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. …

future

Citrus Meetings Focus on Industry’s Future

Daniel CooperCRAFT, Florida Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual and the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation held joint board and field meetings in Fort Pierce on Oct. 15. Nearly 70 citrus growers, researchers and industry leaders came together to explore the latest research, emerging technologies and opportunities to strengthen Florida’s citrus industry. The day began at Picos Farm, an experimental research site at the …

industry

What Does Citrus Industry Recovery Look Like?

Daniel CooperAwards

The 2026 Citrus Achievement Award winner, Ned Hancock, has seen his groves and acreage decline over the past 20 years as HLB has ravaged the Florida citrus industry. But he believes there are some positive signs pointing the industry in the right direction. This year’s final crop estimate, putting production slightly ahead of the previous year, was among those positive …

microbial

OTC Injection Changes Soil Microbial Functions

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research, soil

Citrus growers and researchers know that oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection can reduce the amount of the bacterium associated with huanglongbing (HLB) disease and improve fruit production and juice quality. However, new research shows the treatment also causes changes in microbial functions around citrus roots. Researchers conducted a field study in a commercial Southwest Florida orchard containing 8-year-old Valencia sweet orange …

high school

High School Researcher Launches HLB Product

Daniel CooperHLB Management

In 2025, high school student Tanishka Aglave regaled the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA) annual meeting with a discussion of her prize-winning investigation into a natural alternative treatment for HLB. Instead of using the standard HLB treatment oxytetracycline (OTC) as a trunk injection, she injected HLB-infected trees with an extract from the Indian curry leaf plant. She reported that …

Tango mandarin

Co-Developer of Tango Mandarin Honored

Daniel CooperAwards, California Corner, Varieties

University of California, Riverside (UCR) citrus researcher Mikeal Roose is among 23 honorees across the University of California (UC) campuses who recently received UC Regents Innovation Awards. Roose is credited with co-developing the seedless Tango mandarin. The awards recognize UC faculty members whose research has real-world impact. Roose was among 11 honored in the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award category for …

guidelines

Guidelines for Shipping Citrus From Georgia to Florida

Daniel CooperShipping

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) reminds the state’s citrus growers that if they plan to ship fresh citrus to Florida for packing, there are certain guidelines they must adhere to. The state of Florida requires all fresh citrus fruit coming into the state to be inspected for and free from citrus canker, sweet orange scab and citrus black spot …

optimism

Citrus Producers Express Growing Optimism Since the Introduction of ReMedium TI®

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content ReMedium TI® was introduced to the Florida market in January 2023. Since its introduction, citrus producers have experienced a steady recovery from citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), one of the most significant challenges facing the Florida citrus industry. Across Florida, growers are reporting renewed optimism about the potential for recovery and future growth of the …

wage

Grower Groups Condemn California Wage Increase

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Labor, Regulation

Agriculture organizations expressed strong disapproval at the passage of a California law establishing a minimum hourly wage of at least $19.75 next year for many agricultural workers in the state. This is nearly a 17% increase from the state’s current minimum wage of $16.90. Assembly Bill 2646, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, establishes the $19.75 minimum wage for certain temporary …

Florida Citrus Show

Mark Your Calendar for the Florida Citrus Show

Daniel CooperEvents, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show will return Thursday, March 11, 2027, bringing Florida growers together for a day of education, networking and the latest developments in citrus and specialty crop production. The annual event will take place in Fort Pierce at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department …

HLB-affected

Biostimulants Benefit HLB-Affected Citrus

Daniel CooperBiostimulants, Tip of the Week

By Noor Ul Basar, Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Duplicate Sambani and Davie M. Kadyampakeni Huanglongbing (HLB) remains the greatest challenge facing citrus production in Florida. While there is currently no cure for HLB, effective management of affected trees remains a primary focus for Florida citrus growers. Efficient nutrient management is an important strategy for maintaining the health and productivity of HLB-affected …

citrus

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Moving From Creation to Adoption

Daniel CooperBreeding, Citrus Nursery Source

By Peter Chaires Growers and nurserymen have come to understand that citrus breeding is a continuum. It can’t be turned on and off like a light switch. Though priorities of emphasis, available techniques, tools and technologies may change, large shifts in breeding objectives take time and can produce delays and inefficiencies. Making crosses is a relatively quick process. Knowledgeable breeders …

states

Season’s First Forecast Shows Stark Contrasts Among Citrus-Producing States

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) released its first citrus crop forecast of the 2026–27 season on Oct. 9. The federal forecast for all Florida citrus varieties, with the exception of lemons, is down from last season. All citrus crops in other states are expected to increase. FLORIDA The Florida all-orange crop is expected to plummet …

consistent

Consistent Irrigation Needed To Avoid Fruit Split

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Irrigation, Production

Consistent irrigation is needed during the final few weeks of production for this year’s crop in the cold-hardy citrus region. That management tactic will help prevent fruit splitting, said Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. Sutton said she has seen fruit split in a couple of spots that was caused by extended dry, hot …

RAISE Act

RAISE Act Targets Faster Disaster Aid

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Legislative

U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Darren Soto (FL-09) and Kat Cammack (FL-03) introduced the Restore Agricultural Investment, Stability and Expansion (RAISE) Act of 2026, to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the standing authority to help growers recover after natural disasters by issuing block grants. “Florida’s citrus industry knows firsthand the devastating impacts of …

digital twins

Digital Twins Present New Possibilities for Citrus

Daniel CooperResearch, Technology

Digital technology that creates virtual versions of orchards, trees and fruit shipments could eventually help citrus growers make more informed decisions about production and fruit quality, according to a new review of research. A digital twin combines real-world information, such as weather data, sensor readings and satellite or drone images, with computer models and artificial intelligence. The resulting virtual representation …

optimism

ReMedium TI® Demonstrates Proven Performance in Citrus Greening Management

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content In the ongoing battle against citrus greening (also known as huanglongbing or HLB), a disease that has devastated Florida’s citrus industry, the trunk-injection product ReMedium TI® has demonstrated promising performance. Since its commercial release in January 2022, ReMedium TI® has continued to generate interest and optimism among Florida citrus growers seeking economically viable tools to manage the disease. Recent research …

Researcher of the Year

FFVA Names Researcher of the Year

Daniel CooperAwards

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently presented Kim Bowman its 2026 Researcher of the Year Award. For more than 30 years, Bowman has led citrus rootstock research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida. He has worked to develop innovative solutions to improve citrus production and help growers address …