sting nematode

Integrated Pest Management Needed for Sting Nematode

Daniel CooperPests

By Maegan Beatty During the recent citrus insect management workshop at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center, Larry Duncan, a nematology professor, discussed the sting nematode. First recognized in the 1980s as a pest of young citrus trees, the sting nematode has adapted to coarse, sandy soils. The pest feeds at …

HLB-resistant tree

Hope for an HLB-Resistant Tree

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) chief operating officer, believes there is a future for Florida’s citrus industry. His optimistic outlook is based on approaches that researchers have implemented to help growers survive in the short term, such as oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection, and work toward the development of an HLB-resistant tree. Dantzler shared that hope during the …

weed management

Pre-emergent Herbicides Preferred for Weed Management

Daniel Cooperweeds

It is best for citrus growers to implement a proactive approach to weed management. Being reactive puts producers behind the eight ball with regards to controlling certain weeds in their groves. That’s why Ramdas Kanissery, weed scientist and associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), is preaching the importance of pre-emergent herbicides. They …

Youth Citrus Project

Seeking Highlands Youth Citrus Project Participants

Daniel CooperEducation

Registration is now open for the 2025–26 Highlands Youth Citrus Project. This project is for local youth members ages 8 and up as of Sept. 1, 2025. The deadline to register is March 24. Participants can register here. This program is designed to teach youth about the citrus industry by providing all the materials necessary to grow and sell a …

Citrus canker

Reduce Fruit Drop From Citrus Canker

Daniel CooperDiseases, Fruit Drop, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney Citrus canker can contribute significantly to the loss of fruit prior to harvest. As bloom begins in Florida, it is time to finalize management plans for foliar diseases. For many growers, very aggressive canker management programs are no longer a possibility, however, some management is important. Citrus canker susceptibility of young fruitlets usually starts at the end …

nurseries

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Programs Benefit Nurseries

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source

By Peter Chaires The 2024–25 citrus season is another challenging one for Florida’s valued citrus nurseries. Uncertainty has been the consummate challenge for nurseries trying to anticipate grower needs. One large nursery grower recently interviewed believes that door-yard propagations are now nearing commercial propagations. Who would have ever thought we would see this happen? However, after a dismal 2022–23 propagation …

psyllid

Now Is the Time to Knock Back Psyllid Populations

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Psyllids

Now is the time for Florida citrus growers to implement management tactics to control the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the insect that vectors citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB). ACPs are currently in low populations across Florida’s citrus-producing region. That means growers should act now to protect their crop from the insect’s impact, says Chris Oswalt, University of Florida …

hlb

Not If Georgia Will Get HLB, But When

Daniel CooperGeorgia

Citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), is not yet widespread in Georgia. However, there’s no reason to think that it won’t become more of a problem for the state’s citrus growers. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA), hopes it doesn’t happen but cautions growers about the disease’s potential beyond Florida. “Something we have to …

emergency program

Emergency Program Expanded in California for HLB/ACP

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently announced the expansion in Orange County of an emergency program for HLB and the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) that spreads the disease. The expansion follows confirmation throughout January of the causative bacterial agent of HLB in plant tissue and/or ACP in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Orange, Santa …

What to Know Before You Go

Morgan ColeFCS24

SHOW ADDRESS The Florida Citrus Show will be held in the parking lot between the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (2199 South Rock Road) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory (USDA-ARS, 2001 South Rock Road) in Fort Pierce. PARKING Show parking …

U. S.

10-Year Forecast for U.S. Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

Total U.S. citrus production levels are projected to continue their long-term decline over the next several years before stabilizing through 2034, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It attributed that expected trend to declining orange and grapefruit production alongside increasing production of lemons and tangerines. The projections for all U.S. commodities are in USDA Agricultural Projections to 2034, …

harvest

Citrus Forecast Has Slight Changes

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The March citrus forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) calls for slight increases in Florida’s orange and grapefruit crops compared to the prior season. Florida’s lemon and tangerine/mandarin forecasts were unchanged from February’s forecast. FLORIDA ORANGES The Florida all-orange forecast rose 1%, or 100,000 boxes, from the February forecast to 11.6 million boxes. The …

Agroview

The Growth of AI-Based Agroview

Daniel CooperTechnology

A few weeks after Yiannis Ampatzidis started working at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in 2017, Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on Florida citrus groves. Growers needed to count their trees with precision to get crop insurance, but it was a laborious, time-intensive task. Ampatzidis, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the Southwest …

juice market

Cold-Hardy Growers Eyeing Juice Market

Daniel CooperCold Hardy

A low volume of fruit in the cold-hardy citrus region is being produced for the juice market. With the current market prices for juiced citrus, that number could increase in the near future. This topic was discussed during the recent Georgia Citrus Association annual meeting in Tifton. “With the prices today, there is a future for it,” said grower Kim …

stuart scholarship

Stuart Scholarship Applications Due April 14

Daniel CooperEducation, Scholarship

To instill passion for the agriculture industry, engage with a new generation of young leaders and foster a workforce dedicated to the future of Florida agriculture, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) created the Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship. The scholarship is in recognition of the devotion and many years of service to the specialty crop industry that the Stuarts …

orange fights

From Orange Fights to Industry Leaders

Daniel CooperCitrus, Florida

Morgan McKenna Porter, who grew up in a Florida citrus family, remembers having orange fights as a youth with her cousin, Riley. When she started classes at the University of Florida in 2010, she knew she wanted to major in agriculture. Porter took classes in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree …

otc

OTC Optimization Discussed in Podcast

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, HLB Management

Ute Albrecht, associate professor of plant physiology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), joined the February All In For Citrus podcast to discuss the latest learnings in optimizing trunk injections of oxytetracycline (OTC) aimed at reducing HLB in trees. She shared what has been discovered over the past few years in terms of application …

movement

Quarantine Updates: HLB in Mississippi; Mexfly in Texas

Daniel CooperDiseases, Pests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) recently announced a quarantine for huanglongbing (HLB) in Mississippi as well as updates to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. HLB APHIS, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, established a quarantine for the entire state of Mississippi for HLB. The action was taken …

virus

Stay Vigilant About Virus Threat

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Ozgur Batuman and Amit Levy Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) was first reported on lemon and sour orange trees in Pakistan in 1988. Since then, the disease has been primarily restricted to Asian countries. However, CYVCV was more recently detected in dooryard citrus in California in 2022. While there is no indication that the virus is present in …

Citrus Showcase

California’s Citrus Showcase Set for March 12

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Events

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) is inviting growers and allied agricultural industry members to the 2025 Citrus Showcase March 12 at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California. The event will feature informational seminars, free continuing education unit-approved courses, a trade show and an industry luncheon.  The event’s morning session will feature Marisa Zansler, director of economic and market research at …