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 …
How to Manage Horseweed
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery recently shared information about management of horseweed, a common Florida citrus broadleaf weed. Kanissery is an associate professor at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. Following are highlights from his article in the August 2026 UF/IFAS Citrus Magazine. Horseweed is found in citrus tree rows, …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Honoring a Long-Term Leader
By Peter Chaires New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) board members recently gathered with friends and industry colleagues at Golden Ridge Groves to honor Frank M. Hunt’s 18-year tenure as NVDMC chairman of the board. Frank stepped forward in 2005, at the inception of the organization, and remained at the helm for all but two years of the next …
Citrus Red Mite Threatens Cold-Hardy Production
The threat of Asian citrus psyllids to cold-hardy citrus does not mean growers should ignore other insects and their potential impacts in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. The citrus red mite should be a concern for growers, especially in the spring and if certain weather conditions persist, explains Apurba Barman, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor of entomology …
PDIs Promising for Sustainable HLB Management
A recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) article addressed the use of plant defense inducers (PDIs) as sustainable alternatives to oxytetracycline (OTC) injection for HLB management. Researchers Lauren Fessler Mathews, Ana Redondo and Ozgur Batuman at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) authored the article. Slightly edited excerpts of the article follow: PDIs …
Fruit Fly Quarantines Removed in Texas
Fruit fly quarantines impacting commercial citrus have been removed in Texas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). SAPOTE FRUIT FLY APHIS and TDA removed the sapote fruit fly (Anastrepha serpentina) quarantines in Cameron and Hildalgo counties. The quarantines included the Harlingen and Rio Hondo …
Brix Basics for Citrus Growers
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently published “Brix Basics: Where Plant Sugars Come From and Why They Matter.” Edwin Gutierrez Rodriguez, UF/IFAS citrus Extension agent for DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee counties, authored the article. Edited excerpts follow: Degrees Brix is the measurement of the total dissolved solids in a liquid, based on how much …
USDA Report Highlights HLB Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) highlighted huanglongbing (HLB) disease in the citrus section of its recent Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 2025 Annual Report. It recognized HLB as the most serious disease of citrus, currently impacting Florida and Texas and threatening citrus in Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The report …
Canopy Management Critical for HLB-Affected Citrus
By Tripti Vashisth, Meryam Manzoor and Johann Hiller Fruit quality and yield remain major concerns for sweet orange growers in the HLB era. Both are closely linked to the tree’s ability to support developing fruit throughout the season. Leaves are the primary source of carbohydrates needed for fruit growth, retention and juice development. Canopy density and leaf area directly influence …
AI Is Altering Citrus Marketing
The world of advertising and promotion is changing fast in the digital age now driven by artificial intelligence (AI). The way people seek information has shifted as AI integrates into the internet. This presents opportunities and challenges for marketers, including the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). The FDOC’s mission is to drive more consumption of orange juice and fresh fruit. …
New Product Registered to Aid in the Fight Against Citrus Greening
Silvec Biologics Inc. has announced that its RNA-based therapy-delivery product is registered for unconditional commercial use under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The product is registered under the name Construct CTV-SoD2. “A new tool is now available to help strengthen citrus tree health and support the future of Florida’s citrus industry,” said Matt Joyner, executive vice …
Biostimulant Improves Citrus Resilience to Freeze Stress
A new study demonstrates that proline biostimulation can significantly enhance freezing stress tolerance in citrus by stabilizing photosynthesis, strengthening antioxidant defenses and improving carbohydrate metabolism. The findings offer promising strategies for protecting citrus crops from damaging low-temperature events. Proline biostimulation is the application of the amino acid proline to plants to help them resist harsh environmental conditions like freezing cold, …
Hedging Under Study for Cold-Hardy Citrus
One of satsuma mandarin’s drawbacks is its alternate bearing tendency. It will produce a heavy crop load one year and a low one the next year. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, said tree hedging may provide a solution. She discussed the management technique at the Southeast Georgia Citrus Update in Lyons, Georgia on …
Understanding Crop Load and Alternate Bearing
By Fernando Alferez and Muhammad A. Shahid Citrus trees bloom profusely. It is estimated that a healthy adult tree can produce more than 200,000 flowers every year. This number is much higher than that of fruits the tree can maintain and develop. Normally only between 1% to 5% of flowers set fruit that develops, matures and can ultimately be harvested. …
FFVA Announces Emerging Leader Class 16 Members
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) announced the selection of 13 up-and-coming leaders for Class 16 of its Emerging Leader Development Program. The program is an immersive, hands-on experience addressing the critical issues facing Florida agriculture. It helps class members develop the skills needed to lead within FFVA and beyond. Since its inception in 2011, the program — administered …
Soil Fungi May Help With Manganese Toxicity
Beneficial soil fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may help citrus trees tolerate toxic levels of manganese, according to new research. The findings could eventually lead to new management strategies for citrus grown in acidic soils where manganese toxicity can limit tree growth and productivity. An article about the study was published in the journal Tree Physiology. The research …
Tree Water Status May Predict Citrus Cracking
New research suggests that how citrus trees respond to water stress may be more important than simply how much water they receive. The findings could help growers improve irrigation management, reduce fruit cracking and protect yields as weather becomes more variable. An article about the study — “Linking plant water status dynamics to yield and fruit cracking in citrus orchards …
HLB-Tolerant Mandarin Hybrids Show Promise
As citrus growers continue searching for varieties that can perform under huanglongbing (HLB) pressure, researchers are looking beyond tree survival. Fruit quality, flavor and consumer acceptance are becoming increasingly important parts of the equation. A new study evaluated several HLB-tolerant mandarin hybrids and identified selections that combine disease tolerance with traits that could make them attractive for fresh-market production. An …
Pathologist Provides Update on HLB Spread in Georgia
Citrus greening disease continues to loom over the cold-hardy citrus region. While the industry expands in South Georgia and North Florida, the threat of the disease (also known as huanglongbing, or HLB) remains a focal point of citrus meetings, including on July 28 at the Southeast Georgia Citrus Update in Lyons. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and …
Research Shows How HLB Progresses Through Trees
Recent research provides one of the clearest pictures to date of how huanglongbing (HLB) disease develops over time and affects different parts of a tree. An article about the research — “Microscopic Atlas of Citrus Huanglongbing Unravels Its Sequential Disease Development Mechanism” — was published in the journal Phytopathology. The authors are researchers Diann Achor, Camila Ribeiro, Jinyun Li and …