South Florida Algae Bloom

Kelsey FryAgriculture, Water

The algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River and the Indian River Lagoon have gained national coverage and become quite a controversial topic. The blue-green algae, called cyanobacteria, has affected individuals, businesses and farming in South Florida. Charles Shinn, director of government and community affairs for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, says that Farm Bureau is concerned about the …

Celebrate Florida Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cheer On The Florida Gators Oct. 15

Kelsey FryAgriculture

    Farmers, ranchers, landscapers – and everyone in between – are invited to celebrate Agriculture and Gardening Day at the University of Florida’s homecoming football game, Oct. 15, 2016. UF Athletics and the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are hosting the event and offering discounted tickets to anyone connected to agriculture in the state, including their families …

Q-Biotype Whitefly Expands to 8 Florida Counties

Kelsey FryUncategorized

The Q-biotype whitefly, a significant pest that could damage agriculture, has spread from Palm Beach to seven other Florida counties, according to a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher. Crops that could eventually be affected include tomatoes, squash, beans, watermelons and many other vegetables and ornamentals, said Lance Osborne, an entomology professor at UF/IFAS. The …

Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Kelsey FryCitrus, Legislative

On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam talks about the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and the partnership between the state and private agricultural operations to protect Florida’s natural resources while allowing Ag operations to continue.         Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts About …

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Florida Citrus Commission Cuts FDOC Budget and Staff

Ernie NeffFlorida Citrus Commission

The Florida Citrus Commission completed several months of heavy budget-cutting on June 14 by approving a preliminary 2016-17 budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). Several large growers had requested heavy cuts earlier this year, and the Citrus Commission responded. The department’s budget will drop almost 32 percent from the current season, and the staff will be reduced by …

Advantages of Fresh From Florida

Kelsey FryLegislative

Over the years Fresh from Florida has become a staple to Florida’s agriculture. We caught up with Mike Joyner,  assistant commissioner and chief of staff for Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to talk about Fresh from Florida and some of the advantages that it has for producers in Florida along with successes that they are seeing from the …

2016 Flavors of Florida

Kelsey FryCitrus, Genetic Engineering, Nutrition

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) put on the third annual Flavors of Florida event at the UF President’s House in Gainesville on May 9. The event was designed to showcase the edible research products of the UF/IFAS Plant Innovation Center and celebrate the accomplishments of Field and Fork (the campus food pantry) and other …

Why Florida Citrus Will Survive HLB

Kelsey FryCitrus

Speaking at the Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park on Tuesday, University of Florida genetics researcher Fred Gmitter asked the question, “Will Florida’s citrus industry survive HLB?” In an interview after his presentation, he gave several reasons why he thinks the citrus industry will not only survive HLB, but thrive. Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight …

Per-Acre Prices of Florida Citrus Land

Josh McGillCitrus

Average per-acre prices of scores of citrus properties sold in 2015 are provided in this summary of the annual Lay of the Land Market Report prepared by Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate. The prices are for the Central Ridge, Flatwoods and Indian River areas. Prices are also provided for sales of former citrus land that went into other agricultural …

Miss Florida Citrus 2016 Crowned

Josh McGillCitrus

Miss Florida Citrus 2016 Was Crowned Last Weekend Contestants competed for the title of Miss Florida Citrus 2016 on March 19 in Winter Haven. The whole room grew silent as Summer Foley, Miss Florida Citrus 2015, prepared to announce the first-place winner. Miami’s Stephanie Capon was crowned the 2016 Miss Florida Citrus. Capon’s platform was Healthy HeARTbeats: Arts for Community …

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees

Josh McGillCitrus

Citrus Industry Legends Inducted into Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Friday, March 11, was the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Celebration Luncheon, where a crowd of over 400 citrus community and industry members welcomed three new inductees into the Hall of Fame. The inductees are Dr. William S. “Bill” Castle of Lake Alfred, John C. “Jack” Norris of Palm City, …

Future of Florida Citrus

Kelsey FryCitrus

Hope for the Future of Florida Citrus Anyone involved in the Florida citrus industry can speak of the hardships the industry has faced since HLB first appeared in the state in 2005. One member of the industry, who has stuck with it through thick and thin, offered his positive perspective on the future of the industry. Bill Castle, University of …

Urgent Request from Florida Citrus Mutual

Kelsey FryCitrus

Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), distributed the following urgent request to the citrus industry this morning. Dear FCM Members and Friends: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing our industry’s request to grant a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for two bactericides – oxytetracycline and streptomycin. The bactericides are essential in our fight against …

Legislative Progress for Florida Citrus Growers

Kelsey FryCitrus

In a message below, Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, reports positive news on the current status of the citrus industry’s agenda items in the legislative session. Dear FCM Board and Members: It’s been a whirlwind 2016 in Tallahassee and with a week left in the scheduled legislative session, I have some very positive news to share. …

Results of Florida Citrus Research Order Referendum Announced

Kelsey FryCitrus

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that Florida’s citrus growers reauthorized the Florida citrus research order in a statutorily required referendum conducted by the department. More than 87 percent of ballots received by the department were in favor of reauthorization. Sponsored ContentA Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 20245 Facts About Fire Ants …

Florida Citrus Industry Proposes Dramatic Changes for FDOC

Kelsey FryCitrus

A group of growers, processors and fresh fruit packers who share a deep concern about the grave economic situation facing the Florida citrus industry have submitted a formal request to Florida Citrus Commission Chairman G. Ellis Hunt Jr. The group is asking for very significant modifications to the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) programs to adapt to the crisis and …

Seeking Miss Florida Citrus Contestants

Kelsey FryCitrus

The Miss Florida Citrus Pageant will be held on March 19 in Winter Haven at Theatre Winter Haven. This is a Miss America preliminary pageant, so contestants must have a talent. The pageant is open to all women between the ages of 17 and 24 that either reside in Florida or attend school in Florida (for at least the past …

Slight Changes in USDA’s Florida Citrus Crop Forecast

Kelsey FryCitrus

The only changes made in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus crop forecast were in Florida. Red grapefruit decreased 3 percent, going from 8.5 million boxes to 8.2 million boxes. The projection for honey tangerines increased from 600,000 boxes to 700,000 boxes, bringing the overall Florida tangerine total to 1.5 million boxes. Download Audio February USDA Citrus Crop Forecast …

usda

USDA Funds Citrus Projects

Daniel CooperDiseases, Pests, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $70 million in the Plant Protection Act program. This includes funding of 357 projects in fiscal year 2025. The work will strengthen the country’s defenses against plant pests and diseases, safeguard the U.S. nursery system, and enhance pest detection and mitigation efforts. Part of the funding is going …