California

Oak Leaf Extract Tested as HLB Tool

Ernie NeffHLB Management

In the search for solutions to HLB, a formulation based on oak leaf extract has been developed by citrus growers Travis Murphy and Tom Thayer, the Indian River Citrus League’s October River Ramblings newsletter reported. The formulation was developed following the growers’ observations that citrus trees under oak trees were free of HLB compared to nearby field trees that had …

U.S. Lemons: Lower Production, Higher Prices

Ernie Nefflemons

U.S. growers produced 884,000 tons of lemons in 2020-21, the smallest lemon crop since 2016-17, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Eighty percent of these lemons (710,000 tons) went to the fresh market, a 6% decrease in quantity from 2019-20. Although most U.S. lemons are grown in California, Arizona growers typically supply about 5% of the …

alico

California Navel Crop Forecast

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has announced that the initial 2021-22 California navel orange forecast is 70 million cartons, down 14% from the previous year. Of the total navel orange forecast, 67 million cartons are estimated to be in the Central Valley. Cara Cara variety navel orange production in the Central …

irrigation

Growers Uncertain About BMPs

Ernie NeffBMPs

Citrus growers are adopting best management practices (BMPs), but there is some uncertainty about how the practices affect yields and profitability. That was the summary of a grower survey about BMPs conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). A presentation highlighting the survey results was available at the UF/IFAS booth during Citrus Expo in …

Korean

Free ACP Scouting Service

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Psyllids

Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), California and Texas citrus growers can apply for the use of detection dogs to survey their groves for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). The ACP-hunting canine scouts are highly trained and have shown to be more than 90% accurate when tested in various environments. The information obtained from the scouting can …

CRDF

Regular Leaf Nutrient Analysis Improves HLB-Affected Trees

Tacy CalliesNutrition

By Tripti Vashisth and Davie Kadyampakeni Nutrition management is complex! Multiple factors affect the nutrient uptake and availability in trees. For example, high soil pH can limit the uptake of soil-applied micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). Oxide forms of nutrients might be less available than nitrate or sulfur forms. Moreover, the time and method of nutrient application …

greasy spot

Brown Rot Management Advice

Ernie NeffDiseases

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo discussed brown rot management in the September Extension newsletter, Citrus from the Ridge to the Valley. Her article follows. As we move into September, it is essential to remember that brown rot can impact yield, especially early varieties. Brown rot is caused by either …

acp

Psyllid Management Key for Georgia Growers

Tacy CalliesGeorgia, HLB Management

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is not yet well established in Georgia. University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist Jonathan Oliver wants to keep it that way. The ACP vectors citrus greening disease (HLB), which has decimated Florida’s citrus production. Oliver encourages producers to scout their groves regularly to avoid a similar fate happening in Georgia. “It’s …

greening

Brazil’s Orange Crop Takes a Downward Turn

Tacy CalliesBrazil, Crop Forecast

Fundecitrus and its cooperators announced on Sept. 10 that Brazil’s 2021-22 orange crop forecast has decreased to 267.87 million boxes. This is a decrease of 8.9% from May’s initial forecast of 294.17 million boxes. While Brazil was initially expecting a larger orange crop this season, the updated forecast is less than the 268.63 million boxes Brazil produced in 2020-2021. The …

Protecting Trees From Phytophthora Disease

Tacy CalliesDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Evan G. Johnson It is time to start thinking about protecting the fall root flush that will start soon and continue through November/December. This is the largest root flush of the year that stores carbohydrate reserves for next spring. Coming out of the rainy season, phytophthora has had the chance to build up plenty of inoculum, especially in groves …

prolong

What CRAFT Wants for Cycle III

Ernie NeffCRAFT

Five Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Technical Working Group leaders on Aug. 31 discussed the types of projects they’d like to see CRAFT Cycle III growers pursue. The types of projects the leaders expressed interest in will, to some extent, fill gaps in knowledge expected to be gained from previous cycles. CRAFT pays Florida growers to plant trees on …

citrus

Hurricane Preparation and Recovery: Key Points

Ernie NeffAll In For Citrus Podcast, hurricane

Multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo recently suggested ways to prepare for and recover from a hurricane. Hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Paolillo said hurricane activity is usually most prevalent from August to October. She cited an August update from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration predicting 15 to 21 tropical storms this summer, with 7 …

Australian Tree Map Tool Honored

Ernie NeffAwards, International

The Australian Tree Crop Map Dashboard won first place at the 2021 Esri User Conference. The conference is the world’s largest event dedicated to geographic information system technology. The tool is freely available and interactively summarizes the extent of avocado, citrus, macadamia and mango orchards, banana plantations and olive groves. It helps those industries make informed and timely decisions for biosecurity …

navel oranges

Navel Oranges: Current Status and Future in Florida

Tacy CalliesVarieties

By Pete Spyke and Bill Castle Navel oranges are fairly tolerant of HLB, are popular and easy to sell, and offer a stable source of income that is only marginally related to worldwide supply and demand. Nevertheless, the Florida navel orange industry has experienced some tough times recently. Growers are questioning whether it is possible to grow navel oranges profitably …

Grower: Young Trees Look ‘Outstanding’

Ernie NeffProduction

In the face of production declines, pest issues and other challenges, multi-county Florida citrus grower David Wheeler of Wheeler Farms found something positive to report. “One bright spot is the health of our young trees,” he said. “They look outstanding and have been on a good program with a rotation of insecticides.” Wheeler Farms’ more mature citrus trees aren’t doing …

Valencia Grove Design Research Earns Award

Ernie NeffAwards

Scientists who showed that high-density plantings yield considerably more Valencia oranges, among other findings, have been honored by the American Society for Horticultural Science. Researchers Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi, Mark Ritenour and Alan Wright won the society’s Outstanding Fruit Publication Award. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers work at the Indian River Research and Education Center …

UF/IFAS Expo Booth Improved

Ernie NeffCitrus Expo

Growers have always left the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) booth at Citrus Expo with much information they can use in the grove. This year, the UF/IFAS citrus staff hopes to make a visit to the booth even more fruitful. “In the past, we have had two large booths and it has had many posters,” …

Snail Management: What Works

Tacy CalliesPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock In the past few years, several citrus growers have been impacted by yet another non-native pest in their groves. This time it is not an insect or mite; it’s a snail. Bulimulus sporadicus is a relatively new pest to Florida, first found in Duval County in 2009. It has quickly moved throughout much of the state, causing …

crop forecast

Central Florida Grove Prices Tumble

Ernie NeffLand

Central Florida grove land sold for about 30% less per net tree acre in 2020 than the year before, according to a firm that sells much Florida land. Brian Beasley, senior advisor at SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler in Lakeland, reported the sales in the firm’s Lay of the Land 2020 Market Report. “We assume most of this decrease (in prices) …

Expo Focus: ‘What Growers Can Do Now’

Ernie NeffCitrus Expo

Many of the citrus presentations featured on the first day of Citrus Expo, Aug. 18, will focus on “what growers can do now” to keep groves productive, Michael Rogers reports. Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, offers what he calls “a 30,000-foot view” of the citrus seminar …