pruning

Pruning Young Citrus Trees

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Pruning

Pruning is an important management tactic that cold-hardy citrus growers need to implement, especially during the early stages of tree development. Fernando Alferez, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus horticulturist, discussed pruning during the Cold-Hardy Citrus Field Day and Workshop in Quincy on Oct. 1. “Pruning is important because it will give the tree …

prolong

Prolong Tree Health by Combining Covers and Brassinosteroids

Daniel CooperHLB Management, IPCs

As every Florida citrus grower knows, it has been difficult to grow trees and fruit profitably since huanglongbing (HLB) disease was discovered in the state in 2005. Soon after the disease was discovered, officials determined it couldn’t be eradicated largely because the Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) that spread it showed up years earlier and were in virtually all citrus-producing regions. …

water management

Optimize Citrus Water Management

Daniel CooperIrrigation, Tip of the Week, Water

By Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Bosques Jonael Efficient water use in citrus production, like other fruit tree crops, goes far beyond simply turning on the irrigation system. It’s a strategic practice that affects tree health, fruit quality and long-term sustainability, making it a smart agricultural practice. Some key tips to optimize your water management are: Remember, water is also a signal, …

specialty crops

Officials Urged to Include Specialty Crops in Aid Program

Daniel Cooperfinancial, Legislative

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) and two groups of U.S. representatives recently urged federal officials to include specialty crop producers in any new federal economic assistance program for agriculture. The SCFBA, co-chaired by Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association President Mike Joyner, addressed the issue in a letter to President Donald Trump. “Although our growers are experiencing similar economic …

SAR

SAR Sprays Protect Against Psyllids, HLB and Canker

Daniel CooperDiseases, HLB Management

Recent research has shown that systemic acquired resistance (SAR) sprays can protect young citrus tree flushes from Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) feeding, HLB and citrus canker. ACP is the vector that spreads HLB disease from tree to tree. Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Bayer Crop Science report that SAR sprays can …

movement

Texas Mexfly Fruit Movement Protocol Revised

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal agriculture officials have revised the requirements for the interstate movement of fresh citrus fruit from core areas of a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a revised federal order and protocol on Sept. 23. The protocol in the federal order provides three schedules for the interstate …

class

FFVA Names New Emerging Leader Development Class

Daniel CooperEducation

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has announced the Class 15 members of its Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP).  Class 15 members are: Over the coming year, class members will gain a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry. They will do that by visiting FFVA’s headquarters, touring farming and packing operations across Florida, meeting with elected officials and state …

ReMedium TI®

What You Need to Know for the 2025–26 Trunk-Injection Season

Daniel CooperHLB Management, OTC Expert

Sponsored Content Q: With the 2025–26 trunk-injection season near, what steps can be taken to make the ReMedium TI® injections the most effective for increased fruit yield and quality? A: The basics of the injection are still the same: There is one factor that is new in the injection realm. Research conducted at the University of Florida shows that injection …

photoperiod

Photoperiod and Citrus Cold Tolerance

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Research

Nazneen Qureshi, a University of Florida (UF) graduate research assistant, is investigating how photoperiod — the amount of light a plant receives each day — can help citrus fruit tolerate cold weather.  Qureshi’s research is done alongside UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Assistant Professor Muhummad Shahid. The research looks at whether the amount of light a plant …

Lennon Grove Service

Lennon Grove Service Awarded for Sustainable Farming

Daniel CooperAwards

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation presented Lennon Grove Service, Inc. with a This Farm CARES award on Oct. 6 at the Orange County Farm Bureau annual meeting. The grove was recognized for sustainable farming practices. The award is given to farmers and ranchers enrolled in best management practices. Established in 2000, Lennon Grove Service focuses on citrus production as well as …

freeze tolerance

Freeze Tolerance Is Key to Diversification

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Research, Varieties

Freeze tolerance is a focal point of citrus studies conducted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. As citrus production continues to grow in the cold-hardy citrus region, growers need varieties that are able to withstand prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures. Leading that research is Muhammad Shahid, …

irrigation management

Irrigation Management for Improved Citrus Production

Daniel CooperIrrigation, Tip of the Week

By Davie M. Kadyampakeni and Alisheikh A. Atta The conventional four Rs for nutrient management are right source, right place, right rate and right time. This approach allows growers to synchronize nutrient supply with crop demand, enhance tree health and fruit yield, and abate economic costs and environmental losses.  In contemporary farming systems in Florida citrus production, considering a fifth R …

Field crates

PIECES OF THE PAST — Field Crates: From Mill to Memory

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette The humble field crate has its roots in the practical demands of grove labor, long before citrus became a branded commodity. Often confused with the crate developed in 1875 by E.B. Bean that was used to ship citrus, and which featured colorful citrus crate labels, the field crate’s origin is less about marketing and more about …

benefits

Silicon Benefits Citrus

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Nutrition

A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher recently highlighted a number of benefits from using silicon as a nutrient for citrus. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, presented silicon research findings at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in August.   According to Shahid, silicon is categorized as a plant …

Tampa Bay Lightning

FDOC Announces New Partnership With Tampa Bay Lightning

Daniel CooperCitrus, Orange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) has partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Benchmark International Arena to promote Florida orange juice (OJ).  Throughout the 2025-26 season, fans will enjoy Florida OJ in fresh ways, including in-arena mocktails, pregame giveaways and interactive product sampling stations at Ford Thunder Alley and Publix Plaza. Lightning fans will also see and experience Florida …

planting method

Video Shows Citrus Planting Method Has Many Benefits

Daniel Cooperplanting, Texas

Texas A&M University citrus scientists who developed a successful planting method to combat diaprepes root weevil found that the method also offers numerous other benefits. In 2013, researchers Mamoudou Setamou and Olufemi Alabi were looking for an effective non-chemical method to physically block the circular foliage-to-underground lifecycle of diaprepes. The pest was attacking citrus roots and killing trees. Their solution …

plant breeding

UF/IFAS Is New Host of Plant Breeding Program

Daniel CooperBreeding

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is the new home for Breeding Insight, a federally funded program supporting public plant breeding efforts. Breeding Insight, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, supports public breeding efforts via more than 61 programs at the USDA as well as university-based programs across the country. …

financial management

Financial Conference Covers Tariffs and Economic Outlook

Daniel CooperCitrus

The Florida Agricultural Financial Management Conference returned Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 after several years of hiatus. The event was held at the Margaritaville Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. Speakers covered topics including measuring financial performance, risk management, optimizing business operations and cybersecurity. Ed Seifried, professor emeritus of economics and business at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, was a featured speaker. …

citrus research

CRDF Considers RFPs on Citrus Juvenility

Daniel CooperCitrus, CRDF

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) held its board of directors meeting on Sept. 30 in Lake Placid, Florida. During the meeting, the board reviewed recommendations from the CRDF Research Management Committee. “We had a productive meeting and addressed several key issues,” said CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler. “CRDF issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to explore methods …

psyllid

Psyllid Management Tactics Discussed

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, HLB Management, Psyllids

Control of HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) can be enhanced with dormant winter sprays and a focus on spraying grove perimeters, according to Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo presenter Jawwad Qureshi. Qureshi is an associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. DORMANT SPRAYS In making the …