crdf

Studying Soil Microbes and Microbial Amendments

Tacy CalliesNews from our Sponsor

Column sponsored by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation This article addresses the idea that beneficial, naturally occurring soil- and root-based bacteria might aid in the management of HLB. The background for field trials described below is work by Nian Wang of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, funded in part by the Citrus Research and …

HLB

Tools for Growing Citrus in the HLB Era

Ernie NeffHLB Management, Production

Economist Tom Spreen thinks advanced production systems (APS) and citrus under protective screen (CUPS) offer hope for some growers in the face of HLB. Spreen, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor emeritus, discussed APS and CUPS at a recent Gulf Citrus Growers Association economic seminar in LaBelle. Spreen says growing with APS “means you have …

Sneak Peek: January 2018 Citrus Industry Magazine

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

Citrus Industry magazine subscribers have one more Christmas present to open. The January issue comes packaged with a complimentary copy of a brand new magazine, Vegetable and Specialty Crop News. Brought to you by AgNet Media, VSCNews is geared to growers in the Southeast. It contains production-related information as well as updates on big-picture agricultural issues like trade reform and …

disease

Managing Disease with Copper and IPM

Ernie NeffDiseases

Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and copper are both good control measures for common citrus foliar fungal diseases, as well as for citrus canker. So says University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant pathologist Ozgur Batuman. Batuman summarizes information he presented at a fall field day and seminar attended by about 60 people at the Southwest Florida …

disaster

Update on Hurricane Disaster Relief Legislation

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release, Legislative

Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, provides the following update on hurricane disaster relief legislation: This was another busy week in Washington. The industry, led by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, spent two days working with the Florida delegation and Congressional leaders in an attempt to find a path forward for disaster relief legislation. There is more …

florida

Citrus Money Passes House but Could Stall in Senate

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release, Legislative

Federal relief for Florida citrus growers cleared the U.S. House on Thursday, but its fate remained unclear in the Senate, which may not take up the package until January. Before the House vote, leaders separated an $81 billion disaster-relief package that includes citrus money from a short-term funding resolution needed to keep the government open through mid-January. The move drew …

cold

FAWN’s Cold Protection Toolkit Explained

Ernie NeffFreeze Protection

Citrus growers and other agriculturists can use the Florida Automated Weather Network’s (FAWN) Cold Protection Toolkit to make decisions when using irrigation for cold protection. FAWN Project Manager Rick Lusher provides an overview of what he calls the toolkit’s “step-by-step guide.” “You can look at a four-day forecast from the National Weather Service, and then you can go down to …

florida

Imported Citrus Numbers Continue to Grow in Florida

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

An increase in imported orange juice is anticipated by the Florida Citrus Commission to offset a decline in tax revenue from the state’s hurricane-battered growers, who await congressional action on disaster relief. The commission — during a brief conference call Wednesday — agreed to shift $556,147 from reserves to help cover the Department of Citrus’ budget for the current fiscal …

rubio

Disaster Relief Package Would Help Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperCitrus, hurricane, Industry News Release

Florida’s storm-battered citrus growers are closer to landing federal relief sought since Hurricane Irma devastated large parts of the state’s agriculture industry in September. The U.S. House on Wednesday will consider providing $2.6 billion for lost farm crops as part of an $81 billion disaster-relief package, which has been attached to the latest short-term “continuing resolution” needed to keep the …

Attacking HLB From All Angles

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

University of California Riverside (UCR) is committed to a major offensive against huanglongbing (HLB, or citrus greening disease), as the threat is marching ever closer to commercial citrus orchards in California. The only confirmed cases in Southern California have been in residential trees in Los Angeles and Orange counties, including near the UCR campus. But some experts believe it is …

citrus

Tax Bill Includes Help for Citrus Replanting

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Greening, hurricane, Industry News Release

A proposal aimed at helping citrus growers replant after Hurricane Irma is included in a federal tax overhaul that could be approved this week by Congress, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., said Monday. The proposal, sponsored by Buchanan and backed by Florida’s congressional delegation, would provide tax incentives for farmers who cannot afford to replace trees damaged by the storm …

scott

Gov. Scott Discusses Citrus Storm Relief

Daniel CooperCitrus, hurricane, Industry News Release, Legislative

Gov. Rick Scott spent part of Friday on the phone talking about federal disaster relief amid continuing worries about the storm-ravaged citrus industry. Scott tweeted that his calls with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan included talk of hurricane relief. “I spoke with @GovAbbott this morning about the ongoing recovery in FL and TX from Hurricanes …

UF/IFAS, Tropicana Test Promising New Citrus Varieties for Greening Tolerance

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Research

Grafted orange trees showcased at the 100th anniversary of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) may give the state’s citrus growers new reason to hope the industry can cope with the citrus greening crisis, UF/IFAS researchers say. University of Florida scientists and Tropicana are teaming up to test promising new UF/IFAS-bred …

HLB

Super-Root Mutants for HLB

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening, HLB Management

A citrus nursery employee has found super-root mutants that might offer hope for developing trees that are less susceptible to HLB. The employee is Beth Lamb, a tissue culture expert at Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences citrus breeder Jude Grosser tells about her discovery. “She discovered some mutants of some of the …

Cold-Tolerant Citrus Production Event

Jaci SchreckengostFreeze Protection, FSMA, Top

More than 100 growers from Florida and Georgia gathered at the Cold-Tolerant Citrus Production for the Southeastern Coastal Plain educational event on Dec. 13. Bob Hochmuth, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science’s (UF/IFAS) Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, introduced the event, which was held at the center. Morning presentations by UF/IFAS speakers included information …

Freeze Probability and Protection Efforts

Ernie NeffFreeze Protection

Florida hasn’t had a widespread tree-killing citrus freeze in years. That’s very fortunate since the industry has been dealing with the highly destructive HLB disease since 2005 and with negative impacts of Hurricane Irma since September. However, a damaging freeze is always a possibility at this time of year. Consequently, multi-county citrus Extension agent Chris Oswalt held a winter weather …

crop forecast

Citrus Industry Squeezed if Congress Doesn’t Help

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

No “plan B” is available if Congress does not add citrus funding to the latest disaster relief package, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Wednesday. A day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture further reduced a forecast of the post-Hurricane Irma orange harvest, Putnam reiterated the need for federal assistance to the struggling industry, which could see damages from the …

Growing Citrus in the HLB Era

Tacy CalliesHLB Management

By Jim Gravley The entire citrus industry has changed since the arrival of HLB (citrus greening). To ensure success and produce a quality product, the grower must adapt and truly understand the issues brought on from the infection of HLB. The disease was officially identified in 2005 in South Florida, and we are still fighting to save this great industry. …

zinc

Florida Citrus Crop Forecast: Oranges Down; Grapefruit Holds Steady

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

As of Dec. 12, the 2017-2018 Florida all-orange forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is 46 million boxes. This figure is down 8 percent from the November forecast. If realized, this forecast will be 33 percent less than last season’s production and the least since the 1944-1945 season of 42.2 million boxes. The forecast consists of 19 million …

florida citrus

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees Chosen for 2018

Daniel CooperCitrus, Industry News Release

Two distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame (FCHOF) during the 56th Citrus Celebration Luncheon on Friday, March 9, 2018, at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. L. Gene Albrigo, of Daytona Shores, and Marvin D. Kahn, of Sebring, will be honored at the luncheon, scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. Gene Albrigo has led …