Florida citrus growers may have a new tool to help them slow the presence of HLB in already diseased trees, courtesy of researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The researchers found that injecting a benign Xylella fastidiosa EB92-1 bacteria biocontrol into infected citrus trees over a period of six years reduced the incidence …
Florida’s Aldicarb Decision Challenged
Amid arguments about the troubled citrus industry and the health of farmworkers, a chemical company is challenging a state decision to block aldicarb, a pesticide that could help fight citrus greening disease. AgLogic Chemical, LLC filed an administrative challenge on May 11, about three weeks after the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) denied an application to use …
Mexican Lemon Sector Sets Sights on Asia
By Francisco Seva Rivadulla The Mexican lemon sector is betting on the diversification of international markets and has its sights set on the Asian market. Oliver Huesmann, director of Fruit Consulting and expert in the Asian market, says lemons have possibilities in all Asian countries. “What is needed is a promotion of this Mexican product so that the consumer knows …
Growing Matters: Protect Bees, Environment and the Applicators Themselves
Companies spend a lot of time developing product labels. “The companies that make the crop protection products work very hard to make them right,” Valent USA’s Senior Field R&D Scientist Craig Campbell said. “I work on labels. They are there as the most important guide for a grower, an applicator or anyone using a pesticide.” In the latest episode of …
Sap Analysis for Detecting Nutrient Levels
Monitoring tree nutrient content via sap analysis is a fairly new concept in Florida citrus, but has at least a decades-long history in other crops. That history and other background information about the technique were addressed in a recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) virtual seminar. The workshop’s purpose was to introduce Florida’s citrus growers …
Scouting for Lebbeck Mealybugs
By Lauren Diepenbrock Lebbeck mealybugs (Nipaecoccus viridis) have quickly made an impact on citrus groves in Central and South Florida since the pest was first found in 2019. While management techniques are still being studied, this article describes actions growers can take to find this pest before it becomes a problem. SOOTY MOLDLebbeck mealybugs excrete sugary honeydew, much like many …
Trees Delayed From Nurseries
Citrus acreage is expanding across South Georgia and North Florida. But those interested in planting more acres may have to wait years to receive trees from nurseries, says Jake Price, University of Georgia Lowndes County Extension coordinator. “If you’re wanting a tree now, it’s probably going to be 2023. If you had ordered it six months ago, it might have …
Growers Discuss Fruit Drop and More
Fruit drop, drought, fruit quality, production costs, deer and Diaprepes root weevil were among problems that bothered Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) members in the 2020-21 season. Those were the issues raised by panelists at a PRVCGA grower roundtable luncheon on May 4 in Hardee County, Florida. “The fruit drop has been the biggest problem this year,” …
Updating Guidelines for New Plantings
Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are taking a whole-systems approach to update current recommendations for new plantings. A research project, “Establishing Healthy Citrus Plantings in the Face of Persistent HLB Pressure,” is led by UF/IFAS entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock. According to Diepenbrock, current guidelines were created pre-HLB and therefore are out of date …
Alico Fruit Price Rises; Production Declines
Alico, Inc. reported net income of approximately $8.7 million and earnings of $1.16 per share for the six-month period ending March 31, 2021. That’s about double the net income of approximately $4.4 million and earnings of 58 cents per share in the same period of the prior year. The increase in net income is primarily due to greater revenue generated from the Alico Citrus segment. The greater …
Graduate Student Studies Grapefruit Trial
An experimental grapefruit grove that graduate student Martin Zapien planted in Florida’s Indian River region is expected to help local growers with future planting decisions. The 20-acre grove with more than 5,000 trees is at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC). The 1- to 2-year-old trees are new …
EPA Ordered to Act on Chlorpyrifos
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on April 29 applauded a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make a required safety finding for chlorpyrifos residues detected on food. Chlorpyrifos is a widely used agricultural pesticide approved for use on more than 80 food crops. The court decision orders the EPA to …
Peace River Growers Celebrate OJ Day
More than 40 growers, product representatives and others celebrated National OJ Day May 4 at grower Kenny Sanders’ grove near Wauchula, Florida. The occasion was the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) spring roundtable luncheon, which featured a panel of growers discussing current citrus issues. The event was one of the first in-person grower gatherings for the Florida citrus …
Growing Matters: Four Rs Protect Bees, Keep Efficacy and Save Money
Industry leaders recommend the Four Rs as a guide for applicators and producers. The guidelines are critical for protecting pollinators, retaining product efficacy and ultimately saving the producer money. In the latest episode of the BeSure! campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition, Syngenta’s Agronomic Service Representative Garrett Gilcrease said the Four Rs include the right place, right time, right rate and …
What to Consider Before Planting Cover Crops
For those interested in cover crops for citrus groves, the end of harvest and the upcoming start of the rainy season is a great time to start planning. Cover crops can have a variety of benefits to soil health. These include increasing soil organic matter and microbial diversity and activity as well as reducing weed growth. While research is still …
Celebrate National OJ Day
Today, May 4, is National OJ Day. It is the ideal opportunity to promote the many wonderful attributes of orange juice. Social media is a great place to boast about the benefits of orange juice. Consider posting about OJ today on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. Post a …
Grower Instigates Sap Analysis Research
Indian River area citrus grower Cody Estes provided the impetus for an upcoming research project into the use of sap analysis for monitoring citrus tree nutrient levels. The analysis method has been used in other crops. Advocates declare it to be a relatively inexpensive way to quickly determine nutrient status so growers can make corrections before nutrient excess or deficiency …
When a Pesticide Doesn’t Work
By Juanita Popenoe Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. Pesticides are only one part of a comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) plan and should be used strategically. What happens …
Survey on Cover Crops and Reflective Mulch
Florida growers are being asked to take a survey on the use of cover crops and reflective mulch in citrus production. These systems are being investigated as potential means to improve soil health and reduce pest pressure from Asian citrus psyllids, which transmit the destructive citrus disease HLB. The survey is being conducted by researchers with the University of Florida Institute …
How to Stay HLB-Free in North Florida Groves
As temperatures increase across Florida, so does the risk for huanglongbing (HLB) disease, known as citrus greening. While the southern and central portions of the state remain vulnerable to HLB and Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) that spread the disease, growers in North Florida and South Georgia have so far been spared. But Xavier Martini, University of Florida entomologist at the …




























