Virtually all Florida citrus growers have signed up to participate in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) best management practices (BMPs) for water quality and water quantity. “They’ve done an extremely good job over the last 20 years that we’ve had BMPs,” says University of Florida researcher Kelly Morgan, the statewide BMP coordinator. “The (state) water act …
Finger Lime Could Be New Crop for Citrus Growers
By Manjul Dutt, Ethan Nielsen and Jude Grosser The finger lime is a citrus relative, scientifically named Microcitrus australasica. Finger limes are native to Australia and are so named because the fruits are long and fingerlike in shape (see figures 1 and 2). Finger limes belong to a group of similar citrus relatives, all originating from Australia with common names …
South Korea Could Be a Lucrative Market for Florida Growers
By Brad Buck, 352-294-3303, bradbuck@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — How about grapefruit as a dessert or snack? That is how many South Koreans, especially younger ones, view the fruit. Therefore, Florida grapefruit growers may want to expand their shipments to that Asian nation, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers say. UF/IFAS researchers are doing a series …
Growers Discuss Bactericides, Nutrition and More
A handful of citrus growers discussed January bloom and postbloom fruit drop (PFD), bactericides, nutrition and replanting strategies at a grower forum in Sebring on January 12. Laurie Hurner, Highlands County Extension director and citrus Extension agent, summarizes the discussions. “We are looking at areas where we’ve got bloom coming on. That is a little bit nerve-wracking for January,” Hurner …
Extinguish Helps Citrus Growers with Fire Ant Control
Across the Southeast we continue to fight those pesky fire ants, but one company is promoting a product to help citrus growers with fire ant control. Tracy Harris, senior director of sales for Central Life Sciences, says Extinguish is the product for them. To learn more about Extinguish for fire ant control, go to centrallifesciences.com. Image: Red …
How Negative Results in HLB Research Can Help Growers
“Everyone wants to see positive results when we do a test” to see if something helps battle HLB, says Harold Browning, chief operations officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation. But, he adds, “not everything we test … is going to be able to solve this problem for us, though it may contribute in a small way.” He made …
Citrus Growers in the Panhandle Are Enthusiastic Newcomers
An official with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently visited some citrus growers in the Panhandle, north of the traditional Florida citrus belt. Callie Walker, chief of the FDACS Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control, shares her impressions of the fledgling industry. “I was in Perry, Florida; we were looking at citrus production,” Walker said. “A …
Leadership Change at Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association
Update as of 1-4-17: Katie Marks has decided to stay with her current employer and will not be accepting the position as executive director with Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association. Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) Executive Director LeAnna Himrod announced she has accepted a new position as communications manager at the Florida Department of Citrus. Responsibilities in …
Genetic Engineering for HLB – the Growers’ Role
Citrus growers can play a vital role in promoting genetic engineering as a partial solution to HLB, University of Florida Horticultural Sciences Department Chairman Kevin Folta says. He summarizes a message he delivered to about 40 at a Highlands County OJ break in Sebring on November 17. “There are many great innovations at the University of Florida and other places” …
UF/IFAS FAWN System Helps Growers Save Water and Money
Citrus grower James Shinn remembers days when he and his workers would rush out as early as 5 p.m. to turn water pumps on to irrigate his crops. “We had no idea when the temperature would drop, so we had to get out there early and get the water going.” Now, researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food …
Some Growers ‘Being Squeezed More than Others’ by HLB
Citrus Extension agent Steve Futch answers questions following a grower forum in Arcadia on October 27. Growers discussed production, bactericides for HLB and much more. The forum opened with one grower saying he doesn’t know how much longer he can keep going. Another reported per-acre orange production of 450 to 500 boxes in some blocks – a superb level in …
Growers to Pay Department of Citrus Historically Low Tax Rate
Citrus grower taxes supporting Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) programs this season will be 7 cents per box for processed oranges and fresh grapefruit – the two most utilized fruits. Those historically low rates were proposed early in 2016 by 12 large Florida citrus growers and adopted by the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on October 26. Other per-box grower assessments …
Peace River Growers Discuss Citrus Issues
Six citrus growers shared their views on a wide range of topics with about 50 fellow producers at a Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association (PRVCGA) gathering Thursday in Bowling Green. PRVCGA Executive Director LeAnna Himrod, who posed questions for the panelists, summarizes the discussions by topic. Crop size: “I think that everyone’s expecting it to be lower than last …
HLB Playbook for Growers in the Works
Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center, discussed the planned HLB Playbook at the recent Citrus Expo. The playbook should be available in print and on the Internet by January. Rogers says the playbook will feature “all the information we know about managing citrus groves in the face of HLB and how growers can …
Complimentary Copy of Citrus Tree Nutrition Book for Growers
Sponsored Content A brand new book, “The Critical Importance of Citrus Tree Nutrition,” recently made its debut at Citrus Expo. Growers who attended the event were able to receive a free copy of the book, courtesy of TKI Crop Vitality. Due to the popularity of the book, TKI is extending the promotion to Florida citrus growers who have not yet …
Citrus Growers Urged to Submit Comments to EPA on Simazine
The herbicide active ingredient simazine (Princep®) is currently undergoing re-registration review by EPA. A crucial step in that process is the public comment period. EPA is now accepting public comments. It would be very helpful to include comments from end-users in the Florida citrus community, where simazine is an important weed management tool. Click here for concise background information and …
Why Should Growers Take the Bactericide Survey?
With the 2016 Citrus Expo approaching, Harold Browning, chief operations officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), is reminding Florida growers to take the bactericide survey if they haven’t already done so. The deadline to complete the survey is August 10. It can be found online at citrusexpo.net. Browning said that the bactericide survey results will be a …
Sparks Urges Growers to Take Bactericide Survey
Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks tells why it’s important for Florida citrus growers to participate in a bactericide survey. The survey was developed by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation and is being administered by AgNet Media. Even growers who are not using the bactericides yet are asked to participate. The purpose of the survey is to collect data …
Growers Learn About Diaprepes Root Weevil Control
University of Florida professor Larry Duncan presented the latest research on using entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) to control Diaprepes root weevil (DRW) in citrus to approximately 30 growers on June 30 at the Hardee County Extension Service office in Wauchula. The combination of HLB with DRW intrusion has created a situation that will accelerate the destruction of most infected trees. DRW …
New Method Tells Growers More About Citrus Decay
With citrus growers trying to save their groves in the wake of the deadly greening disease, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher has found a new technique that could help growers answer a vexing question – why so much fruit is dropping to the ground prematurely. If we know why fruit is dropping, we can …