brassinosteroids

Brassinosteroids Help Trees After IPC Removal

Daniel CooperHLB Management, IPCs

Associate Professor Fernando Alferez and his team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) learned several years ago that individual protective covers (IPCs) protect newly planted trees from HLB. They do that by excluding the Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) that spread the devastating citrus disease. But multi-county citrus Extension agent Mongi Zekri noted that IPCs …

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Resources

Daniel Cooperhurricane

Hurricane Milton is currently expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. It will likely impact a large portion of the state. In anticipation of the hurricane and its aftermath, Florida Citrus Mutual has canceled its crop estimate luncheon that was scheduled for Oct. 11 in Zolfo …

Bournique

Bournique to Serve Fifth Term on Water Board

Daniel CooperIndian River, Water

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently reappointed Indian River Citrus League (IRCL) Executive Vice President Doug Bournique to a fifth four-year term on the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Governing Board. According to IRCL, being reappointed to a fifth term is “unprecedented in the history of the water management district.” “There remains so much more to do in supporting …

pesticide handlers

Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Handlers

Daniel CooperCEU

By Danielle S. Williams Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. Personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role in safeguarding pesticide handlers from potential pesticide exposure. While the right …

labor

Farmworker Protection Rule Challenged

Daniel CooperLabor, Legal

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) has joined several agricultural associations and individual farmers in a lawsuit challenging a federal farmworker protection rule. The Department of Labor (DOL) rule is titled Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States. NCAE stated that the rule unlawfully violates the rights of America’s farm and ranch families. It …

protect

Protect Against Potential Fungus Post-Hurricane

Daniel CooperDiseases, hurricane

Citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Helene now must decide the best management strategy to protect trees from potential disease issues prior to harvest. Kim Jones, a citrus grower and packer with operations in Monticello, Florida, and Tifton, Georgia, weighed in on what to consider to protect trees. “Fungus is the biggest risk at this point,” said Jones. “The sunshine is …

Texas

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Actions

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture have taken several Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine actions in Texas since mid-August. DONNA On Aug. 15, the agencies established a Mexfly quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County. This is in response to the confirmed detection on Aug. 10 of Mexfly larvae in …

juice market

Update on Efforts to Lower Required OJ Brix Level

Daniel CooperLegislative, Orange Juice

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and federal lawmakers from Florida are pushing legislation that would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required Brix level of not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The change has been requested because many Florida oranges no longer produce juice that meets the 10.5% Brix requirement.     FCM Chief …

survey

Survey to Determine Hurricane Helene Ag Impacts

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Survey

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has started a study to estimate the agricultural impacts resulting from Hurricane Helene in the state of Florida. Results of a survey, which can be accessed here, will be combined with a detailed baseline database on agricultural assets in Florida to estimate and communicate production losses. The information UF/IFAS …

winds

How to Help Trees Recover From High Winds

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Irrigation, Tip of the Week

By Christopher Vincent Hurricane Helene’s path spared most of the citrus industry the kind of trouble that Hurricane Ian brought back in 2022, but Ian taught us some important lessons you can use if your trees were hit by high winds. WIND SPEED MATTERS Trees impacted by Category 3 winds were mostly defoliated, with major limbs broken and near 100% …

variety displays

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Get Out and About at Variety Displays and Field Days

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Events, Varieties

By Peter Chaires Each year, citrus breeding and research teams go to great lengths to host variety displays, research reviews, tours and field days. These events not only showcase the collective pursuit of industry needs and priorities, but they afford stakeholders an opportunity to monitor the progress and interact directly with scientists and support staff. This is an investment of …

Danyluk

Association Names Danyluk Researcher of the Year

Daniel CooperAwards

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has presented University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Professor Michelle Danyluk its 2024 Researcher of the Year Award. The award was presented at FFVA’s recent annual convention in Marco Island. The honor is given to individuals who have dedicated themselves and their work to improving Florida agriculture. Danyluk works in …

citrus

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Legacy of Citrus Service

Daniel CooperPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I recently met Megan and Jeffrey Forbes at a presentation I gave on the Citrus Label Trail during Preservation on Main Street’s annual meeting in Tallahassee. They are interested in adding Alachua and Marion counties to the Citrus Label Trail. Megan is a board member of the Old Florida Heritage Highway, and Jeffrey is the development …

harvest

Cold-Hardy Citrus Concerns Prior to Harvest

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Harvesting

Cold-hardy citrus growers are on the cusp of starting another harvest season. Management options need to continue up until the first crops are plucked from the trees, according to Certified Crop Adviser Bill Barber with Ag Services LLC. Barber spoke at a citrus workshop on Sept. 24 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office …

june

All In For Citrus Podcast, September 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Fresh, Packing

Mark Ritenour, professor of postharvest technology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), joined the September episode of the All In For Citrus podcast to provide a recap of Packinghouse Day. The event was held Sept. 12 at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Based at the Indian River Research and …

October

Sneak Peek: October 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek

With the news that oxytetracycline (OTC) has been approved for a third consecutive year of trunk injection in Florida citrus, growers are looking to optimize their applications for the coming season. The October cover story in Citrus Industry magazine aims to help growers make the most of their OTC injections. University of Florida researchers tell the good, the bad and …

organic citrus

Transforming Organic Citrus Production

Daniel CooperBiologicals, Cover Crops, Organic

Organic citrus growing presents unique hurdles in Florida, Texas and other southern states. Poor soil quality, nutrient deficiencies and a limited range of pest control options plague organic production. But the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Davie Kadyampakeni is poised to transform the future of organic citrus growing. He aims to do that with a …

brown ro

What To Do if Brown Rot Surprises You

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney It is late summer or early fall, and the usual time to consider brown rot treatment options has passed. However, you smell a sharp fermented fruit odor. When you look closer, fruit have the telltale soft brown lesions of brown rot. What options exist to minimize losses now? It is too late for the traditional control options …

Hurricane Debby

Hurricane Debby Citrus Production Losses Could Reach $13 Million

Daniel CooperEconomics, hurricane

There were no reports of significant or widespread losses for citrus crops due to August’s Hurricane Debby, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reported recently. But the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program stated in a preliminary assessment of agricultural damages that low-level production losses across a wide swath of citrus acreage could reach $13 million. …

tour

Initial 2024–25 Forecasts for California Navels and Mandarins

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, has issued initial 2024–25 forecasts for California’s navel orange crop and for part of the mandarin crop. NAVEL ORANGES The initial 2024-25 California navel orange forecast is 78 million cartons, up 2% from the previous year. The forecast is based on …