CarriCea

CarriCea Rootstock Registration Is ‘a Major Milestone’

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Regulation, Rootstocks

Growers association Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) on April 28 called the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of Soilcea’s CarriCea™ T1 citrus rootstock registration “a major milestone.”  According to FCM, CarriCea™ T1 is a first-of-its-kind citrus rootstock designed to tolerate citrus greening disease. It works by precisely editing the rootstock’s own genes, disrupting the bacterium that causes greening from interacting with the …

California

California Citrus: Grower and Consumer Perspective

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner

Jesse Silva, vice president of sales at California’s Kings River Packing, recently discussed the spring and summer citrus season from a grower and consumer and perspective on the AgNet West Radio Network. His observations follow. GROWING CONDITIONS AND COSTS This year’s warmer growing conditions have created both challenges and opportunities. Larger fruit sizes and softer textures require careful handling, but …

CUPS

Pest Avoidance and Monitoring in CUPS

Daniel CooperCUPS, Pests, Tip of the Week

By Jawwad A. Qureshi Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) is a novel system for large-scale citrus production in screen houses covered with a tightly woven mesh screen on all four sides and the roof. The primary goal of this shift from a traditional open orchard to a CUPS system is to protect citrus crops from huanglongbing (HLB) disease, which is …

trunk injection

How Trunk Injection Is Affecting Psyllid Populations

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management, Psyllids

Research and field trials have been fairly consistent in showing that trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) will reduce the HLB-causing bacteria in citrus trees, resulting in improved yield and quality. But what happens to the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) when it feeds on treated trees? The answer to that question is becoming clearer now from research conducted by the University …

eggs

Three Bugs That Eat Asian Citrus Psyllid Eggs

Daniel CooperBiologicals, HLB Management, Psyllids

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have found three commercially available insect species that devour the eggs of the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid. These natural predators could become an important new line of defense against the devastating citrus disease. This is particularly true for organic growers who have limited options to control the psyllid, said …

research

Research Confirms OTC Improvements in Groves

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management

The Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute was held at South Florida College in Avon Park last week to share the latest research from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Besides hearing presentations, attendees had an opportunity to interact one-on-one with scientists at 21 learning stations covering topics like entomology, citrus breeding, weed control and soil nutrition. …

conference

Florida Ag Policy Conference Focused on Key Programs

Daniel CooperAgriculture, Events, Florida

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka hosted the 11th annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference on April 16. The event covered a range of subjects critical to farmers. Sen. Keith Truenow (FL-13) discussed the passage of the Florida Farm Bill and its benefits to farmers. The legislation, signed by …

agricultural water

Ask These Questions When Conducting an Agricultural Water Assessment

Daniel CooperRegulation, Tip of the Week, Water

By Michelle Danyluk, William “Billy” Mitchell, Stephanie Brown, Emmy Collins, Keith R. Schneider and Taylor O’Bannon Most citrus growers have been meeting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requirements since 2016. However, changes to this rule in May of 2024 now require growers to have an agricultural water assessment (AgWa) for production (i.e., pre-harvest) water. A …

citrus podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, April 2026

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Events

In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park. The event is the subject of discussion in the April All In For Citrus podcast episode. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), says the Institute is among the big three citrus …

agriculture

Agriculture Organizations Seek H-2A Fixes

Daniel CooperLabor, Regulation

Numerous U.S. agriculture organizations, including some representing citrus growers, recently sent letters to two U.S. Cabinet members regarding concerns about the federal H-2A guest worker program. LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE A letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio requested that the Department of State take action to streamline its portion of the H-2A filing process by expanding interview waivers. …

growth

Growth Expected for South African Citrus Exports

Daniel CooperExport, International

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) on April 1 released its citrus export estimates for 2026, which point to continued growth. The report includes estimates of all varieties, excluding late mandarins (which make up the bulk of the mandarin crop). Taking the historic trajectory of late mandarins into account, total citrus exports are expected to increase by approximately …

Florida

Florida Citrus Show: A Day of Education and Enjoyment

Daniel CooperEvents, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show marked another successful event in March in Fort Pierce. The show provided attendees with a fun, informative day to learn about citrus and specialty crops while engaging with exhibitors during the tailgate-style trade show. CRAFT UPDATE Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs have been very popular with growers and have incentivized new citrus plantings across …

robot

Irrigation Robot Aims for ‘More Crop per Drop’

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Irrigation, Technology

Water management is a major challenge facing agriculture in California and other dry regions. A new University of California Riverside (UCR) system can map soil moisture tree by tree, so growers water only where and when it’s needed. The system, detailed in the journal Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, is the work of Elia Scudiero’s research group. Scudiero is associate …

specialty crop

Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program: Another Chance to Apply

Daniel Cooperfinancial, USDA

The 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program has been reopened. Specialty crop producers now have until April 24 to report 2025 acres to FSA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA) announced the reopening.  The ASCF program is designed to help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation and …

education

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: Education and Connection

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

Citrus and specialty crop growers will have a great opportunity this summer to gather, learn and connect at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event is set for Aug. 12–13 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers. The annual Expo brings together citrus and specialty crop producers for two days focused on practical education and valuable industry …

Brixy

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Thought About Brixy?

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Varieties

By Peter Chaires Nurseries and growers are continuously searching for suitable substitutes for Hamlin sweet orange to supply the early/mid-season orange juice market. Besides traditional sweet oranges, many new hybrids are in various stages of development. Some of these are likely to rise to the level of commercial viability in the orange-like category. Growers wanting to trial an orange-like hybrid …

Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual Reports on Washington Visit

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Mutual

Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM), reported on a recent trip that he, FCM President Kevin Koppleman and other FCM staff members made to Washington, D.C. Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation Executive Director Steven Hall accompanied the group. During their visit, the National Citrus Council convened to discuss challenges facing citrus. …

Gmitter and Grosser

Gmitter and Grosser Receive Rare Award

Daniel CooperAwards

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus breeders and geneticists Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser recently received the rare Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Resident Professorship Award. The award has only been bestowed four other times in CREC’s 109-year history. The award recognizes careers that have brought distinction to the CREC through outstanding programs, important …