The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is putting pesticide spray drift protections in place 15 years sooner in the review process for new pesticides than has historically occurred. The protections are for farmworkers, their families and the general public near where pesticides are applied. The earlier protections for spray drift were announced July 15. EPA will now assess the potential …
Low pH Does Not Cause Tree Injury in Trunk Injections
Sponsored Content In this special series, Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, tackles questions about optimizing trunk-injection applications to treat HLB. Q: Some are suggesting that oxytetracycline injections may be creating tree injury due to low pH. What have you learned about this from your ongoing research? Tom Johnson: A substantial amount of research has been conducted by TJ BioTech …
Alico Increases Production and Names New Chairman
Alico, Inc.’s Citrus Division harvested more fruit in the three months and nine months ended June 30 than during the same periods in the prior fiscal year. Harvests for the three-month and nine-month periods were approximately 0.8 million and 3.1 million boxes, respectively, compared to 0.4 million boxes and 2.7 million boxes, respectively, in the prior fiscal year. POUND SOLIDS AND …
CRAFT Applications Open Until Nov. 1
Applications are available online for Cycle Six of the traditional Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) New Tree Planting Program and Round Three of the Existing Tree Therapies Program. Growers may submit their applications until 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. The CRAFT board of directors, with the help of the Technical Working Group, has established a list of factors …
Update on Global Orange and OJ Production
Global orange production for 2023–24 is expected to rise slightly while orange juice (OJ) production dips. This forecast is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) Citrus: World Markets and Trade July report. ORANGES Global orange production for 2023–24 is estimated to rise 1% to 47.4 million tons. Lower production in Brazil and the European Union …
Crop Insurance Options Expanded
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance options for some specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is allowing enterprise units (EUs) by organic farming practice, adding enterprise unit eligibility for several crops, and making additional policy updates. The following changes impacting citrus will be made beginning with the …
California Quarantine Updates
Federal and state officials have removed and reduced Oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantines in two California counties and expanded the huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine in another county. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY On July 5, the …
Assistance Expanded for Food Safety Certification
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to include medium-sized and small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. The program includes assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year …
Stressed Farmers Turn to Alcohol to Cope
A new University of Georgia (UGA) study published in the Journal of Agromedicine reveals that one in five U.S. farmers report binge drinking alcohol when they experience high levels of stress. Farming is a uniquely stressful vocation. Farmers work long hours performing labor-intensive, repetitive and often dangerous tasks. Farming is among the 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States, …
Satsuma Pruning and Thinning Trials
University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agents Jake Price and Sydni Ingram recently shared information about UGA satsuma pruning and thinning trials. An edited version of their Cold Hardy Citrus Connection article follows: The percentage of cull fruit in satsumas is very high due to the fruit being too soft, too green or too big. Satsumas are very cold hardy, delicious, …
Using Herbicides in Hot Weather
By Ramdas Kanissery Managing weeds during the summer is crucial for Florida citrus. However, due to the high temperatures typical of Florida’s summer months, several factors must be considered when using herbicides in citrus groves during hot weather. INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS High heat and drought stress can slow plant growth and affect how herbicides move or translocate in weeds. When temperatures …
Greening Bacterium Causes Changes in Psyllids
Recent studies, including a partnership project between Fundecitrus and the University of California, revealed that the citrus greening bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus causes physiological changes in psyllids, posing additional challenges to management strategies. An increase in the number of eggs, more frequent dispersal flights over longer distances and greater attractiveness to the host are some of the changes observed in …
European Orange Production to Hit 10-Year Low
Total European Union (EU) orange production in 2023–24 is expected to be the lowest in the last 10 years, the European Commission reported. The commission said production could fall by 5.4% year-on-year, to 5.6 million tons. The expected drop in production is due to a production decline in Spain, the largest EU orange-producing country. On the other hand, production is …
CRDF Approves Project to Enhance Breeding Efforts
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) convened for its July board of directors meeting with several projects under consideration. The board approved funding of a work program for the plant improvement teams of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The project is funded for three years. It …
CLas-Positive Psyllid Sample in Riverside County
An adult Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample from a residential property in the San Jacinto Valley area of Riverside County, California, has tested positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacterium that causes huanglongbing (HLB). The positive sample was collected as part of the Multi-Pest Risk Survey on a residential property in Hemet. It was confirmed positive for CLas on …
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisors Needed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting nominations to fill up to 25 upcoming vacancies on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). The committee was established to develop recommendations for submission to the U.S. secretary of agriculture on issues affecting the produce industry. Nomination packages must be postmarked on or before Sept. 3. The packages should include …
No Shortage of Australian Orange Juice
Citrus Australia has assured Australian consumers they will continue to have consistent access to orange juice made from locally grown fruit. Adverse growing conditions and the spread of the huanglongbing (HLB) disease have reduced orange production in Brazil, Florida and several other key citrus-growing regions around the world. This has created a global shortage of orange juice concentrate, prompting media …
A Look at Argentine Lemon Production
Fresh lemon production in Argentina in 2023–24 is forecast to decrease by 11% to 1,700 metric tons (MT). The forecast was made in a semi-annual report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). USDA FAS also has revised the number of fresh lemons that will be processed in 2023–24 to 1,340 MT, reflecting a 6% decrease …
Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine Expanded in Texas
On June 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) expanded a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine in Harlingen, Texas. The expansion of the quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection between May 26 and June 11 of three wild mated Mexflies from traps in …
Foliar Feed Your Trees
By Mongi Zekri Foliar fertilizer application is certainly not a new concept to the citrus industry. For over six decades, foliar fertilization has been recommended to correct zinc, manganese, boron, copper and magnesium deficiencies in citrus. It is now common knowledge in agriculture that properly nourished crops may tolerate insect pests and diseases. Traditionally, citrus growers try to achieve optimum …





























