Two Main Concerns for Citrus in Hurricane Irma

Abbey TaylorWeather

The threat of Hurricane Irma has been looming over Florida. Now, the state is roughly three to four days from facing the storm. While people prepare their hurricane kits, Florida citrus growers are doing what they can to protect their groves. However, at this point, very little can be done. Calvin Arnold, center director of the Southwest Florida Research and …

Citrus Expo

Bactericide Use: an Update at Citrus Expo

Tacy CalliesNews from our Sponsor

By Harold Browning Column sponsored by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation Use of bactericides to reduce disease levels in infected trees continues to be a topic of debate in Florida citrus. Now in the second season of grower use, many growers are continuing to use the three products containing oxytetracycline or streptomycin within their seasonal spray programs. The Citrus …

Florida orange

More Fruit, Better Tree Health in Highlands County

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, fruit, PFD

Echoing comments from growers in some citrus-growing regions in southern Florida, Highlands County citrus Extension agent Laurie Hurner says Highlands County appears to have more fruit and better tree health this year. “It’s interesting. You drive up and down Highway 27, and there is a lot more fruit out there, I think,” says Hurner, who is also the Highlands County …

hurricane irma

Citrus Growers Preparing for Hurricane Irma

Daniel CooperCitrus, Weather

Unfortunately, Florida citrus growers are having to prepare for Hurricane Irma, which at this point looks like it will impact the Sunshine State. Mongi Zekri, the multi-county citrus agent in the Hendry County Extension office in LaBelle, says this is especially troubling with harvest just around the corner. Hear more: Read a recent Citrus Industry magazine article by Mongi Zekri, …

Sneak Peek: September 2017 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

The next issue of Citrus Industry magazine takes a look at the status of citrus labor in Florida. A trio of articles offers insights on harvesting costs, using the H-2A program and keeping skilled workers. Also included in the September issue is coverage from the 2017 Citrus Expo held in Fort Myers, Florida, on August 16–17. An appearance by Secretary …

acreage

Grower Hollingsworth Reacts to Acreage Reduction

Ernie NeffAcreage

DeSoto County grower and Florida Citrus Commissioner V.C. Hollingsworth reacts to news that Florida’s citrus acreage declined 5 percent this year. “That kind of surprised me a little bit because I thought we’ve been planting back a lot of trees,” Hollingsworth says. “I think what it doesn’t show is the number of trees that we’re planting back, trees per acre. …

Citrus Expo Seminar Presentations Now Available Online

Abbey TaylorCitrus Expo

Every year, Citrus Expo is proud to feature a seminar program that provides continuing education units and a wealth of new research information for growers. Top citrus researchers from the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences were among those who presented their latest findings on several topics, including HLB management, psyllid control, bactericides and more. Now, you can …

Impact of Temperature on Psyllid Survival

Tacy CalliesPsyllids

By Nabil Killiny and Steve Futch Citrus growers frequently inquire if Florida temperatures in the summer or winter are sufficiently high or low enough to control or suppress the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). This question is the subject of this short article. The reason growers pose the question about how temperature impacts psyllids is because ACP is a phloem feeder …

More Juice to Come from Brazil

Tacy CalliesGlobal Perspectives

By Marcos Fava Neves The first forecast of the 2017–18 Brazilian orange crop was published in May. Brazil expects a total of 364.47 million boxes, including the following: 68.49 million boxes of Hamlin, Westin and Rubi varieties 17.42 million boxes of Valencia Americana, Valencia Argentina, Seleta and Pineapple varieties 114.52 million boxes of the Pera Rio variety 123.04 million boxes …

Fresh

Fresh Fruit: Challenges and Changes

Ernie NeffFresh

Florida’s fresh citrus industry has suffered even more from HLB than has the much larger juice industry. Duke Chadwell, manager of the Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC), discusses pending organizational changes in the fresh industry, brought on primarily by HLB. The CAC administers a federal marketing order for fresh Florida citrus that has been in place since 1939. “The Citrus Administrative …

Zekri Earns Dallas Townsend Award

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

Mongi Zekri, multi-county citrus Extension agent, won the 2017 Dallas Townsend Extension Professional Enhancement Award from University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension. The award recognizes a county Extension Agent with a 1-year term professorship for demonstrating an outstanding ability to plan and implement Extension programs that address needs that have been identified in consultation with clientele. Zekri …

system

System Screens Out Citrus Greening-Carrying Insect

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Research

Imagine camping in the deep woods. You’d want a tent with mesh that prevents bugs – even those as small as gnats – from entering into your wildlife hangout. That’s the idea behind citrus under protective screens, or CUPS, which helps keep away a pinhead-sized insect that causes citrus greening, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists …

Grower Response to Psyllid Insecticide Resistance

Ernie NeffPsyllids

Lee Jones was in the Citrus Expo seminar audience recently when a scientist reported there have been incidences of HLB-spreading psyllids being resistant to insecticides. Jones, general manager of Gardinier Florida Citrus, has one recommendation for dealing with the issue, at least partially. “I would really suggest that October to March window as an application window for the imidacloprids (a …

acp

HLB-Spreading Psyllids Resistant to Insecticides

Ernie NeffHLB Management, Psyllids

Ears perked up in the Citrus Expo seminar hall last week when Lukasz Stelinski reported incidences of Asian citrus pysllid resistance to insecticides, “particularly the neonicotinoid group of insecticides in Florida.” The neonicotinoids have been a key weapon against the psyllids that have spread HLB to groves statewide. Stelinski, an entomologist with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and …

Rootstocks and HLB Tolerance — Another Perspective

Tacy CalliesHLB Management, Rootstocks

By Ute Albrecht Tolerance to a disease is generally defined as the ability to be productive in the presence of disease-causing organisms. This is contrary to resistance, which is defined as the ability to completely evade a pathogen due to specific resistance mechanisms. The question as to what defines an HLB-“tolerant” rootstock was posed in an article by Bill Castle, …

CUPS Test to Begin at California Research Center

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner

University of California (UC) scientists at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center (LREC) will soon begin to test the effect of growing citrus under protective screen (CUPS). CUPS is a proposed new method of controlling huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, by keeping psyllids, small insects known to spread the disease, away from the trees. The test will evaluate the …

Ag Secretary Perdue Gains Optimism About Citrus Industry at Citrus Expo

Abbey TaylorCitrus Expo, Citrus Greening, Legislative

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited Citrus Expo on August 16. During his visit, he held a listening session alongside Congressman Tom Rooney and citrus industry professionals. The main topic during the session was citrus greening and the importance of research to combat the devastating disease. Growers and industry leaders spoke about the challenges of the Florida citrus industry. …

Perdue Rooney

Perdue Optimistic Researchers, Growers Will Beat Citrus Greening

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is in Florida this week, where he attended Citrus Expo at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers. While in the state, he has been able to learn firsthand about efforts to combat citrus greening. Hear more from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Stephanie Ho: Sponsored ContentTake the Sting Out of Fire AntsJune 1, …

Gun Safe Winner at Citrus Expo

Abbey TaylorCitrus Expo

Everglades Equipment Group continued its popular, annual John Deere gun safe giveaway at the 2017 Citrus Expo on August 16. All citrus growers who pre-registered for the event were eligible for the drawing to win the prize. Miss Florida Citrus, Rachel Smith, drew the name of the lucky winner. The gun safe went to Austin Pell of Pell Citrus in …

CRDF and Bayer Announce Partnership at Citrus Expo

Tacy CalliesCitrus, HLB Management, Industry News Release

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and Bayer CropScience announced a new partnership at Citrus Expo. In an effort to discover new technologies to manage citrus greening disease, CRDF will invest $12 million with Bayer over a three-year period. Bayer will focus on product research and development of both biological and chemical controls. Adrian Percy, head of research and …