chemicals

Testing Prototypes to Get HLB Therapeutics into Trees

Ashley RobinsonHLB Management, Research

Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are working on automated systems that deliver HLB therapeutics into the citrus tree’s phloem, where the materials are most effective. The project, “Development of an automated delivery system for therapeutic materials to treat HLB-infected citrus,” is in its third year. Ozgur Batuman, project director and UF/IFAS citrus …

Citrus Science Site Features Podcasts

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

Are you interested in learning more about the citrus industry’s ongoing fight to save citrus from huanglongbing (HLB) disease? Visit the Science for Citrus Health website for access to relevant and up-to-date information about control, treatment and prevention methods. The website also includes a collection of reader-friendly Research Snapshots about the new, cutting-edge tools and methods being developed by researchers …

Brazilian

Fundecitrus to Evaluate Peptide

Ernie NeffHLB Management

Invaio Sciences, Inc. recently announced an agreement with Brazil’s Fundecitrus to evaluate the use of a natural peptide to control HLB in Brazil. The agreement will leverage Fundecitrus’ expertise in citrus grove and pest management to evaluate application details of the novel peptide maSAMP in locally relevant conditions. The peptide was developed by Hailing Jin of the University of California Riverside. …

FDOC Reveals Preliminary Budget

Ernie NeffFlorida Department of Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) on May 26 presented a preliminary 2021-22 operating budget of $18.095 million to its governing board, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). That is a 7% decrease from the previous season. The reduction reflects an expected reduction in crop size. Preliminary revenue is based on an estimate of 50 million boxes of Florida oranges, 4.2 …

Keep Current With MRLs for Exports

Tacy CalliesExport, Tip of the Week

By Mark A. Ritenour The United States and other countries set maximum residue limits (MRLs) on fresh produce for various chemicals, including pesticides that might be used before or after harvest. These materials must be labeled for use on the crop of interest and used only according to label instructions. While it is unlikely for U.S. MRLs to be exceeded …

CRDF Conducts Review and Aids CRAFT

Ernie NeffCRDF

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation’s (CRDF) governing board on May 25 suggested ways the agency and its chief operating officer (COO) could improve. The board also discussed operations it is happy with. “Overall, it (the board’s review) was complimentary,” said the COO, Rick Dantzler. On the room for improvement side, the board suggested “that we needed to have a …

Sneak Peek: June 2021 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

There is no arguing that citrus greening has been the biggest change to the industry in the past 16 years. The disease is causing growers to do things differently. Researchers are helping growers adapt to change and find new solutions. Some of this research can be found in the June issue of Citrus Industry. FRUIT DROPOne of the problems exacerbated …

Researchers and Growers Partner in Science

Ernie NeffResearch

Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have conducted scientific studies in groves owned by grower cooperators around the state for many decades. UF/IFAS’ Michael Rogers refers to these researcher/grower relationships as “partnerships” and discusses their value. Rogers is director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred. “These researcher/grower partnerships, …

Monitoring Citrus Root Weevils

Tacy CalliesPests, Tip of the Week

By Larry Duncan Soilborne larvae that feed on citrus roots are the damaging life stage of Diaprepes abbreviatus and Pachnaeus spp. (bluegreen) root weevils. Newly developed adult weevils, which emerge throughout the warm months of the year, also occur in soil.  A peak emergence of adults occurs at some point each spring or early summer. Less frequently, a smaller emergence …

How to Build Consumer Trust

Ashley RobinsonMarketing

Consumer trust in the food and beverage industry has decreased drastically, despite surging at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer: Trust and the Food and Beverage Sector uncovers a 12-point decline in trust globally, the largest of any sector measured, following a major surge last spring. “People had high hopes and had real connections with …

Advances in Therapeutics for HLB Control

Ashley RobinsonHLB Management, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is examining different ways to deliver therapeutics to citrus trees for management of citrus greening disease, also know an huanglongbing (HLB). The hope of the USDA initiative is to establish an HLB-therapeutic molecule and identify the most cost-effective strategy to deliver these molecules to growers. The project is in collaboration with the University of …

Optimizing Irrigation and Young Tree Management

Tacy CalliesIrrigation

By Davie Kadyampakeni and Sandra Guzmán Young citrus trees require optimal irrigation management for vigorous vegetative growth, leaf flushing and the establishment of a dense canopy. Poor practices such as infrequent irrigation or not using irrigation scheduling tools could be costly. Young tree growth also could be impacted by excessive water and nutrient losses. Crop water stress in young trees …

labor

Migrant Housing Project Rejected

Ashley RobinsonLabor

In a 3-2 vote, the St. Lucie County Commission on May 4 denied a proposal by Happy Foods LLC for a conditional use to construct housing for up to 96 migrant citrus grove laborers. Happy Foods LLC, a subsidiary of IMG Citrus, proposed four 2,930-square-foot dormitory-style buildings on 7.7 acres on Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce. It would have been …

Agriculture Group Addresses Climate Change

Ashley RobinsonEnvironment, Land

Florida agricultural leaders launched an initiative to identify and implement climate-smart agriculture solutions and ecosystem services that benefit the public, producers and the planet. The Florida Climate Smart Agriculture (FLCSA) Work Group is the collaborative effort of Solutions from the Land (SfL) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The multi-stakeholder effort is led by …

Technology for Early HLB Diagnosis

Ernie NeffTechnology

Penn State and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have used cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas technology to develop a diagnostic test that could enable early diagnosis of huanglongbing (HLB). In a study newly published in the journal Phytopathology, the researchers demonstrated that the new test can detect the presence of the HLB causal agent — the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) — …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, May 2021

Taylor HillmanAll In For Citrus Podcast, Sponsored Content

It takes strong partnerships between the citrus industry and researchers to make advancements toward issues facing growers. This month’s All In For Citrus podcast details the importance of those partnerships, highlighting one special relationship that has been critical to variety development. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center Director Michael Rogers begins …

snacking

Promoting Orange Juice for Hydration

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

It may not officially be summer yet, but with temperatures heating up, Steve Johnson, chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, has a reminder about the value of drinking orange juice (OJ) for hydration. “A glass of orange juice is a great hydration option in addition to water since it naturally contains a high percentage of water — almost 90%, says …

Grower: Production Dips, but Still Profitable

Ernie NeffProduction

Hardee County, Florida, orange grower Kenny Sanders saw his orange production dip in the 2020-21 season compared to the prior year. However, he still made a good profit, thanks to strong fruit prices. “I went down from 400 boxes an acre to 308 boxes, which I can live with, but it’s not as nice,” Sanders said. “We had a good …