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Below you'll see everything we could locate for your search of “UF/IFAS”
Gary England has been named director of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Hastings Agricultural Extension Center (HAEC). The center is a resource for residents and agricultural producers in northeast Florida, a region known for both potatoes and surging urban development. “We are extremely pleased to have Gary England serve in this new leadership role …
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have found a new way to detect immature citrus 83 percent of the time, which lets growers know where to apply fertilizer and water and perhaps save on labor costs for the $10.9 billion-a-year Florida industry. By detecting green, immature citrus more accurately and efficiently, …
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher who uses steam to help treat citrus trees infected by greening will receive this year’s Citrus Engineer of the Year Award. Reza Ehsani, a UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will receive the award June 21 at the 59th Biennial Citrus Engineering Symposium at …
Plant pathologist joins UF/IFAS to help solve citrus industry issues By: Robin Koestoyo FORT PIERCE, Fla. – A plant pathologist with 12 years of experience in plant-microbe interactions has joined the faculty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) to help citrus growers. Following an international search for a …
Soil microbiologist Sarah Strauss kicked off a Biochar and Compost Workshop at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in mid-July. Strauss, a UF/IFAS associate professor, focused on the importance of soil health for citrus. She began with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service definition of soil health. …
By Tripti Vashisth, Taylor Livingston and Abhishek Neupane Florida citrus production occurs predominantly on sandy soils that are inherently low in organic matter and possess limited water- and nutrient-holding capacity. These soil constraints have become increasingly important in the era of Huanglongbing (HLB), where compromised root systems reduce the tree’s ability to efficiently acquire water and nutrients. As a result, …
By Flavia Tabay Zambon and Paulo Eduardo Branco Paiva Florida’s citrus industry has faced severe decline due to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening). Production has dropped 92% since the 2003–04 season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Growers have relied on cultural practices, tolerant varieties and antimicrobial treatments, especially oxytetracycline (OTC), which has recently …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a bamboo field day in July at Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof. Scientists at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) have initiated several projects to evaluate bamboo varieties and production practices. Phillip Rucks has planted numerous bamboo varieties for evaluation and sells bamboo plants to …
Freezing temperatures remain one of the biggest threats to citrus production, especially in Florida and other regions where sudden cold snaps can severely damage trees. New research suggests that seaweed-based biostimulants may help citrus trees better withstand freezing conditions. The study was published in Scientific Reports. It was led by Ahmed Abdullah, Shahid Iqbal, Alaiha Asif, KeAndre Leaks and Muhammad …
By Jamie D. Burrow, Taylor Livingston and Tripti Vashisth Before huanglongbing (HLB), citrus grew well in Florida because of the climate and sandy soil. Trees had strong structural roots and a wealth of feeder roots. Since the continued tree decline caused by HLB, root systems have become smaller and weaker. By improving the physio-chemical properties of the sandy soil, it …
The June All In For Citrus podcast features Tripti Vashisth, associate center director and professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. She discusses the benefits of combining plant growth regulators (PGRs) with trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC). For most Florida citrus growers, application of OTC has …
Compost-amended plots (left) had more weeds than those with no compost. A new study published in Scientific Reports examines whether repeated compost applications could improve the health and productivity of young citrus trees growing under endemic huanglongbing (HLB) conditions in Florida. Gabriel Pugina, Caroline Tardivo, Brittney Monus, Emma Dawson, Sarah Strauss and Ute Albrecht of the University of Florida Institute …
The citrus research team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) generates a lot of information from the trials and experiments they conduct each year. That information can be a valuable resource to growers who are seeking production guidance for their groves. In the June episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, …
By Ute Albrecht, Larissa Nunes and Igor Silva Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) requires drilling a hole into the trunk and injecting a foreign substance into the tree. Not only does the physical damage from drilling cause injury, but the application of chemicals can exacerbate both the external and internal damage. BARK CRACKING Externally, aside from the drill hole, bark …
By Peter Chaires Spring is planning season for most Florida citrus organizations. New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) is no exception. The board recently met with all breeding teams to review 2025–26 sponsored projects and establish research priorities for 2026–27. Though some aspects of these projects will be covered in greater depth in future articles, this month’s column is …
By Jamie Burrow and Tripti Vashisth If you haven’t had a chance yet, take a few minutes to explore the new 2026 University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Variety Guide. You’ll find it beginning on page 21 of the April 2026 issue of the UF/IFAS Citrus Magazine. WHAT IT INCLUDES This guide is designed to …
By Ute Albrecht, Gabriel Pugina and Larissa Nunes According to a recent industry survey, 64% of Florida citrus growers have injected their trees for three consecutive years with oxytetracycline (OTC). This article reports the results from three research trials conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Plant Physiology Team at the Southwest Florida Research …
Southeastern residents increasingly support stronger protections against agricultural disease threats as concerns grow over food-system disruptions, say researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Findings from an August 2025 public interest survey distributed to 1,035 Southeast residents reflect growing public concern about how agricultural threats can affect food systems, public health and disaster preparedness. …
By Tripti Vashisth, Taylor Livingston, Meryam Manzoor and Johann Hiller Citrus fruit quality and yield remain major concerns for sweet orange growers in the huanglongbing (HLB) era. These outcomes largely depend on the tree’s ability to support developing fruit throughout the growing season. Leaf area and canopy density are positively correlated with carbohydrate production and allocation to fruit, directly influencing …
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Steven Hall is the right guy to run a single state-supported citrus research organization. He is an agriculturalist as well as an administrator and attorney. He is a sixth-generation Florida farmer who leads his family farming operation in Jackson County. Since Hall was appointed executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) …
