Brazil’s Fundecitrus recently released the orange tree inventory of the São Paulo and west-southwest Minas Gerais Citrus Belt. Fundecitrus conducted the inventory in March. Orange orchards occupy 410,974 hectares, an increase of 1.4% from the previous year. Out of this total, the main orange varieties account for 400,260 hectares. The remaining varieties, primarily destined for the fresh fruit market, occupy …
Spanish Lemon Production on the Decline
Spanish production of lemons for 2025–26 is projected at 828,000 tons, a decrease of 9.6% from the 915,000 tons of the previous season. That comes on top of a production decline registered in 2024–25, when the crop was 20% lower than in 2023–24. The fall in production is not explained by a significant reduction in area. The 47,996 hectares in …
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 …
Reducing Trunk Injury From OTC Injections
By Ute Albrecht, Larissa Nunes and Igor Silva Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) requires drilling a hole into the trunk and injecting a foreign substance into the tree. Not only does the physical damage from drilling cause injury, but the application of chemicals can exacerbate both the external and internal damage. BARK CRACKING Externally, aside from the drill hole, bark …
Top Fungal Threats Behind Preharvest Fruit Rot
A new study has identified several fungal pathogens associated with preharvest sweet orange fruit spoilage. It provides insights that could help citrus growers better understand and manage fruit rot problems in the grove. The research, “Morphological Identification of Fungi Associated with Preharvest Spoilage of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) Fruit in Bilo Nopha, Southwestern Ethiopia,” was published in the journal …
Ag Groups Ask for Fair and Balanced Trade
A coalition of fresh fruit and vegetable organizations from California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas on June 2 asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for a managed approach to import volumes. Their letter to Greer sought that managed approach “particularly during the domestic marketing seasons when the timing of foreign competition is itself the injury.” Citrus-specific associations signing the letter …
How HLB Research Has Evolved
Huanglongbing (HLB, or citrus greening) disease has been the focus of an enormous amount of scientific research over the past two decades. A new study — “Bibliometric Mapping of Citrus Greening Disease Reflecting Trends, Shifts and Focus Areas” — takes a unique look at that research. It analyzes thousands of scientific publications to identify where scientists have concentrated their efforts …
Drop in Global Lemon Supply
A recent review of the 2025–26 global lemon market reported a drop in supply, highlighted by Türkiye’s production collapse. Economists Pablo Resco Sánchez and Pablo Santiago Izu Pérez of Platform Land conducted the review. According to the review, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast for the 2025–26 season put global lemon production at around 10.1 million tons. That’s a 6.6% …
Microjet Irrigation Most Effective Freeze-Protection Method
Microjet sprinklers provide the most effective way for producers in the cold-hardy citrus region to protect their trees from freeze damage. Microjet irrigation is even more effective than drip irrigation and overhead irrigation. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, stressed that point during the recent Georgia-Florida Irrigation Expo at the UGA Vidalia Onion and …
Declining Demand for Orange Juice
In a recent forecast of a challenging 2026–27 season for the global orange juice (OJ) market, Rabobank addresses the expected continued decline in OJ demand. Edited excerpts from the Rabobank report follow: Demand for OJ shows no signs of recovery. Although global frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) and not from concentrate (NFC) prices have been trending downward since early 2025, …
USDA Has ‘Unprecedented Staffing Crisis’
A new report by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Prospect Partners LLC declared there has been “an unprecedented staffing crisis” within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the past 16 months. Becky Schewe with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Bernie Kluger with Prospect Partners LLC authored the report. They obtained information for the report through a Freedom …
Hurricane Season Forecast Downgraded
Colorado State University (CSU) on June 10 reduced its 2026 Atlantic basin hurricane season forecast and continues to anticipate a below-normal season. The June 10 forecast projects: According to CSU, warm neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions are likely to transition to El Niño shortly, with a high potential for a moderate/strong El Niño for the peak of hurricane season. Sea …
California Responds to Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is responding after invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) insects were found on shipments of grapevines sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 19. GWSS spreads the bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease, a fatal grapevine disease that threatens California vineyards. It can also damage citrus trees, landscape plants …
Benefits of Regularly Drinking OJ Differ by Body Weight
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) reported that a recent study suggests regular orange juice consumption may support heart health while improving blood pressure regulation, lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, benefits can differ from person to person based on body weight. This clinical intervention study examined how drinking orange juice every day affects the body at the molecular level and …
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 …
Forecast for 2026–27 Global Orange Juice Supply
Rabobank recently forecast a challenging 2026–27 harvest year for the global orange juice (OJ) industry. It reported that while global supply is forecast to contract, the ongoing decline in OJ demand is likely to continue. As a result, global frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) prices are expected to struggle to recover sustainably. This article, focusing on OJ supply, consists of …
Agriculture Victories in Florida Budget
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson on June 2 highlighted the major agriculture victories included in the Florida Legislature’s 2026–27 state budget. CITRUS INDUSTRY Florida’s citrus industry received $196 million to support research, cost-share for equipment and infrastructure improvements at citrus nurseries and packinghouses, and the production and increased availability of healthy citrus rootstock. “Florida’s citrus industry remains resilient because …
Boost Natural Defenses Against Psyllids in Summer
By Lukasz Stelinski As summer takes hold in June, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) populations are often high coinciding with availability of new flush. This is also a time when natural enemies can provide meaningful ACP suppression. Growers can improve biological control by making management decisions that help predators and parasitoids survive and function in the grove. MANAGE ANTS One important …
Take Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire Ants
Fire ants can quickly become a serious problem for landowners, producers, large-scale operations, and more. These aggressive invaders pose risks to livestock, people, equipment, and crops, building underground colonies that can thrive and expand if left unchecked. That’s why incorporating a spring fire ant treatment plan is key to sustaining control. Rising temperatures signal a seasonal shift, and an ideal …
Orange Juice: A Fruit or a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage?
A recent international nutrition symposium concluded that evidence supports classifying 100% fruit juice — including 100% orange juice — as a form of fruit rather than as a sugar-sweetened beverage. Unlike sugar-sweetened beverages, 100% orange juice contains naturally occurring sugars from the fruit itself, with no added sugar, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) noted in a summary of the …




















