By Evan G. Johnson and Renato Bassanezi In February 2016, I (Evan Johnson) had the opportunity to tour citrus production areas in Parana and São Paulo states in Brazil as part of collaborations with researchers at Fundecitrus, a grower-supported research foundation. In addition to the fruitful discussions with research colleagues, I also had the opportunity to visit with growers in São …
Grower: Try Fewer Inputs for HLB Before Quitting
Mid-Florida Citrus Foundation grove’s experience of doubled production while cutting expenses in half is not unusual and should encourage some growers to hang on in the face of HLB. So says foundation President Glenn Beck. “It’s a scenario we’ve seen many times outside of the foundation,” says Beck, a grower and caretaker. “They (HLB-infected trees) seem to be recovering somewhat …
A Look at Brazilian HLB Management
University of Florida citrus Extension agent Steve Futch recently took a trip to Brazil with other Florida citrus industry members. The weeklong trip was spent meeting with large and small growers and learning about HLB management practices. He says that you have to look beyond just your property and see how you can work with neighbors to manage psyllids. Those …
Help Fight HLB, Take the Bactericide Survey
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) has selected AgNet Media, owner of Citrus Expo and Citrus Industry magazine, to administer a grower survey on bactericide use. CRDF is asking that all Florida citrus growers participate in the survey so that the industry can gain a better understanding of how these products are being used against HLB. Three commercial bactericide …
Citrus Growers Share HLB Tips
Sharing information, conducting field trials, being efficient, replanting, thermotherapy and managing tree stress are some of the practices five growers think might help manage HLB. The growers were panelists discussing possible ways to survive the devastating disease during Florida Citrus Mutual’s recent annual conference in Bonita Springs. Bill Barber of Lykes Brothers started and ended his presentation with a call …
Discussion on Bactericides for HLB Summarized
Laurie Hurner, Highlands County Extension director and citrus agent, summarizes grower discussions about bactericides for HLB at a roundtable event on June 8 in Sebring. She says most growers seem to be using the products. “Some of them are having to make decisions to cut out or change other production practices, other inputs, to make room in their budgets for …
Gose Discusses Citrus Bactericides for HLB and Production
Citrus grower John Gose with Lykes Brothers joined 30 others discussing the use of bactericides for HLB at a Sebring roundtable event on Wednesday. Gose says his company has made one application of bactericides and is in the process of making a second. “So far we haven’t seen a lot,” he says. “It’ll be probably fall before we start recognizing …
Citrus Grower Addresses Bactericides for HLB, Production and Pricing
Wauchula citrus grower Kenny Sanders discussed on Wednesday the use of bactericides with HLB, production and pricing with more than 40 others at a grower roundtable in Wauchula. Like several other growers, he says his early-mid orange production was down this season (by 30 percent) while his Valencia crop was up 7 to 8 percent. “Pound solids were down everywhere,” …
PFD, Bactericides for HLB are Top Citrus Grower Concerns
Postbloom fruit drop (PFD), along with the use of bactericides to control HLB, were the big issues for more than 40 participants in a grower roundtable Wednesday in Wauchula. LeAnna Himrod, one of the roundtable hosts, summarizes the issues addressed. Regarding bactericides, she reports: “There were a lot of questions about the bactericides regarding timing: What’s the best time of …
Disrupting Psyllid Mating to Control HLB
By: R. W. Mankin, B. Rohde and S. McNeill The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the primary vector of the devastating huanglongbing (HLB) disease of citrus. Efficient monitoring of ACP at low population densities is essential to conduct management programs with timely effectiveness for protection of Florida groves. Extensive research is being conducted to better understand ACP biology and behavior, …
Effect of HLB: Citrus Land Sales Up, Prices Down
Increased citrus land sales in 2015 at substantially lower prices show some citrus growers, especially smaller ones, are capitulating to HLB, says Dean Saunders of Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate. Saunders’ company released the land sales data at its annual Lay of the Land Conference on Friday. Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire AntsJune 8, …
Why Florida Citrus Will Survive HLB
Speaking at the Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park on Tuesday, University of Florida genetics researcher Fred Gmitter asked the question, “Will Florida’s citrus industry survive HLB?” In an interview after his presentation, he gave several reasons why he thinks the citrus industry will not only survive HLB, but thrive. Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire …
Citrus Grower Practices and HLB – What Works?
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) over the next year will try to find a method of determining what individual citrus grower practices have been successful against HLB, CRDF Chief Operations Officer Harold Browning reports. Download Audio
Produce Pros Under 40 Years of Age Honored
This year’s winners of the Produce Business 40 Under Forty awards include several young professionals with ties to the citrus industry. Michelle Alo, 38, is vice president of marketing at Kings River Packing, LP in California. She joined the company as director of marketing in 2022 and was promoted to her current position in 2024. She has been part of …
ReMedium TI Receives Full Section 3 Label
TJ BioTech LLC has announced that, as of June 11, 2026, ReMedium TI has received a full Section 3 label and registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with state approval from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The approved label allows for two consecutive years of treatment, starting with the 2026–27 season, followed by a one-year …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: NVDMC Research Focus for 2026–27
By Peter Chaires Spring is planning season for most Florida citrus organizations. New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) is no exception. The board recently met with all breeding teams to review 2025–26 sponsored projects and establish research priorities for 2026–27. Though some aspects of these projects will be covered in greater depth in future articles, this month’s column is …
Honors Bestowed at Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference
During the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference, Ned Hancock was presented with the Citrus Achievement Award trophy during a special ceremony at the event’s industry luncheon. Hancock was selected as this year’s winner for his years of dedicated service to the industry and optimism that the industry will overcome HLB and other challenges. In his acceptance speech, Hancock spent much …
Explore the 2026 Citrus Variety Guide
By Jamie Burrow and Tripti Vashisth If you haven’t had a chance yet, take a few minutes to explore the new 2026 University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Variety Guide. You’ll find it beginning on page 21 of the April 2026 issue of the UF/IFAS Citrus Magazine. WHAT IT INCLUDES This guide is designed to …
Hancock Honored With Citrus Achievement Award
Some of Ned Hancock’s earliest memories illustrate what set him on the path to become a citrus grower. His grandfather would pick him up on Saturdays with some tasks to complete in the groves. Then his father awakened his entrepreneurial spirit in his early teens. “My dad had bought a piece of land that had some old seedling orange trees,” …
Biocontrol of Psyllids Is Successful in Cyprus
Classical biological control is having a very significant impact on populations of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Cyprus, according to Ángel Marhuenda, director general of common agricultural policy for the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA). ACP is the vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Marhuenda said, however, that “the detection of residual populations of the vector indicates that continued …




























