HLB

Panel on Bactericides for HLB Summarized

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

Harold Browning, chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, summarizes a Citrus Expo panel in which four growers discussed their use of bactericides for HLB. The bactericides became available for use for HLB this spring. “They’re kind of working in the dark,” Browning says of the panelists and other growers trying bactericides. “They’re having to test and …

bactericides for HLB

Snively Discusses Use of Bactericides for HLB

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

Jim Snively of Southern Gardens Citrus says his company is trying bactericides for HLB on one-tenth of its 10,000 citrus acres. The company is working with the Citrus Research and Development Foundation to analyze fruit drop, tree condition and more in blocks treated with bactericides. He believes it will take two to three years to determine if the bactericides are …

Thank You for Another Great Year

Kelsey FryCitrus Expo

Dear Growers, Industry Members and Friends: On behalf of everyone at Citrus Expo, we would like to extend our appreciation to all attendees, exhibitors and sponsors of this year’s event. We are overwhelmed with the generosity and support from all levels of participants that joined us this year. The Citrus Expo Shindig, held on Wednesday night, allowed everyone to relax …

Bactericide Research Appears Promising

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Expo, Citrus Greening

U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist Bob Shatters updated Citrus Expo seminar attendees on results from ongoing bactericide research trials. He was among the many speakers who discussed tools for HLB in the seminar program. “The first year of applications, we were detecting reductions in the bacterial population of the plant,” Shatters said. “And we did see that continue after the …

EPA Approves Temporary Use of Bactericides for HLB

Ernie NeffBactericides, Citrus Greening

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week approved the temporary use of three bactericides on HLB-infected citrus trees. Florida citrus growers had already been using the products this year because Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam issued a crisis declaration allowing their use. Citrus Research and Development Foundation Chief Operations Officer Harold Browning announced the EPA decision at Citrus …

Post-Bloom Fruit Drop Survey

Tacy CalliesPests

A Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Research Management Committee meeting was called on June 29, 2016, to discuss post-bloom fruit drop (PFD) caused by Colletotricum spp. in Florida. In this meeting, it was suggested that there is an opportunity to retrospectively investigate PFD management strategies from 2016 to determine if grower treatment programs led to variable results. A survey …

mandarins

UF/IFAS Scientists Zeroing in on Better Mandarins

Daniel CooperCitrus

In their quest to develop higher quality mandarins, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are zeroing in on the traits that will help them breed the best fruit. Last year, they released the mandarin cultivar currently known as ‘7-6-27,’ which UF/IFAS researchers say is soaring with interest, and with more than 100,000 trees already ordered. Sponsored …

Experiences with HLB

HLB Experiences and Thoughts Shared

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, Grapefruit, Pests

Tom Stopyra, technical crop advisor for The Packers of Indian River, shares experiences with HLB and offers opinions on numerous other topics he addressed at a recent seminar in Immokalee. Regarding the record high populations of HLB-spreading psyllids throughout Florida’s citrus belt this year, Stopyra says: “We’ve never seen populations like we have this year, even though we’ve been spraying …

HLB and psyllid levels

Record Psyllid Levels and the Good CHMAs Do

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, Pests

Populations of HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids have been at record levels since April, University of Florida Citrus Health Management Area (CHMA) Program Coordinator Brandon Page told growers at a recent seminar in Immokalee. Page thinks abandoned groves that aren’t sprayed and therefore harbor psyllids are part of the reason for the recent population increase. “I think we’re also seeing money …

Florida Producers Invited to UF Agriculture and Gardening Day

Kelsey FryAgriculture

Anyone with ties to the agricultural industry is encouraged to get tickets for 2016 Agriculture and Gardening Day at the University of Florida Gators homecoming football game October 15th. Dr. Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, hopes farmers and ranchers from across the state will attend.         Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising …

Moving Murcott from the Top of the Tree to the Bottom

Tacy CalliesRootstocks

By Bill Castle and Luiz A.B.C. Vasconcellos Maybe it’s time to try a scion as a rootstock! Murcott is widely known as a scion variety, but it might be an interesting rootstock based on grower experience in Brazil as well as rootstock trial results and some commercial use in Florida. Mandarin rootstocks and their hybrids have generally good horticultural traits, especially …

Canker Is Manageable, Grower Crop Advisor Says

Ernie NeffGrapefruit, Pests

Tom Stopyra, technical crop advisor for the Packers of Indian River, told more than 75 growers at an Immokalee seminar last week how his company gets excellent canker management utilizing a four-pronged program: “You have to control the leafminer. You have to have frequent copper sprays at a lower rate. You have to have windbreaks and sanitation, which is the …

Ag Community Urged to Have Strong Turnout for 2016 UF Homecoming Game

Kelsey FryAgriculture

AgNet Media is proud to join University of Florida Athletics and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) to promote the 2016 Agriculture and Gardening Day at UF, when the Gators play University of Missouri Tigers at UF’s homecoming football game, October 15, 2016. The staff at AgNet Media are excited to support an event organized to show appreciation …

Why Should Growers Take the Bactericide Survey?

Kelsey FryAgriculture, Bactericides

With the 2016 Citrus Expo approaching, Harold Browning, chief operations officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), is reminding Florida growers to take the bactericide survey if they haven’t already done so. The deadline to complete the survey is August 10. It can be found online at citrusexpo.net. Browning said that the bactericide survey results will be a …

HLB in Brazil: What’s Working and What Florida Can Use

Kelsey FryCitrus Greening

By Evan G. Johnson and Renato Bassanezi In February 2016, I (Evan Johnson) had the opportunity to tour citrus production areas in Parana and São Paulo states in Brazil as part of collaborations with researchers at Fundecitrus, a grower-supported research foundation. In addition to the fruitful discussions with research colleagues, I also had the opportunity to visit with growers in São …

Senator Rubio: ‘If We Don’t Have Replanting, We’re Going to Lose the Industry’

Kelsey FryAgriculture, Citrus, Citrus Greening, Legislative

On July 21, 2016, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) visited the Lakeland area to tour a citrus grove affected by citrus greening.  Sen. Rubio was joined by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. They visited Gapway Groves in Auburndale to meet growers and industry leaders to discuss the grave problem facing Florida’s citrus industry. Rubio and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) …

Editorial: Florida’s Controversial Algae Bloom

Josh McGillCitrus

Comments from AgNet Media’s Gary Cooper and a Guest Commentary from a Former Florida Lawmaker As a Florida native having grown up on a small farm in eastern Palm Beach County, I’ve had firsthand knowledge of South Florida’s algae blooms for decades. As a professional journalist dedicated to the ag news beat in Florida for nearly 40 years, and having …

South Florida Algae Bloom

Kelsey FryAgriculture, Water

The algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River and the Indian River Lagoon have gained national coverage and become quite a controversial topic. The blue-green algae, called cyanobacteria, has affected individuals, businesses and farming in South Florida. Charles Shinn, director of government and community affairs for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, says that Farm Bureau is concerned about the …

Celebrate Florida Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cheer On The Florida Gators Oct. 15

Kelsey FryAgriculture

    Farmers, ranchers, landscapers – and everyone in between – are invited to celebrate Agriculture and Gardening Day at the University of Florida’s homecoming football game, Oct. 15, 2016. UF Athletics and the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are hosting the event and offering discounted tickets to anyone connected to agriculture in the state, including their families …

HLB

Grower: Try Fewer Inputs for HLB Before Quitting

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, Irrigation, Nutrition

Mid-Florida Citrus Foundation grove’s experience of doubled production while cutting expenses in half is not unusual and should encourage some growers to hang on in the face of HLB. So says foundation President Glenn Beck. “It’s a scenario we’ve seen many times outside of the foundation,” says Beck, a grower and caretaker. “They (HLB-infected trees) seem to be recovering somewhat …