August

Sneak Peek: August 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

Despite low production levels this season in Florida, grower success stories can still be seen in citrus. Wm. G. Roe & Sons is a prime example. The August issue of Citrus Industry magazine tells how the century-old citrus business is still flourishing. As the next generation of leadership steps up in the Roe family, the business is also implementing a …

cold-hardy citrus

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Strong Support for Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Cold Hardy

By Peter Chaires The citrus research program at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) includes several projects aimed at assisting growers in the cold-hardy citrus region. Let’s take a look at what researchers are working on. EVALUATING SCIONS AND ROOTSTOCKS Presently, the citrus industry in North Florida faces …

April

All In For Citrus Podcast, July 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

As citrus growers try to stabilize production in the midst of endemic HLB, maintaining the industry’s infrastructure is critically important. Two key sectors of that infrastructure are citrus nurseries and juice processors. In the July episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research …

nutrient

Citrus Nutrient Research Update

Daniel CooperNutrition, Tip of the Week

By Davie Kadyampakeni, Muhammad Shahid and Alisheikh Atta Current citrus nutrient guidelines are based on studies of healthy citrus trees conducted in the pre-huanglongbing (HLB) era. These guidelines may no longer be valid for the present situation where 100% of mature citrus trees in Florida are HLB-affected. Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …

crop insurance

A Crop Insurance Policy That Has Paid Off for Citrus Growers

Daniel CooperEconomics, Insurance

By Ariel Singerman Federal crop insurance is a key component of the farm safety net because it allows growers to obtain coverage against losses and, therefore, manage risk at a subsidized premium rate. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (RMA) started offering Florida citrus growers the option to insure their crop under a policy called Actual …

fruit fly

Queensland Fruit Fly Host List Includes Citrus

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) in June established a host list of regulated articles for the Queensland fruit fly (QFF). The pest, which has been found in California, is native to Australia and is not endemic to the United States. QFF attacks more than 120 plant species, including numerous commercial varieties of fruits …

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Ag Policy Leaders to Headline Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is scheduled for Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This year’s event will be the second at the fairgrounds — a venue which was well received by attendees of last year’s Expo. The event features an expansive trade show providing growers with an opportunity to learn about the products and services …

citrus forecast

Final U.S. Citrus Forecast for 2023–24

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) issued its final citrus forecast for the 2023–24 season on July 10. FLORIDA The Florida all-orange forecast rose 1% from the June forecast to 17.96 million boxes. That exceeds 2022–23 production of 15.82 million boxes but is far below 2021–22 production of 41.2 million boxes. Non-Valencia orange production is …

European

European Citrus Production Update

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) semi-annual European Union (EU) citrus report forecasts a decline in mandarin production and an increase in lemon production for 2023–24.  TANGERINES AND MANDARINS EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2023–24 is forecast at 2.6 million metric tons (MMT), down from 2.9 MMT the prior season. USDA FAS reported that unfavorable …

Chile

Chile Citrus Production Projections

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

In a recent semi-annual report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projected 2023–24 lemon production in Chile will increase from the prior year while the country’s orange and tangerine/mandarin production will decrease. LEMONS Lemon production in 2023–24 is projected to grow by 6.7% from the prior year and reach 175,000 metric tons (MT). Lemon planted area …

symposium

KeyPlex Citrus Symposium to Address Fruit Drop

Daniel CooperEvents, Fruit Drop

KeyPlex has scheduled a citrus symposium for July 25 at the SEVEN Sebring Raceway Hotel. The meeting will focus on research conducted by Vladimiro Guarnaccia, associate professor of plant pathology at the University of Torino in Italy. He will present evidence on the origins of fruit drop. Research sponsored by the European Union and KeyPlex at the University of Torino …

export expectations

Export Expectations Changed for Moroccan Citrus

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Export expectations are the only major changes made in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) semi-annual citrus report for Morocco. Production forecasts remain the same as in the agency’s December 2023 annual citrus report.Here’s a look at the export changes: TANGERINES/MANDARINS Tangerine/mandarin export expectations for 2023–24 were revised down to 400,000 metric tons (MT) from …

global

Slight Changes in European Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projected a slight decrease in European orange production in 2023–24 and a slight increase in orange juice (OJ) and grapefruit production. ORANGES The USDA FAS semi-annual report projects 2023–24 EU orange production at 5.475 million metric tons (MMT), down from the already short prior-year crop of 5.58 MMT. Orange production …

irrigation

Irrigation and Fertilization Advice for Georgia Citrus

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Irrigation, Nutrition

Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) county Extension coordinator, recently wrote the following article about irrigation and fertility for Georgia citrus: I don’t think it has rained since my last blog! Make sure to check your irrigation to make sure it’s working properly. In the research plot, it is very common for the microjets to be stopped up or not spraying properly. …

July

Sneak Peek: July 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek

The conversation in Florida citrus continues to center around trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC). The July issue of Citrus Industry magazine presents the latest information on the OTC topic. OTC product labels require a one-year pause in application after two years of use. This requirement was put in place to prevent pathogen resistance to the product. Florida growers who have …

Citrus Achievement Award

Brenda Eubanks Burnette Takes Home Citrus Achievement Award

Daniel CooperAwards, Events

One of the highlights of the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference is the presentation of the Citrus Achievement Award trophy. This year’s winner, Brenda Eubanks Burnette, was presented with the trophy during the event’s industry luncheon. Burnette received several standing ovations as she was presented with the award. Frank Giles, editor-in-chief of AgNet Media, said it was refreshing to step …

April

All In For Citrus Podcast, June 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

The educational seminars at the June Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference covered a wide range of topics intended to give growers hope that progress is being made in the fight against HLB. During the June All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, …

food prices

Sustaining Citrus in the Face of Rising Food Prices

Daniel CooperEconomics, Florida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Consumer Orange Juice Tracker shows that consumers are increasingly reporting changes in their food shopping behaviors in response to rising food prices. From 2018 to 2024, the percentage of consumers who reported no change in their shopping behaviors has consistently decreased, dropping from 21% in 2018 to an estimated 18% in 2024. In contrast, …

Highlands County

New Highlands County Agent’s Duties Include Citrus

Daniel Cooperextension, Florida

Alissa Hevesh on June 17 became the new Highlands County agriculture production/natural resources Extension agent. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences position includes citrus agent duties. Hevesh received a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies and a minor in leadership studies from Eckerd College in 2018. She received a master’s degree in food and …

growers

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: What Florida Citrus Growers Are Talking About

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source

By Peter Chaires When June rolls around, the last of the oranges are generally coming in and it’s time to reassess what worked and identify areas for improvement. Research-based entities are making every effort to steer dollars to where they will have the most immediate impact. The name of the game right now is capacity preservation. We must do what …