Production of tangerines/mandarins in Chile will increase by 13.1% in 2024–25 and total 250,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently projected. PLANTED AREA The area planted with mandarins is projected at 12,700 hectares, a 4.8% increase from 2023–24. Due to high profits, the area planted in the Metropolitana, O’Higgins and Valparaíso regions …
Court Says Genetically Engineered Organisms Must Be Regulated
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California recently ruled that genetically engineered (GE) organisms must be regulated. The ruling overturns a 2020 rule overhaul by the first Trump administration that had eliminated most government oversight over GE crops, trees and grasses. Genetic engineering is one of several routes researchers are taking to breed a citrus tree resistant …
Hurricane Milton Citrus Losses Could Reach $55 Million
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) estimated Hurricane Milton citrus production losses are from $23.1 million to $55.2 million in Florida. The UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) stated that significant fruit drop was reported, especially on varieties that were ready for harvest. Impacted fruit included early oranges, tangerines and tangelos. Some growers also reported …
HLB Quarantine Expanded in California
An area quarantined for huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, in California was recently expanded. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issued the expansion. The quarantined area in the Mission Viejo area of Orange County expanded by approximately 85 square miles. …
Requirements Eased for Hurricane Aid
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to streamline and provide flexibilities for environmental compliance requirements for 2024 hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. It is allowing its Farm Service Agency (FSA) to expedite approval of payments and practice implementation for Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) and Tree Assistance Program (TAP) applicants impacted by the …
Costa Rican Orange Production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) expects Costa Rican orange production to increase approximately 11% in 2024–25, to 250,000 metric tons. Production in 2023–24 was lower than expected at 225,000 metric tons as a result of erratic rainfall patterns associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon. The area planted in oranges is expected to remain unchanged …
Financial Assistance for Specialty Crop Growers
Producers may sign up for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program through Jan. 8, 2025. MASC provides financial assistance to specialty crop producers to help expand domestic markets or develop new markets for their crops. MASC helps specialty crop producers offset higher marketing costs related to: ELIGIBILITY MASC covers numerous commercially marketed …
Mexfly Quarantine Expanded in Texas
Agriculture officials on Nov. 18 expanded the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County, Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) took the action. Expansion of the Donna quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on Nov. 14 of a Mexfly larva in fruit …
Florida Citrus Forecasts Tumble
Federal forecasts for Florida citrus production tumbled Dec. 10, led by a 20% decrease in oranges compared to the initial October forecast. The declines primarily reflect damage from Hurricane Milton, which was not accounted for in the initial forecast. The 2024–25 season forecasts for all other citrus-producing states were unchanged from October. The Dec. 10 Florida forecasts by variety are …
APHIS Helps Save $10 Million Citrus Shipment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently told how it helped turn a potential disaster involving a citrus-laden ship into a success story. On Aug. 12, APHIS Plant Safeguarding Specialist David Kleinguenther learned that the cold treatment process aboard the marine vessel Regal Bay had likely failed. The ship, arriving in Philadelphia, was carrying …
All In For Citrus Podcast Discusses Indian River Events
The Millennium Block grove is a large-scale trial evaluating HLB tolerance of various rootstock/scion combinations at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. The trial is primarily focused on grapefruit scion/rootstock combinations. Recently, a Millennium Block field day allowed growers to view various selections that …
Mexfly Quarantine Changes Impact Texas Citrus
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently took several actions regarding Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas. On Oct. 9, they expanded the Mexfly quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County. On Oct. 11, they reduced a portion of the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron, Hidalgo and …
Climate Change in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region
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 …
Indian River Open House Includes Varieties Display
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 …
Large Grant to Aid Nursery Automation
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 …
U.S. Citrus Production and Value by State
Citrus utilized production for the 2023–24 season in the United States (U. S.) totaled 5.24 million tons, up 6% from the previous season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) reported. California accounted for 79% of total U.S. citrus production, Florida totaled 17%, while Texas and Arizona produced the remaining 4%. The value of the 2023–24 U.S. …
Grower Meeting Features Trunk-Injection Results and Hurricane Relief
Florida Citrus Mutual hosted a grower informational meeting on Nov. 13 at Kenny and Cookie Sanders’ Grove House in Zolfo Springs. About 80 citrus growers gathered for the event to hear more about the latest research on trunk-injection therapy and discuss recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton. Ute Albrecht, associate professor of plant physiology with the University of Florida Institute of …
Field Day Featured Favorable Fresh Fruit Rootstock and Scion Combinations
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 …
California HLB Quarantine Expanded
Agricultural officials recently expanded the areas in California quarantined for citrus greening disease [also known as huanglongbing (HLB)], which is spread by Asian citrus psyllids. The quarantined area in Orange and Riverside counties was increased by a total of approximately 31 square miles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) in cooperation with the …
Medfly Quarantine Expanded in California
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in Alameda and Santa Clara counties in California twice in October. The expansions are in response to the confirmed detections between Oct. 7 and Oct. 15 of 22 wild female Medflies, 14 …





























