Bugs Under the Covers

Josh McGillIPCs, Pest Management

Individual protective covers (IPCs) do an excellent job keeping HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) out of young citrus trees, showing a 99.6% reduction in ACP compared to control trees. But they don’t provide “one and done” pest control, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock. In fact, IPCs “create a perfect environment …

Research Center Gets Largest Gift From Grower

Josh McGillIndian River

The late citrus grower John T. Moose left the largest individual gift ever to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS IRREC) in Fort Pierce. The $260,000 contribution came in 2022, the same year as the center’s 75th anniversary. The gift will help serve local agriculture and natural resources protection …

CRDF Allocates Year-End Funds to HLB Research Projects

Josh McGillCRDF, HLB Management, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) met for its December board meeting to discuss several topics before heading into the new year. One of the bigger areas of discussion was what to do with available uncommitted funds. “The board decided to fund work on several questions growers have regarding the use of bactericides inserted through systemic delivery devices and …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, December 2022

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, Diseases, hurricane

The December All In For Citrus podcast includes a discussion with Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus Research and Education Center, about ongoing efforts growers are making to rehabilitate citrus groves after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.  Rogers also addressed some longer-term research being conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to develop trees that …

New Dollars Flow to Citrus Research Projects

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, Research

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently received a large grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Michael Rogers provided details of the grant totaling $16.5 million during the latest All In For Citrus podcast. Rogers is the director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in …

HLB Resistance Is Citrus Breeding Program’s Primary Focus

Josh McGillBreeding

Citrus breeding is conducted at different research facilities across Florida. But the objective remains the same for University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) breeders: Develop HLB-resistant citrus. That is the goal for Jose Chaparro, UF/IFAS associate professor in Gainesville. His research will impact citrus produced in the North Florida and South Georgia regions. “If you look …

Open House Showcases Research Center’s Work

Josh McGillEvents, Research

The Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee recently hosted its annual open house. The event had a great turnout of local growers and residents from nearby communities. Several school groups also attended, so students could learn more about farming in Southwest Florida and the research being conducted at the center. Originally established in 1958, SWFREC was dedicated …

Citrus Sampling of Varieties Grown in Gainesville

Josh McGillVarieties

Consumers have different tastebuds that make them prefer certain fruit more than others. What one may like, another may reject. This is especially true in the citrus industry where palate and consumer preference play a role in what varieties growers choose to produce. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) campus in Gainesville hosted a recent …

recovery

Studying Tree Damage From Hurricane Winds

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, hurricane

In the latest All In For Citrus podcast, Christopher Vincent, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of tree ecophysiology, discussed a project he is working on in the wake of this season’s hurricanes. He has been tasked to work with growers to survey damage after the storms, specifically how winds harmed groves. Hurricane Ian …

Updates for Citrus Nutrient Best Management Practices

Josh McGillBMPs, Nutrition

By Kelly T. Morgan, Davie Kadyampakeni and Tripti Vashisth This article reviews current University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus fertilizer recommendations and provides updated information about recently approved recommendations for secondary macronutrients and micronutrients. Citrus growers have been very concerned about fertilizer applications and nutrient management since citrus greening (huanglongbing or HLB) was found in …

solutions

Unraveling the Relationship Between the HLB Bacterium and Trees

Josh McGillHLB Management, Research

At the heart of the HLB threatening the Florida citrus industry is a complex exchange between the citrus tree and an insidious bacterium. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers continue to study the bacterium that causes HLB. They are learning more about how it works within the citrus tree in an effort to find viable …

Flower Bud Advisories Have Begun

Josh McGillProduction

Regular flower bud advisories from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) were restarted Nov. 21 and will be provided every other week through early spring. Associate Professor Tripti Vashisth provides the advisories. The advisories provide critical information about the intensity and time of citrus blooms. Growers use this information to determine when to spray for …

Growers and Researcher Discuss Millennium Block Trials

Josh McGillResearch, Rootstocks, Varieties

Two citrus growers recently explained the benefits to be gained from research at the Indian River Research and Education Center’s (IRREC) Millennium Block in Fort Pierce, and a scientist discussed a grapefruit study there. The IRREC is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) facility. The 20-acre block was planted in 2019 to help growers find …

june

All In For Citrus Podcast, November 2022

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast, hurricane, Research

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently received a large grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Michael Rogers provides details of the $16.5 million grant during the November All In For Citrus podcast. Rogers is the director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake …

Citrus Breeder: Growers Need to Think More Out of the Box

Tacy CalliesCold Hardy

If cold-hardy citrus growers diversified their crops and not put all of their eggs in the satsuma basket, it would provide them a better chance at long-term sustainability. It would allow producers an opportunity to combat the negative national stigma concerning citrus juices, says Jude Grosser, a professor of plant cell genetics at the University of Florida Institute of Food …

Sneak Peek: December 2022 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesNutrition, Regulation, Sneak Peek

Need the latest nutrient recommendations for growing citrus in Florida? Find updates for nutrient best management practices in the December issue of Citrus Industry magazine. The article, by Kelly Morgan, Davie Kadyampakeni and Tripti Vashisth, details recently approved recommendations for secondary macronutrients and micronutrients. The new advice is based on University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …

Display Day Draws Good Crowd

Josh McGillFresh, Orange Juice, Varieties

Fruit display days are an integral part of the citrus breeding process. The evaluations provided by participants give important feedback on the taste, appearance, texture and overall desirability of the fruit sampled whether it be for juice or the fresh market. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a display on Nov. 14 at the …

Gibberellic Acid May Help Citrus Trees After a Hurricane

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, hurricane

In the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, ways to mitigate damage from Hurricane Ian are discussed by researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). While extensively damaged trees are likely lost, those that experienced less damage can be helped in the recovery process. Tripti Vashisth, UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural …

Groundcovers Promote Water-Use Efficiency and Pest Management

Josh McGillIrrigation, Pests

By Sandra M. Guzmán, Larry Duncan, John Santiago and Lorenzo Rossi The implementation of pest management technologies might have an impact on other management areas in the grove. Landscape fabric groundcovers, for example, have been used for pest management in citrus production. Groundcovers also recently have been used to promote the homogeneous availability of water for uptake by roots, better …

Ian/Nicole Overlap Complicates Loss Assessments

Josh McGillEconomics, hurricane

Nicole, which came ashore as a hurricane on Nov. 10 before weakening to a tropical storm, impacted much of the same Florida land area that Hurricane Ian damaged in late September. Christa Court, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program, says due to that overlap, the data her team references …