Less Citrus Production in Morocco

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Production of all citrus varieties in Morocco will decline in 2022–23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) confirmed in a recent report. The report includes an update on the area planted for each variety and the expected volume of exports. Morocco does not import fresh citrus. TANGERINES/MANDARINS Fresh tangerine/mandarin production is projected at 927,000 metric tons …

European Orange Production to Decline

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

European Union (EU) orange production is projected at nearly 5.8 million metric tons (MMT) for 2022–23, almost a 13% reduction from the previous season, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) report. Reductions are expected mainly in Spain and slightly in Italy and Portugal. SPAINOrange production in Spain is projected to decline by 22.8%, amounting …

European Union Citrus Report on Production, War Impact

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

A new report on European Union (EU) citrus by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) includes a broad overview of the continent’s industry. Production expectations, the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, acreage and trade are addressed in the report. PRODUCTION REDUCTIONTotal European Union (EU) citrus production in 2022–23 is projected to total 10.4 million metric …

Identifying HLB Therapeutics With CTV-Based Vectors

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research

By Choaa A. El Mohtar Projected citrus production in Florida for the 2022–23 season is less than 20 million boxes. This is more than a 90% decrease compared to the 2003–04 season, which was around 292 million boxes. The main reason for the decrease is huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus …

CRAFT Update Provided at Citrus Industry Conference

Josh McGillCRAFT, HLB Management

During the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference earlier this month, Tamara Wood, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation, gave an update on a new phase of the CRAFT program. Started in 2019, CRAFT was initially focused on new plantings. The program helps growers cover the cost of new plantings if they agree to an experimental …

transactions

CRDF Research Priorities Include Trunk-Injection Therapy

Josh McGillCRDF, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) held its June board of directors meeting in conjunction with Florida Citrus Mutual’s Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs. The June gathering is when the CRDF board passes its budget for the next year. The board funded a project by Zhanao Deng, professor of environmental horticulture with the University of Florida …

mandarin/tangerine

Mandarin Production Set to Soar in Chile

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

In 2022–23, mandarin production in Chile is projected to increase by 26.5% and total 215,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported on June 2. The increase is driven by a rise in yields and new orchards reaching production. Mandarins include clementines and tangerines. Yields this year recovered as rainfall reached more normal …

Using Cover Crops to Improve Soil Health

Josh McGillCover Crops, Soil Health

By Sarah Strauss, Emma Dawson and Elena Karlsen-Ayala The term “soil health” has become increasingly popular in the last several years. While there are many definitions of soil health, one of the more commonly cited ones is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It defines soil health as “…the continued capacity of a soil …

Deadline Set for Florida Land Protection Program

Josh McGillLand

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that landowners can apply online to the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) until 5 p.m. on July 27. The department will review the applications for eligibility. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, aims to safeguard working agricultural operations. “Florida’s agricultural lands are …

Fundecitrus Researchers Contribute to Citrus Meetings

Josh McGillBrazil, Events

Fundecitrus researchers contributed to two recent citrus gatherings in South America — the 48th Expocitrus/44th Citriculture Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a CITRIBAC project meeting in Argentina. Researchers Franklin Behlau, Marcelo Miranda and Geraldo Silva Júnior, along with postdoctoral fellows Deived Carvalho and Wellington Ivo Eduardo, gave lectures on citrus-growing topics at the 48th Expocitrus/ 44th Citriculture Week. The …

Integrating Use of Organic Soil Amendments and Weed Management

Josh McGillSoil Health, weeds

By Ute Albrecht, Ankit Pokhrel, Sarah Strauss and Ramdas Kanissery The soils in most Florida citrus production areas are sandy. They have less than 1% organic matter and a low cation exchange capacity (CEC). This makes them prone to nutrient leaching, especially after heavy rainfall events in the summer. HUMIC SUBSTANCESOne way to improve soils is by amending them with …

Chilean Orange Production to Climb

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Orange production in Chile will increase by 6.1% and total 174,000 metric tons (MT) in 2022–23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) estimated recently. Yields are up due to increased rainfall and no damage from frost. ACREAGEIn 2022–23, orange area planted in Chile totaled 6,362 hectares, unchanged from 2021–22. The total orange area planted has remained …

South Africa Citrus Estimate Higher Than Last Year

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

The latest estimate for the South Africa citrus crop in 2023 is 165.6 million cartons. This is 800,000 more cartons than last year, The Vanguard International Group recently reported. Vanguard stated that two commodities — lemons and mandarins — have emerged over the past few years. Lemons have witnessed a significant surge in plantings. There are approximately 8,000 hectares of …

hurricane season

Colorado State University Updates Hurricane Forecast

Josh McGillhurricane, Weather

Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers on June 1 increased their Atlantic hurricane forecast. They are now predicting a near-average 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. The CSU Tropical Meteorology Project team is predicting 15 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season. That’s 14 anticipated storms in addition to a subtropical storm that the National Hurricane Center says formed in January. Of …

NOAA Predicts Near-Normal Hurricane Season

Josh McGillhurricane, Weather

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasters with the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, predict near-normal hurricane activity this year. NOAA’s outlook for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30, predicts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance …

May CRDF Meeting Focuses on Money Matters

Josh McGillCRAFT, CRDF

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors attended to budgetary matters during its May meeting, as the end of the fiscal year nears. “We decided to transfer our remaining uncommitted funds from what we had budgeted for new research to the Citrus Research and Field Trial program to help growers treat mature trees with new therapies,” said …

PIECES OF THE PAST: A Granddaughter’s Recollections

Josh McGillPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Editor’s note: Last month’s Pieces of the Past featured Edward Postell Porcher, one of the original Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductees. This month, his granddaughter shares more memories about him and the citrus industry. Edward Postell Porcher’s granddaughter, Norris Porcher Andrews, was interviewed by Nancy Yasecko at the Porcher House in 1994 for the Brevard …

Silicon Could Benefit Florida Citrus

Josh McGillNutrition, Production

There has been much focus on the benefits of applications of plant growth regulators like gibberellic acid and 2,4-D, and more recently oxytetracycline hydrochloride to improve the health of citrus trees infected with HLB. Silicon also has been highlighted for its potential benefits to citrus. Mohammad Adnan Shahid, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor, …

U.S. Citrus Demand Exceeds Supply

Josh McGillExport/Import, Production

While the U.S. domestic supply of citrus has declined tremendously, imports have increased substantially. That, says American Farm Bureau Federation economist Daniel Munch, is a telltale sign that consumer demand for citrus in the United States is now greater than domestic production capacity. “In other words, we’ve become partially reliant on other nations for citrus products,” Munch writes in U.S. …

Indian River Center to Add Citrus Researcher

Josh McGillIndian River, Research

Brazil native Flavia Zambon will become assistant professor of production horticulture of citrus and other tree crops at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in November. The IRREC, located in Fort Pierce, is a branch of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).  Zambon has had years of research experience in all of Florida’s …