New Method Tells Growers More About Citrus Decay

Kelsey FryCitrus

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 …

Citrus Growers Share HLB Tips

Ernie NeffCitrus Greening

Sharing information, conducting field trials, being efficient, replanting, thermotherapy and managing tree stress are some of the practices five growers think might help manage HLB. The growers were panelists discussing possible ways to survive the devastating disease during Florida Citrus Mutual’s recent annual conference in Bonita Springs. Bill Barber of Lykes Brothers started and ended his presentation with a call …

Citrus Growers Surveyed on Percent of Trees Infected

Josh McGillCitrus, Citrus Greening

Florida citrus growers: 80 percent of trees infected by greening By: Brad Buck, 352-294-3303, bradbuck@ufl.edu Source: Ariel Singerman, 863-956- 8870, singerman@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s citrus growers say as much as 90 percent of their acreage and 80 percent of their trees are infected by the deadly greening disease, which is making a huge dent in the state’s $10.7 billion …

Citrus Growers Can Begin Using Three Bactericides

Kelsey FryCitrus

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, with the concurrence of the Environmental Protection Agency, has issued a Crisis Declaration that makes the use of three bactericides legal as of today. See the Crisis Declaration for details. Growers should make sure to have a copy of the Crisis Declaration and other portions of the attachment in their possession when utilizing these products. …

Legislative Progress for Florida Citrus Growers

Kelsey FryCitrus

In a message below, Mike Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, reports positive news on the current status of the citrus industry’s agenda items in the legislative session. Dear FCM Board and Members: It’s been a whirlwind 2016 in Tallahassee and with a week left in the scheduled legislative session, I have some very positive news to share. …

2025–26

First U.S. Citrus Crop Forecast Issued for 2025–26

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

The first federal forecast of the 2025–26 citrus season, issued Jan. 12, calls for continued decreased production of Florida oranges and grapefruit. The Florida lemon forecast increased and exceeds the state’s tangerine/mandarin forecast, which is flat. Other citrus-producing states are also included in the forecast, which was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). FLORIDA …

South African

South African Orange and OJ Production Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently forecast production and trade for South African oranges and orange juice (OJ) in 2025–26. ORANGES South Africa’s 2025–26 orange production is forecast to increase by 1% from 2024–25, to 1,850 million metric tons (MMT). The orange planted area is projected to increase by 2% in 2025–26, reaching 46,000 hectares. Valencias …

transformation

Crop Transformation Center Speeding Up the HLB Battle

Daniel CooperBreeding, Technology

The urgency to find a solution to huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, is why citrus is an initial focus of Florida’s Crop Transformation Center (CTC). The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the state’s citrus industry established the center three years ago. Through the CTC, faculty at the main UF campus in …

performance

Study Shows Performance of New Rootstocks

Daniel CooperResearch, Rootstocks

A recent article provides estimates for the performance of Valencia orange grafted on new hybrid citrus rootstock cultivars developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). These estimates can help growers decide which rootstocks to plant in HLB-endemic regions. Authors of the article are Ariel Singerman of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), …

cold-hardy

Cold-Hardy Citrus Update Following December Freeze

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, freeze

Cold-hardy citrus in the Southeast endured sub-freezing temperatures in mid-December, the second major freeze to impact the region this season. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed how this freeze impacted citrus trees and fruit in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. “We’re seeing some damage on younger trees that were probably planted …

Register Today for the Florida Citrus Show

Morgan ColeCitrus, Events, FCS24

The Florida Citrus Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The Florida Citrus Show combines educational seminars for both citrus …

Greenie

Greenie’s Performance in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Varieties

The December All In For Citrus podcast episode includes Muhammad Shahid, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center. He discusses winter preparations for the cold-hardy citrus region. For an area where freezes are common, these are important considerations. In addition to preparing for the cold, Shahid shares …

pest management

Planning Pest Management for Florida Citrus in 2026

Daniel CooperPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock Pest management is a year-round challenge in Florida citrus. But with knowledge of insect, mite and snail seasonal biology in relation to tree phenology, plans can be developed to protect fruit and maintain productive citrus trees. Populations of some highly problematic pests (Asian citrus psyllid and citrus leafminer) generally increase with flush/new growth development, so targeting peak …

marketing

Florida Citrus Marketing Efforts Updated

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing

The Florida Citrus Commission’s (FCC) Global Marketing Committee in December provided an update on all Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) marketing programs. The FCC, appointed by Florida’s governor, is the FDOC’s governing board.  ORANGE JUICE Marketing programs for orange juice (OJ) included ongoing activities with the Tampa Bay Lightning and a media event held in New York City on Dec. …

Florida Citrus Extension Agent Retiring

Daniel Cooperextension

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently announced the pending retirement of multi-county citrus Extension agent Chris Oswalt. Oswalt has been the agent for Polk and Hillsborough counties for decades. Michael Rogers, UF/IFAS statewide citrus research and Extension coordinator, said Oswalt “has faithfully served and greatly benefited numerous growers, researchers and his fellow Extension agents.” …

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 …

water deficit

Mexico Agrees to Repay Water Deficit in Texas

Daniel CooperTexas, Water

Mexico has agreed to meet the current water obligations of American farmers and ranchers and to repay the water deficit in Texas as part of the 1944 Water Treaty. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated that the agreement extends to the current cycle and the previous cycle’s water deficit. “Farmers across South Texas have been reeling from the uncertainty caused …

disease

Disease Research Discussed at Brazilian Workshop

Daniel CooperBrazil, Diseases

Several Fundecitrus researchers recently made presentations at the Brazilian Workshop on Plant Disease Epidemiology, held in Pirenópolis, Goiás. The scientists discussed studies on disease epidemics affecting agricultural crops and management strategies. CITRUS FLOWER ROT FORECASTING Geraldo Silva Junior addressed the citrus flower rot forecasting system — developed in partnership with Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture University of São Paulo(ESALQ/USP) …

guide

Updated Australian Citrus Guide Available

Daniel CooperDiseases, Pests, Research

The new Citrus Plant Protection Guide 2025-26 from Australia’s New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) is available online. The seventh edition of the guide provides up-to-date information on all aspects of managing pests and diseases in citrus orchards and includes updates on NSW DPIRD projects. Some of the projects are funded by Hort Innovation …

triazine

Support for Citrus Access to Triazine Herbicides

Daniel Cooperweeds

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently filed comments with federal agencies supporting continued access to the triazine herbicides simazine and atrazine for citrus and other specialty crops. The comments were submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Environmental Protection Agency regarding FWS’ draft Biological Opinion (BiOp) for Atrazine and Simazine Herbicides. FFVA submitted the comments …