Florida

Climate Change in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Weather

Climate change is a key reason that citrus production has progressed in South Georgia, North Florida and South Alabama, the area known as the cold-hardy citrus region. As more varieties, other than satsuma mandarins, continue to be planted in the area, warmer temperatures are needed for trees to flourish. Arnold Schumann, professor of soil fertility and water quality at the …

open house

Indian River Open House Includes Varieties Display

Daniel CooperEvents, Indian River, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS IRREC) will hold an open house Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Numerous activities are planned for the facility at 2199 S. Rock Road in Fort Pierce.  UF/IFAS IRREC and its next-door neighbor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service …

hybrid

HLB-Tolerant Hybrid Varieties Highlighted

Daniel CooperEvents, Indian River, Varieties

Two varieties that tolerate HLB and produce ample fruit yield and juice were the highlights of the recent Millennium Block Field Day in Fort Pierce, Florida. The 20-acre Millennium Block at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) examines fresh fruit varieties and rootstocks. “The two varieties that give …

flowering

How to Handle Extended Flowering in HLB Trees

Daniel CooperProduction, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) flower bud induction advisories for 2024–25 started on Nov. 25. The advisories will be posted bi-weekly until March 2025. The goal of the advisories is to provide growers and production managers with a complete overview of flowering prediction. Every advisory will aim to deliver recommendations for that …

December

Sneak Peek: December 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

Citrus Industry magazine has been proudly serving growers for more than a century. In the December issue, AgNet Media announces some important changes to the 105-year-old brand. Beginning in January of next year, Citrus Industry content will become a part of Specialty Crop Grower magazine. The Citrus Industry website and weekly e-news will continue as is. Learn about the reason …

citrus canker

Citrus Canker Spreading in Cold-Hardy Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Diseases

Citrus canker has long been a presence and concern for Florida’s citrus growers. Growers in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama should be wary of its potential spread into the cold-hardy citrus region. Clive Bock, a research plant pathologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spoke about the disease during the recent Cold-Hardy Citrus Meeting at the University of …

April

All In For Citrus Podcast, November 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

In November, academia from around the world gathered in Jeju, Korea, for the 2024 International Citrus Congress. A contingent of researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) attended the event. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, was among the attendees. He discusses the trip in the November episode of …

automation

Large Grant to Aid Nursery Automation

Daniel Coopernursery, Technology

Imagine a future where nurseries can effortlessly manage their plants with cutting-edge automation technologies, using potting or weed-spraying robots instead of having to dig each hole or spray each pot by hand. With the help of a $9.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, this vision is becoming a reality. The University …

Arizona

Control of Asian Citrus Psyllids and Leafminers

Daniel CooperPests

Biological control can have a significant impact on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and citrus leafminer (CLM) populations in Florida, a researcher reported in a Nov. 19 virtual meeting. Jawwad Qureshi, associate professor of entomology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), also discussed some cultural and chemical controls that work on the pests.  ACP Qureshi, …

flame

New Flame Grapefruit Selection Offers Improved HLB Tolerance

Daniel CooperGrapefruit, Tip of the Week, Varieties

By Manjul Dutt, Sheetal Ramekar and Gary England The grapefruit was created by chance from a cross between a pummelo and a sweet orange. It was first discovered in Barbados in the 18th century. All the commercially sold grapefruits today trace their roots back to the Duncan variety of grapefruit. Cultivars existing today were developed through natural and induced mutations …

field day

Field Day Featured Favorable Fresh Fruit Rootstock and Scion Combinations

Daniel CooperEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center recently hosted a field day showcasing its Millennium Block citrus grove. The field day went on despite the grove being impacted by a tornado associated with Hurricane Milton in October. The Millennium Block is one of the largest experimental trials examining fresh fruit …

Brazil's

Florida Researchers Visit Brazil’s Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperBrazil, Florida, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus researcher Fernando Alferez recently visited Brazil’s Fundecitrus, as well as orchards and experiments in Brazil’s citrus region. Alferez, an associate professor of horticulture at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, was accompanied by researchers from Fundecitrus and Embrapa Cassava & Fruits. The project coordinator of Florida’s Citrus Research …

Hamlin

Apply Brassinosteroids to Improve Hamlin Brix

Daniel CooperHLB Management, PGRs, Tip of the Week

By Fernando Alferez and Divya Aryal Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of plant growth regulators with several effects on plant growth and development. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) work in the last few years has shown that BR treatments may influence internal maturity in Hamlin sweet orange if performed at the right time. Research has …

trunk-injection

Ongoing Research Shows the Promise of Trunk-Injection Therapy

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) has been the center of attention in Florida citrus for the past two years since the Environmental Protection Agency registered formulations of the material for use. But experience with antibiotics in Florida citrus is not new. That was part of the message Lukasz Stelinski delivered to attendees of the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in …

cups

CUPS Expensive but Beneficial

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, CUPS

The benefits of implementing citrus under protective screen (CUPS) could be major for growers in the cold-hardy region. But they first must overcome the major limiting factor associated with the system — its cost. Arnold Schumann, a professor of soil fertility and water quality at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …

post-hurricane

Post-Hurricane Pest Management

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Pests

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Lauren Diepenbrock recently offered post-hurricane observations and management suggestions for some insects and snails. Diepenbrock is an assistant professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center.  BULIMULUS SNAILS Related Bulimulus snail species have been found to lay eggs in the fall after major rain events. Both small and larger …

examination

Florida Pesticide Examination Process Changing

Daniel CooperCEU, Education

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently announced changes to the Florida pesticide examination process. It noted that pesticide applicators often rely on UF/IFAS Extension to obtain pesticide education, training and support, and to take their respective exams. All 67 county offices have historically offered free exams, through paper or using a computer. The changes …

Mark Ritenour

Ritenour Receives Two Honors

Daniel CooperAwards

An expert in postharvest technology for Florida’s fresh produce industry recently received two honors in one week. Mark Ritenour’s professional colleagues with the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) named him a fellow at the society’s annual conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also began his role as associate director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …

Interstocks

Australian Lime Interstocks to Combat HLB

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research, Tip of the Week

By Ozgur Batuman, Sanju Kunwar and Ana Redondo In a promising effort to protect citrus from huanglongbing (HLB), University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are exploring the potential of Australian lime as an interstock graft for Valencia scions with Swingle rootstock. The interstock technique uses various limes, known for their natural HLB-tolerant peptides, between the …

disease concerns

Disease Concerns for Georgia Growers

Daniel CooperDiseases, Georgia

Not all citrus disease concerns center around huanglongbing (HLB). While HLB disease garners much of the headlines because of its devastation to Florida’s citrus crop, growers in the cold-hardy citrus region should be mindful of other diseases that can devastate a crop if left untreated. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, highlighted some of …