Specialty crop growers might be aware of the disease sweeping through Florida’s citrus industry. Its impact has been tremendous and has tested the survival of the state’s signature crop. This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the official confirmation of citrus greening disease (also known as huanglongbing or HLB) in Florida. In the past two decades, the state’s output …
Study Shows Impact of HLB Bacterium on Roots
A recent study sheds light on the significant effects of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacterium responsible for HLB, on the root systems of grafted Valencia orange trees. The findings reveal that root system reductions caused by the infection are more extensive than the corresponding aboveground declines. That finding underscores the hidden yet critical impact of the disease below the …
Orange and Tangerine Production in Argentina
Argentine orange and tangerine production are both forecast to decline in 2024–25 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS). Orange production is projected at 620,000 metric tons (MT), down from 760,000 MT the prior year. Tangerine production is projected at 200,000 MT, down from 280,000 MT. REGIONS AND VARIETIES Sweet citrus is grown in both the …
A Look at Chilean Lemon Production
Chilean lemon production is projected to grow by 2.6% in 2024–25, reaching 197,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. Chile’s lemon acreage is expected to reach 10,400 hectares, a 4.8% increase from 2023–24. The increase in area planted is a major reason for the expected production increase. The area planted with lemons …
USDA Increases MASC Program Payment Limit and Extends Deadline
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing an additional $650 million in funding for the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and is extending the application deadline to Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. With a total of $2.65 billion available, MASC helps specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. FSA is also increasing …
Medfly Quarantine Expanded Again
Twice in December, agriculture officials expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine area in California’s Alameda and Santa Clara counties, designated the Fremont quarantine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) made the expansions Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. The quarantine was expanded in response to …
Plan Your 2025 Pest Management
By Lauren Diepenbrock Pest management is a year-round challenge in Florida citrus. With the warm climate, pests are at the ready as soon as plant resources are available to them. With knowledge of invertebrate biology in relation to tree phenology, growers can develop plans to protect fruit and maintain productive citrus trees. HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC PESTS Populations of some highly problematic …
Survey Tracks Hurricane Milton Impacts and OTC Usage
The Florida Citrus State of the Industry Survey seeks input from growers on key issues affecting their groves. While not a scientific survey, it has reflected general trends over the years. This year’s survey asked growers to weigh in on major events like the impact of Hurricane Milton and the performance of trunk-injection therapies. HURRICANE MILTON Hurricane Milton made landfall …
Have a Plan for Freeze Protection
Cold weather is in the forecast with the potential for freezing temperatures in the coming days. That means citrus growers should be thinking about their plans for cold protection. Chris Oswalt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus Extension agent for Polk and Hillsborough counties, recently joined the All In For Citrus podcast to provide details …
Florida Winter Weather Trends
Florida state climatologist David Zierden recently discussed past and present weather impacts on Florida citrus and said the next three months of winter are projected to be warmer than usual. Zierden, of Florida State University’s Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, spoke during a virtual Winter Weather Lunch Break on Dec. 10. PAST Zierden said 13 freezes occurred over a 162-year …
Small Changes for South African Orange Industry
South African orange production and area under production are both forecast to increase by 1% in 2024–25 compared to the prior year. Orange juice production is projected to climb 4%. The forecasts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) are for 1.69 million metric tons (MMT) of orange production, 44,500 hectares of oranges planted, and orange …
Marketing Orange Juice as a Functional Beverage
U.S. consumers have felt the sting of inflation, but that hasn’t kept them from drinking more beverages year after year, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) recently reported. Tina Charpentier of Padilla, the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) marketing and issues management agency, told the FCC that consumers have endured a 30% increase in food prices since 2019. During that same …
Florida Land Protection Program Accepting Applications
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced the opening of an application cycle for landowners to apply to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program partners with farmers and ranchers through rural lands protection easements to preserve working agricultural operations. Landowners can submit applications online through Jan 29, 2025. FDACS will then review the applications …
Tangerine/Mandarin Production to Increase in Chile
Production of tangerines/mandarins in Chile will increase by 13.1% in 2024–25 and total 250,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently projected. PLANTED AREA The area planted with mandarins is projected at 12,700 hectares, a 4.8% increase from 2023–24. Due to high profits, the area planted in the Metropolitana, O’Higgins and Valparaíso regions …
Cost-Share Funds for Water Projects
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is accepting applications for its Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) cost-share program. The program expedites water resource development and alternative water supply projects on agricultural properties by providing funding assistance to implement production-scale best management practices (BMPs). To qualify for funding, projects must be located in the SWFWMD and include one or …
Two New Early-Season Sweet Oranges for Florida Growers
By Manjul Dutt, Sheetal Ramekar and Gary England Developing new citrus cultivars, whether through conventional breeding or genetic engineering methods like transgenics or CRISPR is potentially the most viable long-term strategy to combat huanglongbing (HLB). Identifying potential survivor trees — citrus trees that exhibit disease tolerance in areas with endemic HLB — can also serve as a useful strategy for …
H-2A Wage Rate Methodology Concerns Ag Groups
Eleven agricultural organizations wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to express concerns about the way the H-2A temporary worker program’s adverse effective wage rate (AEWR) is determined. The organizations stated that the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) use of the Farm Labor Survey (FLS) to establish the AEWR “is inconsistent with the intent of the FLS …
Planting Layout Reduces HLB-Spreading Psyllids
A Brazilian study has shown that planting citrus plots parallel to the property boundary reduced HLB-spreading psyllids 12% to 23% compared to plots planted perpendicular to the property boundary. Fundecitrus conducted the study. The São Paulo Research Foundation co-financed it in partnership with Embrapa. Another study conclusion is related to the impact of planting density on border plots. Fundecitrus researcher …
New Legislation Extends Farm Bill and Provides Aid
In one of the last acts of the 118th Congress, lawmakers passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the U.S. government that includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, aid for those impacted by natural disasters and economic assistance for farmers. The CR (American Relief Act, 2025) passed the U.S. House Dec. 20 in a 366-34-1 vote. The Senate …
Rats Wreak Havoc in California Orchards
Rodents, particularly rats, have wreaked havoc in California orchards and vineyards this year. Some growers have reported yield losses, damage to trees and destruction of irrigation lines, electrical wiring and other infrastructure. Farmers face soaring costs to replace what has been destroyed or damaged, but also to control populations of the pests. The rodent problem was initially reported in San …





























