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
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
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 ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire AntsJuly 1, 2025Take the Sting Out of …
Florida Citrus Industry Proposes Dramatic Changes for FDOC
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
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
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 …
CRAFT to Put $104.5 Million to Work
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently announced that the Florida Legislature allocated an historic amount of funding to citrus research in the 2025–26 state budget. CRAFT is expected to receive $104.5 million of the allocated funding to continue applied research through large-scale field trials. The CRAFT Foundation is designing new programs with this investment. Information about the upcoming …
Boost Citrus Health and Yield With Silicon
By Muhammad A. Shahid and KeAndre Leaks Silicon (Si) is an emerging powerhouse in citrus production, offering wide-ranging benefits for plant health, fruit quality and stress resilience. While not traditionally considered essential, silicon was officially recognized as a “plant beneficial substance” in 2012 by the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials. Its inclusion as an approved input by the …
Promising HLB Solution Advances
A promising solution to HLB is advancing to Phase 2 field trials following research by a Central State University scientist in Ohio. Anthony Arment, a molecular biologist and professor of biology at Central State University, played a key role in early research and ongoing consultation for the project. Pop Test Oncology LLC, operating as Palisades Therapeutics, recently announced that its …
CRAFT Continues to Push New Plantings and HLB Therapies
During the recent Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference, Steven Hall provided an update on the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs. Hall is executive director of the CRAFT Foundation. CRAFT programs have been very popular among growers to incentivize new plantings and build knowledge about HLB therapies like trunk injection, the use of individual protective covers, plant growth regulators …
Recommendations for Oxytetracycline Injections
Three University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers recently issued the document Suggested Use Pattern of Injectable Antimicrobials for Huanglongbing (HLB) Management. The authors are Ute Albrecht, associate professor of horticulture; Ozgur Batuman, associate professor of plant pathology; and Megan Dewdney, associate professor of plant pathology. The antimicrobials for Florida citrus are ReMedium TI and Rectify; …
Farmers Testify on Aging Ag Workforce
Florida Farmer of the Year Jim Alderman recently testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging about the aging agricultural workforce and its impact on food security. “Farming isn’t just about growing crops. It’s about passing down knowledge, discipline and a way of life,” the owner of Alderman Farms in Boynton Beach said. “But that chain of succession is …
Sneak Peek: July 2025 Citrus Industry
A July Specialty Crop Grower magazine article explores the potential of trunk injection for fresh market citrus. While trunk injection of oxytetracycline has become a common practice in Florida citrus grown for juice, growers of fresh market varieties have expressed interest in this HLB-management tool. Therefore, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are studying trunk …
All In For Citrus Podcast, June 2025
In the June All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers gives an update on some of the activities keeping University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers busy this summer. Rogers is the director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. One of their big projects is helping to coordinate the citrus seminars …
Orange Juice Market Share Declines
One hundred percent orange juice (OJ) fell from 67% beverage market share in 2022 to 62% in 2024, a Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) economist told the Florida Citrus Commission recently. The economist, Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler, added that orange-flavored drinks gained overall share in volume sold during the same period. The FCC is the FDOC’s …
Rootstocks for Improved Tolerance to HLB
By Lamiaa Mahmoud and Manjul Dutt Utilizing tolerant rootstocks to combat HLB is a long-term management strategy that can help sustain productivity and enhance tree survival, especially when implemented alongside other HLB management approaches. Australian limes are tolerant to HLB, and their DNA can be incorporated into HLB-susceptible citrus using conventional breeding methods to enhance tolerance to HLB. Over the …
June CSU Hurricane Forecast
Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers on June 11 maintained their April forecast for an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. CSU’s Tropical Cyclones, Radar, Atmospheric Modeling and Software team cited above-average subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea surface temperatures as a primary factor for its prediction. While the June forecast has historically exhibited higher levels of accuracy than the …
Positive Changes
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Two and a half years ago, Riley McKenna leveled with his dad. Without a tool that made a noticeable difference in the grove soon, it might be time for dad to retire and Riley to seek a new career. So why was he spending an April day with me and his cousin Morgan McKenna …
CRDF Board Convenes at Industry Conference
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors held its June meeting at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs. “Congratulations to Florida Citrus Mutual for putting on another outstanding industry conference,” said Rick Dantzler, CRDF chief operating officer. “Several growers who attended told me they got an awful lot out of the meeting.” Dantzler said …
Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo to Feature Inspirational Speaker
The 2025 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo will feature a special speaker and inspirational message from retired Battalion Commander Jack Oehm of the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY). Oehm was a battalion chief who first arrived at Ground Zero after both World Trade Center towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. It was a tragic day for Oehm, the …