By Chris Oswalt, Mongi Zekri, Ajia Paolillo and Lourdes Pérez Cordero Huanglongbing (HLB) continues to impact citrus-producing areas of Florida. The 2022 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute is an opportunity for Florida citrus growers to come together to learn about effective management of HLB and other challenges affecting the industry. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, April 5 from 8:30 …
Attacking Asian Citrus Psyllid from the Inside
In the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) entomologist Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski discussed her research on the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and a new grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to further her work. The goal of the research is to use bacteria already present …
Cover Crops in Citrus: Less Weeds, More Microbes
There are many advantages to using cover crops in citrus groves, according to Sarah Strauss, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor. She recently discussed growers implementing cover crops at the Citrus Health Forum at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. “Certainly, from the microbiology side, the scientific side, I think …
Highlights From Highlands Citrus Growers Meeting
Growers and industry stakeholders recently gathered in Sebring, Florida, to celebrate the 32nd annual meeting of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA). LEADERS ELECTEDNew HCCGA officers and directors were elected. Officers for the 2022 board of directors include: Emma Ezell, president Hank Crutchfield, vice president Charlie Wilson, treasurer Aaron Nelson, secretary New board members are Joe Collins, Billy Barben, …
Flavor Summit Delves Deep Into the Science of Taste
In late February, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its second annual Flavor Summit. The hybrid in-person/online event was held at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. CREC and the UF Center for Smell and Taste hosted the event that took a deep dive into the science of how flavors …
Pointers for Pre-emergent Herbicide Use
By Ramdas Kanissery Weeds emerging in citrus rows are problematic as they compete for resources with the trees, support pests and interfere with grove operations like irrigation (Figure 1). Hence, effective strategies to control weed emergence should be in place. Pre-emergence (or residual) herbicides are an excellent tool for the long-term suppression of weeds in tree rows. These herbicides …
A Citrus Servant
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP It’s not unusual for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to have a dozen contacts with Peter Chaires in a day, between the emails, calls and visits. Chaires serves as executive director of the New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC), executive vice president of Florida Citrus Packers and …
New Research Shows How HLB Damages Trees
Recent research describes in detail how HLB causes damage to citrus trees and presents the case that HLB is a pathogen-triggered immune disease. A pathogen-triggered immune disease results from the activation of an organism’s immune cells fighting a pathogen. Nian Wang, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor, took part in the research. This is the …
Finger Limes to Be Focus of Online Event
Finger limes will be the topic of a March 23 virtual symposium sponsored by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS CREC). Finger limes are a unique citrus variety gaining interest among chefs, foodies and citrus growers. The symposium, targeted to commercial citrus and specialty crop growers and marketers, will be …
Controlling Mites in CUPS
Emilie Demard is working to control mites and other pests that damage fresh grapefruit growing as citrus under protective screens (CUPS) at the Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce. “I look at biological control — in this case, predatory mites controlling pest mites to minimize the need for agrochemicals,” said Demard, a Ph.D. entomology graduate with the …
Upcoming Events for Florida Citrus Growers
In the latest episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, previews two upcoming events citrus growers will want to attend. The first is a Finger Lime Symposium. The half-day event will be held virtually from 1 p.m. to 5 …
Picking Favorites at Florida Citrus Variety Display Day
The horticultural characteristics of new citrus varieties are important, especially in the era of HLB when disease tolerance is critical. But how the fruit tastes and other consumer attributes are equally important. That’s why citrus variety display days are vital in citrus breeding. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in …
Fire Ant Control Key in Young Citrus Groves
Fire ant management is essential to the long-term sustainability of citrus groves. This is particularly true for young trees still trying to develop root systems, said Xavier Martini, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC). Martini spoke on insect management at the recent UF/IFAS …
Guidance on Chlorpyrifos Recordkeeping
By Brett Bultemeier and Lauren Diepenbrock The revocation of chlorpyrifos residues and tolerances that became effective on Feb. 28, 2022, caused some confusion and concern when it was first announced. The legal description provided by the Environmental Protection Agency is challenging to fully understand. Therefore, the Pesticide Information Office from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
Be Prepared for Postbloom Fruit Drop
A La Niña weather pattern is most likely this spring, with higher-than-average temperatures and below-average rain predicted in Florida, researcher Megan Dewdney reported in a Feb. 24 presentation about postbloom fruit drop (PFD). That could have some influence on the severity of PFD, since its preferred climate is humid and subtropical, and the fungus moves with rain splash and wind-borne …
CRDF Receives Recommendations on Plant Breeding
By Rick Dantzler Several months ago, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) convened a panel of plant-breeding experts from across the country to help us decide where to spend what appears to be a diminishing amount of money for plant breeding. The co-chairs presented their recommendations on Feb. 22 to the CRDF board of directors. The first recommendation was …
All In for Citrus Podcast, February 2022
The Florida legislative session is well underway in Tallahassee. The University of Florida hosted its annual Gator Day at the Capitol in February to remind lawmakers of all that the school does for its students and stakeholders. Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus Research and Education Center, and fellow citrus team members from the University of Florida Institute of Food …
Achieving Water and Nutrient Efficiency
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers emphasized the importance of efficient irrigation and nutrient management at a workshop earlier this month at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. In Florida, the citrus industry accounts for about 30% of irrigated cropland acreage, reported UF/IFAS researcher Alisheikh Atta. Worldwide, the agriculture industry consumes about …
Sneak Peek: March 2022 Citrus Industry
The March issue of Citrus Industry magazine includes an abundance of advice on getting trees off to a good start. According to citrus grower Brad Turner, healthy soil is key to setting up trees for success. In his article, he gives growers pointers on soil preparation prior to planting. Other topics he addresses include mulch considerations, nutritional needs, pest management …
Get Canker Before It Gets You
By Megan Dewdney Spring is around the corner, and Florida’s first wave of bloom is here. But there is no time to relax and enjoy the flowers because citrus diseases wait for no grower. Young fruitlets become susceptible to canker toward the end of March to the beginning of April. Missing that key window of protection — if the weather …





























