, Varieties

In his virtual Citrus Expo presentation, Jude Grosser reviewed varieties and rootstocks showing promise for productivity in the face of HLB. Grosser is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant breeder. His presentation was based on work done by him and fellow UF/IFAS researchers Bill Castle and Fred Gmitter. Grosser said UF/IFAS released OLL-20 “based …

irrigation

Irrigation Scheduling to Optimize Tree Performance

Tacy CalliesIrrigation, Tip of the Week

By Davie Kadyampakeni Proper irrigation scheduling applies an appropriate volume of water to a citrus grove at the appropriate time based on tree need, soil properties and weather conditions. Applying water in the right amount, right quantity and at the right time is very important for getting the best out of citrus trees. Several tools are available for determining when …

citrus crop

Prospects for the 2020–21 Growing Season

Tacy CalliesMarket

Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus director of economic and market research, gave an update on fresh citrus prospects for the 2020–21 growing season during the recent virtual citrus Packinghouse Day meeting. Florida fresh citrus movement increased during the 2019–20 season, which was largely attributed to increased production, Zansler said. In addition to increased production, COVID-19 concerns served to move …

Maintaining Orange Juice Momentum

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) normally launches minimal programs during the first quarter of the fiscal year and instead focuses on strategic planning. This year, though, in order to continue to build upon the momentum of 2019-20, the FDOC and its advertising agency, Edible, launched a robust campaign to drive sales of 100 percent orange juice (OJ) at retail. …

Is Parson Brown the Better Early Orange?

Ernie NeffVarieties

The old Parson Brown sweet orange variety is showing some characteristics that could make it more attractive than Hamlin, which has long been Florida’s leading early-season orange. “Observations made in commercial blocks in Polk and neighboring counties illustrate an improved canopy density, improved mature fruit retention and higher yields in the early-maturing Parson Brown sweet orange when compared to adjacent …