commercial

HLB and Psyllids in Georgia Commercial Citrus

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Psyllids

One of Georgia citrus growers’ worst fears is slowly becoming a reality. Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), was observed in a Georgia commercial citrus grove for the first time in 2023. This is alarming news for the industry, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “We knew HLB was here in residential …

Specialty Crop Block Grant

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Funds Citrus Projects

Daniel CooperHLB Management, nursery, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awarded 54 grants and 524 sub-award projects totaling $72.9 million for fiscal year 2024. The following citrus projects were included in the funding. CALIFORNIA The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) received a grant for $448,742 for mitigating huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus using naturally-derived …

nanopesticide

Psyllid Nanopesticide Developed in Brazil

Daniel CooperBrazil, Pesticides, Psyllids

In Brazil, a more effective and sustainable insecticide for HLB-spreading psyllids was developed by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Company) in partnership with the Institute of Chemistry of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). The work resulted in a controlled-release system of the insecticide thiamethoxam molecule. Encapsulation was performed in polymeric nanoparticles, structures more than 80,000 times smaller than the thickness …

CUPS

CUPS Allows Profitable HLB-Free Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCUPS, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) has invested more than $250 million to find a solution for HLB. One example of USDA NIFA-funded research is citrus under protective screen (CUPS).  University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist Arnold Schumann and colleagues began testing CUPS at the Citrus Research and Education Center …

Savelle

Savelle Named Executive Director of Georgia Citrus Association

Daniel CooperGeorgia

Georgia’s citrus industry has a new leading lady. Actually, she’s a familiar face who has a new title. While Lindy Savelle will continue to promote Georgia citrus, it will be under the title of executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association (GCA). Savelle was the president of GCA for almost eight years. Now, the association has put a succession plan …

Riverside

CLas-Positive Psyllid Sample in Riverside County

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Psyllids

An adult Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample from a residential property in the San Jacinto Valley area of Riverside County, California, has tested positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacterium that causes huanglongbing (HLB). The positive sample was collected as part of the Multi-Pest Risk Survey on a residential property in Hemet. It was confirmed positive for CLas on …

study

Study Sheds Light on Defense Against HLB-Spreading Psyllids

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

A study by researchers from the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and South China Agricultural University sheds light on the genetic mechanisms that can defend against Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) infestation. ACP is the vector for HLB, the most devastating disease of citrus. The study was published in Horticulture Research on April 1. It unveils the roles of two cytochrome …

biological control

Biological Control Leads to ‘Massive Decline’ in Psyllids

Daniel CooperBiologicals, California Corner

Repeated evaluations throughout California showed “a massive decline – greater than 70%” in HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) densities since the inception of a biological control program, a researcher reported recently. Mark Hoddle said the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) turned to biocontrol because insecticide spraying wasn’t adequately controlling the psyllid. …

expanded

Citrus Greening Quarantine Expanded in Texas

Daniel CooperDiseases, Regulation, Texas

Agriculture officials have expanded the areas quarantined for citrus greening (huanglongbing; HLB), caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, in Texas. All of Zapata County has been added to the quarantined areas. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The action was taken …

CitrusMimic

CitrusMimic Detects Greening and Kills Psyllids

Daniel CooperAwards, HLB Management

A University of Miami (UM) doctoral candidate won third place in the UM College of Engineering’s Rothberg Catalyzer Pitch Competition for creating an instrument to quickly detect airborne traces of citrus greening disease. Shruti Choudhary’s creation, CitrusMimic, would be deployed on farming equipment to continuously draw in air and test for the citrus greening bacteria spread by the Asian citrus …

annual meeting

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Georgia Citrus Association Annual Meeting Focused on HLB and More

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Events, Georgia

By Peter Chaires The Georgia Citrus Association held its seventh annual meeting on Feb. 27 at the University of Georgia (UGA) campus in Tifton. As usual, the event was well organized and well attended. The agenda included topics such as: It was a value-packed day. HLB RECOMMENDATIONS Roger Smith of TreeSource Citrus Nursery in Woodlake, California, traveled quite a distance …

Australian Citrus Congress

Highlights of the Australian Citrus Congress

Daniel CooperEvents, International

The inaugural Australian Citrus Congress was held March 5–7 at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort. The event drew more than 400 attendees for a conference, trade show, gala dinner and biosecurity symposium. Organized by Citrus Australia, highlights of the event included the following: “Businesses across the supply chain had the opportunity to learn something new or make a connection that …

citrus tree

‘The Psyllids Will Like Georgia Just Fine’

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Psyllids

A California citrus leader believes Georgia will make an ideal home for the Asian citrus psyllid, which vectors the devastating huanglongbing (HLB) disease. “North of Florida, it is colder, and it’s certainly not as suitable a place as Florida is, but the psyllid is still going to be fine. The cold isn’t long enough here to knock the populations out,” …

budget

Florida Budget Includes $47 Million for Citrus

Daniel Cooperfinancial, Florida, Legislative

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) recently reported that the Florida Legislature’s fiscal year 2024–25 budget includes $47 million to aid the state’s citrus industry. The funding for various programs is: Additionally, the Florida Legislature’s budget includes a $100 million annual appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which aims to protect working agricultural operations from development by establishing conservation easements. …

mexican

Mexican Organic Orchards Offer Better Psyllid Control

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Mexico, Organic

A wider diversity of weeds and insects in organic Mexican citrus orchards compared to conventional orchards aids in control of the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid (ACP/Diaphorina citri), a Mexican scientist reported recently. HLB is also known as citrus greening disease.  “In the organic orchard, there are almost double the species of weeds compared to the conventional orchard,” Carlos Castillejos Cruz …

hlb

HLB Could End Georgia’s Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperGeorgia, HLB Management

One California citrus leader believes Georgia should respond more aggressively to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) for the sake of the industry’s future in the state. Roger Smith, fourth-generation citrus producer and executive of AC Foods, spoke during the recent Georgia Citrus Association meeting in Tifton. He discussed the disease that devastated citrus production in Florida and could …

study

HLB Management Different for North Florida Citrus

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, HLB Management

Living with huanglongbing (HLB) disease (citrus greening) is a much different process for citrus growers than protecting their crop from it. Growers in the cold-hardy citrus region are currently trying to keep the devastating disease out of their area. Industry experts like Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center director, are …

Citrus Health Forum

Citrus Health Forum Helps Cold-Hardy Growers

Daniel CooperCold Hardy

Production in the cold-hardy citrus region is still in its infancy. Growers and industry leaders need events like the Citrus Health Forum to obtain the necessary information to help this young industry continue to flourish. The latest forum took place at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy …

Mulch Suppresses Psyllids in Young Trees 

Tacy CalliesPsyllids, Tip of the Week

By Jawwad A. Qureshi, Lauren Diepenbrock and Davie Kadyampakeni  Protecting citrus trees from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is critical to reducing the spread and severity of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. The frequent availability of viable shoots in young trees is attractive to psyllid colonization, feeding and oviposition events. UV-metalized reflective mulches reflect ultraviolet light, which is disturbing for some insects …

Bud Advisories Help Growers Time Psyllid Sprays

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is reminding citrus growers that flower bud advisories are now being issued. The UF/IFAS advisories can help growers determine when to spray for HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids and when to stop spraying in an effort to protect pollinating bees. Tripti Vashisth, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences, will …