citrus canker

Citrus Canker Quarantines Established and Expanded in Texas

Daniel CooperDiseases, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced June 26 that it was establishing and expanding the quarantined areas for citrus canker in Texas to prevent the spread of the disease. The action was taken in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). APHIS established a new quarantined area in the Harlingen Area of …

pollinators

BeSure! To Protect Pollinators

Daniel CooperGrowing Matters, Pollination

Growing Matters recently launched its annual BeSure! stewardship awareness campaign. Pollinators play a vital role within ecosystems and the food supply. Applicators and growers alike play a crucial role in utilizing proper stewardship practices during the growing season and beyond. Here are a few best practices to protect pollinators: USE NEONICOTINOIDS PROPERLY Neonicotinoid insecticides are used because of their selective …

ai

AI to Assess Crop Damage

Daniel CooperTechnology, Weather

Imagine using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform similar to ChatGPT to get crop-damage information after a major storm and comparing it to previous seasons. That’s what University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) AI scientist Nikolaos Tziolas plans to provide for farmers. His project will be funded with a new $297,000 grant from the U.S. Department of …

Argentine ant

Argentine Ant Management Innovations

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

Native to South America, Argentine ants were introduced to California in 1905. Today, 90% of Southern California and coastal orchards are infested with ants. Some trees experience up to 1 million ant visits per day. Ivan Milosavljević, Citrus Research Board (CRB) entomologist, presented that information in a June 17 webinar that was part of CRB’s Grower Seminar Series. His presentation …

Asian citrus psyllid

Advice on Asian Citrus Psyllid Management

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Pests, Psyllids

The strategies to control the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Florida have evolved over the years. Some practices have come and gone, but one point remains — ACP control is essential. That was the message Lukasz Stelinski made during the June episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Stelinski, an entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food …

citrus

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Exciting Opportunity for Citrus Nurseries

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Events

By Peter Chaires The International Society of Citrus Nurseries (ISCN) will hold its International Congress in Vina del Mar, Chile, on Aug. 18–19. Founded in 1981, ISCN was formed: ATTENDANCE AND TOPICS The International Congress is an opportunity to establish meaningful relationships, gain exposure to practical and academic information and tour nurseries and local citrus production. The event is not …

hlb

OTC Impacts on HLB in Trees and Psyllids

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management, Research

During the recent Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference, Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, presented evaluations of trunk-injected antimicrobials for HLB management. She said the purpose of these antimicrobial treatments is a short-term or stop-gap approach to keep the current inventory of Florida citrus trees in the …

season

Extremely Low Satsuma Supply Expected This Season

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Production

Fruit is scarce this season on satsuma trees in the Southeast. There was an oversupply of satsuma mandarins in the cold-hardy citrus region last season. That will not be the case in 2025. According to Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission, satsuma supply will be extremely low for the upcoming …

genome-edited

Two Genome-Edited Trees Are Approved

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Two non-transgenic genome-edited orange plants — a Hamlin and a Valencia that may resist HLB — have been federally approved and are ready for Florida growers. Nian Wang, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences eminent scholar endowed chair in biotechnology, reported this news in a June 17 virtual presentation. The plants, which Wang termed “Eds1-edited,” have received …

CRAFT

CRAFT to Put $104.5 Million to Work

Daniel CooperAs Seen On Instagram, CRAFT

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 …

health

Boost Citrus Health and Yield With Silicon

Daniel CooperNutrition, Tip of the Week

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 …

solution

Promising HLB Solution Advances

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

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

CRAFT Continues to Push New Plantings and HLB Therapies

Daniel CooperCRAFT, Events

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 …

injections

Recommendations for Oxytetracycline Injections

Daniel CooperHLB Management

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; …

aging

Farmers Testify on Aging Ag Workforce

Daniel CooperAgriculture

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 …

july

Sneak Peek: July 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

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 …

june

All In For Citrus Podcast, June 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus Expo

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 …

market

Orange Juice Market Share Declines

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

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

Rootstocks for Improved Tolerance to HLB

Daniel CooperRootstocks, Tip of the Week

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 …