Transitioning the Farm to the Next Generation

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Economics

By Ernie Neff Passing a farm from one generation to another can be as simple as waiting for the older generation to die or become disabled. But doing it that way, with no planning, probably won’t be a very rewarding experience for either generation. That was the consensus of several speakers at this summer’s Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference. Michael …

Extension agent

Popenoe to Be Extension Fruit Production Agent

Ernie NeffCitrus

On January 16, Juanita Popenoe will become the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension fruit production agent for Lake, Marion and Orange counties. For the past 13 years, she has been an Extension agent in Lake County working with commercial ornamental horticulture. Popenoe says she is “going back to my roots working with fruit. Although (I am) …

Citrus Grower Goes Undercover

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

Ed Pines’ solution to citrus greening is to grow fruit in a citrus undercover production system. By Catalina Pines “It’s said that necessity is the mother of all invention, and today I toured one way the citrus industry is fighting back against greening,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam on Twitter after touring Precision Citrus on September 23. In …

Citrus Health Management Areas vs. Individual Sprays

Tacy CalliesCitrus Health Management Areas

CHMAs have proven to be an effective strategy for psyllid control, so why isn’t there more grower participation? By Ariel Singerman and Pilar Useche It has long been recognized that mobile pests with the ability to move between farms compromise the effectiveness of individual (uncoordinated) sprays. This is because neighboring growers share the pest and, therefore, crop damage is dependent …

CRDF Panel Considers a “One-Two Punch” at HLB

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, HLB Management

A panel of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) in December discussed combining thermotherapy and bactericides in field trials in an effort to fight HLB. Most Florida growers used bactericides throughout 2016, and several growers have experimented with thermotherapy over the last few years. CRDF Chief Operations Officer Harold Browning discusses the concept of combining the two HLB therapies: …

UF Researcher Discusses HLB-Tolerant Scions

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, Scions

University of Florida researcher Jude Grosser told growers about new HLB-tolerant scions at this summer’s Citrus Expo. He summarizes his discussion in this report. “Without question, the most tolerant scion that we have is a fresh market tangelo that we call Sugar Belle,” Grosser says. “It’s very similar to Minneola, but matures a little bit earlier and so it can …

Research Update: Citrus Undercover Production Systems and Whole Tree Thermotherapy

Tacy CalliesCitrus

By Arnold Schumann, Laura Waldo and Alan Wright Research for producing huanglongbing (HLB)-free fresh Florida citrus with covered production systems began at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center in 2013 and at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in 2014. These citrus undercover production systems (CUPS) evolved from the …

Folta Named Pro Farmer Ag Person of the Year

Daniel CooperCitrus

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Renowned University of Florida genomics and photobiology researcher Kevin Folta has been named 2016 Pro Farmer Ag Person of the Year. Folta is professor and chair of the horticulture sciences department at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “Dr. Folta has been a leader in the fight against the anti-GMO movement for years,” said Chip …

Sneak Peek: January Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesCitrus

A new year is just around the corner and so is the next issue of Citrus Industry magazine. The January issue features a cover story on Callie Walker, chief of the Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control for the Florida Department of Agriculture. Learn about Walker’s deep roots in citrus and what she is doing about the abandoned grove problem. …

HLB Management in Brazil

Tacy CalliesCitrus

Observations and lessons learned from a recent citrus grower tour By Stephen H. Futch In June 2016, a group of Florida citrus growers and industry representatives embarked on a trip to tour the Brazilian citrus industry. The primary purpose of the trip was to learn more about how huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening) is being managed in Brazil and how …

HLB

Update on Approval of Bactericides for HLB

Ernie NeffBactericides, HLB Management

Many Florida citrus growers consider the bactericides that they’ve been applying this year to be their best hope in the fight against HLB. Temporary use of the bactericides was approved this spring by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. The industry is seeking Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for continued use of the products. Harold Browning, chief operations officer of …

citrus cold protection

Will There Be a Citrus Freeze?

Ernie NeffFreeze Protection, Weather

Rick Lusher, project manager for the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), won’t predict whether there’ll be a citrus freeze this season. But he did tell growers in Sebring on December 15 what weather the federal government is expecting through freeze season. “The most recent three-month outlook that NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) provides shows above normal temperatures and below …

Citrus Growers in the Panhandle Are Enthusiastic Newcomers

Ernie NeffCitrus

An official with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently visited some citrus growers in the Panhandle, north of the traditional Florida citrus belt. Callie Walker, chief of the FDACS Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control, shares her impressions of the fledgling industry. “I was in Perry, Florida; we were looking at citrus production,” Walker said. “A …

Ellis, Sparks, Robinson to Join Citrus Hall of Fame

Ernie NeffCitrus

Jim Ellis of Bartow, Mike Sparks of Apollo Beach and the late T. Ralph Robinson will be inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame on March 10 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Ellis has been a grower, packer, industry representative and historian. He currently works for the Division of Fruit and Vegetables in the Florida Department of Agriculture …

growers

15 UF/IFAS Early Career Scientists Awarded $50K Grants

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

Fifteen early career scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Scientists (UF/IFAS) have been awarded grants to help solve global issues such as thwarting invasive pests, improving crop varieties, battling citrus greening and preserving our environment. Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts About Fire Ants and How to …

florida citrus

USDA Citrus Crop Forecast Has Little Changes

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast

Mark Hudson, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Agricultural Statistics Service, reported the December citrus crop forecast. Florida has no changes in non-Valencia or Valencia oranges. Grapefruit for the month dropped from 9.6 to 9.3 million boxes with white at 2 million boxes and red at 7.3 million boxes each. Tangerines and tangelos changed from 1.55 to 1.5 million boxes, …

microbes, HLB

Results of Microbial Soil Amendments in HLB-Infected Grove

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, HLB Management

Approximately 40 people trekked into a Premier Citrus Management grove in Saint Lucie County on December 6 to learn that microbial soil amendments haven’t increased yields in an HLB-infected grove. Daniel Bott, Premier Citrus division manager for approximately 5,000 acres, including the trial site off Indrio Road, comments on the results. “There seems to be some differentiation between the products,” …

Leadership Change at Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association

Tacy CalliesCitrus

Update as of 1-4-17: Katie Marks has decided to stay with her current employer and will not be accepting the position as executive director with Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association. Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) Executive Director LeAnna Himrod announced she has accepted a new position as communications manager at the Florida Department of Citrus. Responsibilities in …

Sensory and Consumer Studies for Improving Citrus Quality

Tacy CalliesCitrus

By Laura Reuss, Fred Gmitter and Yu Wang In Florida, it is necessary to produce large quantities of high-quality citrus fruits in order to keep pace with the projected market growth, as well as to maintain viability of the citrus industry. Successful development of new varieties and pre- and post-harvest practices should be consumer-driven. However, consumer behavior is often affected …

Georgia Citrus Up-and-Coming

Tacy CalliesCitrus

By Ernie Neff Georgia’s fledgling citrus industry recently formed the state’s first citrus association with a retired federal law enforcement agent leading the way. “We are pioneers in this,” says Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA). Indeed they are pioneers. Extension agent Jake Price for Lowndes County, Georgia, reports that about 40 growers had 150 citrus acres …