recommendations

Gibberellic Acid May Help Manage Alternate Bearing

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Production

A common management tool that Florida citrus growers use to improve the health of trees impacted by citrus greening disease could be a valuable resource for cold-hardy producers — but for a different reason. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the tool gibberellic acid (GA) at the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference …

January

Sneak Peek: January 2026 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

The annual Citrus State of the Industry Survey is back, and Part 1 of the results are in. The citrus section of the January issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine shares what growers have reported on this season’s grove conditions. The report includes information on crop quality, expected yield and oxytetracycline use. Readers can scan the QR code in the …

podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, December 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, freeze

As 2025 winds down, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), took time to recognize Chris Oswalt during the December All In For Citrus podcast. Oswalt is retiring from his post as a citrus Extension agent, which he’s held for nearly 30 years. He served Polk …

fruit display

Greenie Gains Attention at Citrus Fruit Display

Daniel CooperEvents, Fresh, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) hosted its last scheduled citrus fruit display of the year on Dec. 17 in Lake Alfred. The December display is considered the best of the season due to the number and diversity of varieties available. There were about 25 fresh fruit varieties on …

Georgia growers

Georgia Growers Tour Brazil’s Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperBrazil, Georgia

A recent tour of Brazilian citrus provided Georgia growers with valuable information on how to capitalize on production amid huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and owner of JoNina Farm, was one of seven producers who attended the week-long tour this fall. One of the main observations was Brazil’s strong production despite the prevalence …

hail

Georgia Citrus Grower Sustains Hail Damage

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Georgia, Weather

Sub-freezing temperatures this week across the cold-hardy citrus region had minimal impact on the region’s fruit crop. A hailstorm in a couple of South Georgia counties, however, was another story. Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and owner of JoNina Farm in Ochlocknee, said her operation was battered by hail for about 15 to 20 minutes late …

bed system

Bed System Benefits Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Production

A bed system used in citrus groves is still under research at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy. But one researcher is already convinced that the system, which includes fabric mulch, is beneficial for growers. “This system is better for them. It’s already being used in …

pruning

Pruning Young Citrus Trees

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Pruning

Pruning is an important management tactic that cold-hardy citrus growers need to implement, especially during the early stages of tree development. Fernando Alferez, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus horticulturist, discussed pruning during the Cold-Hardy Citrus Field Day and Workshop in Quincy on Oct. 1. “Pruning is important because it will give the tree …

freeze tolerance

Freeze Tolerance Is Key to Diversification

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Research, Varieties

Freeze tolerance is a focal point of citrus studies conducted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. As citrus production continues to grow in the cold-hardy citrus region, growers need varieties that are able to withstand prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures. Leading that research is Muhammad Shahid, …

Psyllids

Psyllids and HLB Spreading in Georgia

Daniel CooperGeorgia, HLB Management, Psyllids

Populations of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) have been found in residential and commercial citrus in Georgia’s Lowndes and Wayne counties during the past two months. ACP spread huanglongbing (HLB) disease. In several places where ACP were found, HLB-infected trees were identified nearby. University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UGA CAES) entomologist Apurba Barman provided details about the …

phytophthora

Proper Site Selection Essential for Phytophthora Prevention

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Diseases

Vulnerability of citrus trees to phytophthora root rot is a concern for cold-hardy growers. But there are precautions that producers can implement that will guard against infection buildup. One of those precautions includes site selection and not planting trees in poorly drained locations, according to Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “Site prep is really …

future

A Bright Future and New Normal for Citrus

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

Citrus has a brighter future in Florida and surrounding areas, according to one industry expert. Hopefully, there will be enough farmers left standing to profit from it. Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, was a featured speaker at this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. He spoke about the industry’s future as it continues to navigate …

residents

Florida Residents Educated About HLB

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Residential trees — where citrus greening disease (also known as huanglongbing or HLB) was first detected in the Florida — can serve as reservoirs for disease-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) if the pests are not properly managed. Recognizing that disease prevention is a coordinated effort, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is teaching Florida residents …

snail

Snail Update: Impacts and Abamectin

Daniel CooperPests

Snail impacts on Southeast citrus production can be devastating. A big part of the problem is not the damage to citrus trees but the harm the pest inflicts on irrigation systems. Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor and entomologist, conveyed this message to cold-hardy producers during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting on …

summer update

Summer Update Informs Growers on Impactful Issues

Daniel CooperEvents, Georgia

The annual Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting on Aug. 14 in Valdosta, Georgia, provided cold-hardy growers with updates on several factors impacting the industry. Information on topics ranging from snails to phytophthora to Asian citrus psyllid trapping were presented to growers who are on the cusp of harvesting another season’s crop. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) area citrus agent …

season

Extremely Low Satsuma Supply Expected This Season

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Production

Fruit is scarce this season on satsuma trees in the Southeast. There was an oversupply of satsuma mandarins in the cold-hardy citrus region last season. That will not be the case in 2025. According to Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission, satsuma supply will be extremely low for the upcoming …

research

Nearly $23 Million Awarded for HLB Research

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) announced May 28 it has invested nearly $23 million in 14 HLB projects in 2025. The projects seek to find solutions to combat and prevent HLB in citrus. The projects are part of the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program. The University of Florida is the only …

alternate bearing

The Causes of Alternate Bearing

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Georgia, Production

Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, recently wrote about the causes of alternate bearing in Georgia groves. Alternate bearing is a common problem in many mandarin varieties.  A slightly edited version of Sutton’s report follows. CARBOHYDRATES During photosynthesis, leaves produce sugars that are either exported and utilized for growth or stored as starch in …

nitrogen application

Optimizing Nitrogen Applications in North Florida

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Nutrition

Four University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) horticulture researchers recently wrote an update in the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection about optimizing citrus nitrogen applications in North Florida. The authors are Muhammad A. Shahid, Davie Kadyampakeni, Shahid Iqbal and Muhammad Nadeem. The following edited excerpts explain the research project and provide conclusions: THE RESEARCH The need for …

dry

Citrus Water Needs Critical Amid Dry Period

Daniel CooperIrrigation, Weather

The current dry period in the Southeast can negatively impact the region’s citrus groves. Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama need water, especially ahead of the next harvest season. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed why water is so important this time of year. “Water …