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Below you'll see everything we could locate for your search of “Florida”
Federal and state agriculture officials recently expanded the areas quarantined for huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) disease in California. The quarantined area in the Foothill Ranch and Mission Viejo areas of Orange County has been expanded by 26.69 square miles, the Riverside area of Riverside County by 11.3 square miles, and the Valley Center area of San Diego …
Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are asking growers to participate in a survey about slug and snail pests affecting horticultural crops. The outcome will aid in a research project aimed at the development of appropriate Extension and research control methods against these pests. The title of the research project is Understanding and …
There is a lot happening in the world of specialty crops that impact growers’ business operations. The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo will host a panel discussion with the leaders of three associations to tackle those topics. The panel will include Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Chris Butts, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and Matt Joyner, Florida …
Ramdas Kanissery gave advice for growers in a May 20 virtual presentation about managing aggressive weeds in citrus. Kanissery is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor of horticultural sciences at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. A summary of his recommendations follows. CULTURAL PRACTICES PRACTICAL APPROACHES As part of his presentation, …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) announced May 28 it has invested nearly $23 million in 14 HLB projects in 2025. The projects seek to find solutions to combat and prevent HLB in citrus. The projects are part of the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program. The University of Florida is the only …
Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) to treat HLB is widely regarded as one of the biggest breakthroughs in the long fight against the disease. After two seasons of treatments, where do Florida citrus growers stand when it comes to the treatment? Tara Wade answers that question in the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. The University of …
By Ute Albrecht, Gabriel Pugina, Caroline Tardivo, Jasmine de Freitas and Deived de Carvalho The month during which oxytetracycline (OTC) injections are performed can have a considerable impact on fruit size, juice quality and OTC fruit residues. Citrus fruit development can be divided into three overlapping stages: If injections are performed during Stage I, they promote cell division, which increases …
As the rainy season in Florida is set to begin, we caught up with Megan Dewdney to discuss citrus canker and other disease issues. Dewdney is a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Q: How has the prevalence of citrus canker been in Florida in the past year or so? A: Dewdney: Citrus …
By Lindy Savelle In mid-April, members of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) traveled to California’s Central Valley to study the systems, innovations and strategies that have made the state a powerhouse in citrus production. Our goal was clear: to bring back ideas, solutions and inspiration that can help shape the future of Georgia’s growing citrus industry. Our group included growers, …
Mind Your Melon recently hosted an event at Southern Hill Farms in Clermont, Florida, to share some insights on a mental health survey and to inform attendees about future plans for the program. Marshal and Taylor Sewell founded Mind Your Melon to raise awareness of mental health issues among farmers and others involved in agriculture. Marshal’s father took his life …
The June issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine honors the winner of the 2025 Citrus Achievement Award. Ben Albritton, this year’s recipient, is a fourth-generation citrus grower and Florida politician. Learn all about his career and accomplishments in the cover story. Don’t miss the digital edition of the magazine to see an exclusive video interview. Albritton and Specialty Crop Grower …
Flavia Zambon, assistant professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, recently provided an update about Millennium Block research at the Indian River Research and Education Center. The block, established in 2019–20, is a large-scale, 5,500-tree trial seeking HLB-tolerant citrus varieties. Zambon says some varieties in the trial are showing strong fruit attributes without the need …
By Megan Dewdney Every summer, a low rumble about algal spot reaches my ears. And every year, someone discovers it in their Florida grove for the first time. While this is a disease that is not always at the top of mind for growers, when you see it for the first time, it can be dramatic. DISEASE SYMPTOMS Algal spot …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette The citrus industry drew people to Florida with dreams of wealth and retirement, which eventually brought with it substantial economic development from the hardy pioneers who chose to make Florida their home. Their livelihood was widely marketed by not only the citrus packinghouses who sold their fruit, but also by their respective chambers of commerce and …
The May All In For Citrus podcast features highlights from a recent OJ Break hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Podcast host Frank Giles caught up with Michael Rogers, CREC director, during the event. Rogers summarized some of the information presented at the OJ …
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) scientists are studying the possibility of the Donaldson sweet orange replacing the HLB-ravaged Hamlin in orange juice (OJ). The scientists work at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida. While assessing citrus trees with oranges that might be used for commercial OJ production, the scientists found the Donaldson tree at the …
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has been required to update all basin management action plans (BMAPs) by July 1. As part of this requirement, FDEP is adding five-year milestones to each BMAP, where they didn’t previously exist. FDEP has allocations assigned to each entity in the BMAP. Agriculture is assigned an allocation in each BMAP, and FDEP assigns …
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently urged the repeal of two labor regulations that are driving up costs for growers using the H-2A program, which allows temporary foreign agricultural workers. The FFVA letter requesting the changes was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget. FFVA called for the rescission of: The letter stated that Florida, …
Three citrus grower associations applauded Chairman GT Thompson and the U.S. House Agriculture Committee for including critical funding for the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program in the recent budget reconciliation draft. The associations were California Citrus Mutual (CCM), Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and Texas Citrus Mutual (TCM). The investment represents a vital commitment to the long-term health and …
Citrus Research and Development Foundation President Morgan McKenna Porter said individual protective covers (IPCs) give newly planted trees a “fighting chance” against huanglongbing (HLB) and serve as a bridge until HLB-resistant trees are available. “IPCs are not flawless, but they certainly can be optimized,” Porter said. “I have the ability to plant a young tree and put an IPC over …
