Megan Dewdney recently provided information about positive results from fungicide trials for citrus black spot, as well changes to the new Citrus Production Guide. Dewdney is a plant pathologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), working at the Citrus Research and Education Center. Dewdney conducted the fungicide trials for black spot in a 20-year-old …
Long-Term Rootstock Evaluation Is Best
A variety of different findings in recent rootstock trials led to a conclusion that long-term evaluation of rootstocks is necessary to assess economic benefits to growers. That conclusion was part of a take-home message in Ute Albrecht’s virtual Citrus Expo presentation. Albrecht is a researcher with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Her report was …
McKown, Stitt to Join Ag Hall of Fame
Two people who had major impacts on Florida citrus, Bobby McKown and John Stitt, are among four who will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2021. They will be inducted at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 16. McKown spent his career championing and defending Florida agriculture and the Florida citrus …
Florida Crop Workers at Risk
As laborers return to the fields this fall in Florida, both unauthorized crop workers and H-2A workers are vulnerable to the coronavirus. According to a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) study, an estimated 75 percent of Florida crop workers have at least one underlying health issue that puts them at risk of developing COVID-19 …
More Mexfly Quarantine Reductions in Texas
Two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines were removed in Texas in mid-September after three Mexfly life cycles elapsed with no additional detections in the areas. The quarantines were removed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Effective Sept. 13, the agencies removed the quarantine in Zapata in …
Technology to Help Citrus Growers Cut Costs
Traditional data collection for pest and disease detection relies on manual sampling, which can be time consuming and labor intensive. But now, Florida citrus growers could have artificial intelligence (AI) technology to simplify the process, better care for their crops and save money. Yiannis Ampatzidis, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor, discussed several new …
COVID-19 Safety Video Series for Farmworkers
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) partnered with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) on a nine-part video series to provide guidance on COVID-19 safety precautions for farmworkers. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Florida’s farmworkers “face an elevated risk of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, and often lack access to health resources …
UF’s High Ranking Can Aid Citrus Research
U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the University of Florida (UF) the sixth best public university in the United States. Michael Rogers, director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), tells how a high ranking for UF can benefit Florida citrus. “This (the ranking) really attracts a lot of opportunities for the university,” Rogers says. He points out …
Improved Weather Data at Growers’ Fingertips
Weather is one of the most important factors affecting crop growth and production. The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a University of Florida-operated service, was created to assist growers in making decisions related primarily to irrigation scheduling and cold protection. Currently, the FAWN network operates 42 stations located from Jay to Homestead that record and report every 15 minutes on …
Guzmán Honored for Irrigation Work
Precision irrigation scientist Sandra Guzmán was recently named a 2020 Outstanding Young Extension Worker by the Florida Section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Guzmán is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher with expertise in artificial intelligence for water management. She works at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center …
Sneak Peek: October 2020 Citrus Industry
Get the dirt on soil in the October 2020 issue of Citrus Industry magazine! Soil is not the most glamorous subject, but it’s one that seems to be getting more attention in the citrus industry lately. As citrus growers work to keep trees productive in the HLB era, they are implementing practices to improve soil health. Providing roots with a …
Needle-Assisted Trunk Infusion for Trees
With the devastating impacts of HLB on the citrus industry, growers are seeking alternative solutions to reduce Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (the bacteria that causes HLB) levels in trees and prevent disease-induced decline. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are developing an automated method for delivering therapeutic liquid materials into the vascular tissue of citrus …
Obtaining Optimal Peel Color of Fresh Florida Citrus
By Mark A. Ritenour and Fernando Alferez Color development in citrus during fruit maturation is a complex process that involves chemical and physiological changes. This includes chlorophyll (green pigments) breakdown and carotenoid (orange and yellow pigments) biosynthesis. The final color of each citrus variety mainly depends on the final composition of carotenoids, with citrus being among the richest fruit sources …
New Potential Pest for Florida Citrus
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI) recently issued a pest alert about snout scale (Florinia proboscidaria), a potential Florida citrus pest. The alert is aimed at preventing the pest’s introduction to and establishment in commercial citrus in Florida. “This is a heads up that we have a new potential pest to keep an …
Row-Middle Weed Management Methods
By Ramdas Kanissery, Miurel Brewer, Davie Kadyampakeni and Sarah Strauss Florida growers face problems with weeds throughout the year due to favorable weather conditions that allow rapid proliferation and lush growth of weeds in groves. While a weed-free tree row is desired to minimize competition with citrus, it is also essential to manage the weeds or vegetation in the row …
Stefanou to Lead USDA Economic Research Service
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist Spiro Stefanou has been appointed as U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA/ERS) administrator. Stefanou was a professor in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department. The mission of USDA/ERS is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment and rural America and to conduct high-quality, …
BMPs Impacted by New Florida Water Act
Florida’s new Clean Waterways Act impacts agricultural landowners and producers enrolled in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Best Management Practices (BMPs) program. The act went into effect July 1. FDACS is required to undertake implementation verification (IV) site visits on properties enrolled in the BMP program every two years. During these IV site visits, FDACS Office …
Oak Leaf Extract and Mulch for HLB
Researchers on the Indian River have proved “there is something in the oak leaf that can work” against HLB, said Lorenzo Rossi. “I’m not saying that I found the cure, and I’m not saying that oak extract will save the citrus industry.” He described oak extract, and possibly oak mulch, as another tool against HLB. Rossi, a University of Florida …
AI Will Be Another Tool for Citrus Greening
Artificial intelligence (AI) will likely help growers and researchers cope with citrus greening (huanglongbing, known as HLB) and other citrus problems over the long run. That’s the belief of J. Scott Angle, the new head of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Angle, UF’s vice president for agriculture and natural resources, says AI is a …
Kanissery Wins Extension Award
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery has earned a Dallas Townsend Extension Professional and Enhancement Award. Kanissery works at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee. “The award recognizes a state Extension specialist for demonstrating an outstanding ability to plan and implement Extension programs that address needs that have …





























