recovery

What Past Hurricanes Reveal About Recovery

Daniel Cooperhurricane

After hurricanes hit citrus-producing regions in Florida, there is always one question included in the conversation: How bad is it? Experience has shown that the damage from hurricanes can take months to fully manifest. And recovery can take years, especially in the HLB-era. Within a week after Hurricane Milton making landfall on Oct. 9, the University of Florida Institute of …

diseases

Problematic Diseases Following Hurricanes

Daniel CooperDiseases, hurricane

Hurricanes bring immediate tree damage from high winds and torrential rainfall, but storms also can lay the groundwork for citrus disease problems. Soon after Hurricane Milton passed through citrus-growing regions, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a webinar that covered various topics including post-storm disease management. CANKER Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant …

hlb

Progress Being Made in HLB Fight

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists led by Kranthi Mandadi are seeking novel solutions to huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. Mandadi is a professor in the Texas A&M Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and a researcher at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. In the past few years, he and his collaborators have …

Owari

Owari Yields in Georgia Pruning Trial

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Pruning

University of Georgia (UGA) County Extension Coordinator Jake Price recently reported on the Nov. 19 harvest of fruit from six Owari satsuma trees on X-639 rootstock. The trees were part of a pruning field trial. Price said three pruned trees yielded 380, 527 and 457 pounds of fruit, respectively; three unpruned control trees yielded 569, 596 and 418 pounds, respectively. …

agreement

Fundecitrus Signs Agreement Seeking HLB Solutions

Daniel CooperBrazil, HLB Management

Nelson Wulff of Fundecitrus recently signed a technical cooperation agreement between Fundecitrus and the National Center of Genetic Resources (Cenargen/Embrapa) for a project to develop biotechnological solutions for HLB. Wulff, coordinator of the Fundecitrus Biotechnology and Diagnostics Laboratory, signed the agreement at the 50th anniversary ceremony of Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology in Brazil. Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology has …

fertilizer

Fertilizer Considerations for HLB-Affected Citrus

Daniel CooperNutrition, Tip of the Week

By John M. Chater and Davie Kadyampakeni Soil fertility is a keystone to a productive citrus grove in Florida. In the era of huanglongbing (HLB), the need to fine-tune soil fertility takes on even more importance. The sandy soils found in citrus-growing regions of the state are great for drainage to reduce flooding stress of citrus trees in many cases, …

cold-hardy

Cold-Hardy Citrus Region Continues to Expand

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Cold Hardy

Muhammad Shahid, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of horticulture, joined the All In For Citrus podcast recently to discuss the growing citrus industry in the cold-hardy region of North Florida, South Georgia and Southeast Alabama. Production continues to expand in the area with some 7,000 to 8,000 acres of citrus. Shahid is based …

requirements

Requirements Eased for Hurricane Aid

Daniel Cooperfinancial, hurricane

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to streamline and provide flexibilities for environmental compliance requirements for 2024 hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. It is allowing its Farm Service Agency (FSA) to expedite approval of payments and practice implementation for Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) and Tree Assistance Program (TAP) applicants impacted by the …

Costa Rican

Costa Rican Orange Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) expects Costa Rican orange production to increase approximately 11% in 2024–25, to 250,000 metric tons. Production in 2023–24 was lower than expected at 225,000 metric tons as a result of erratic rainfall patterns associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon. The area planted in oranges is expected to remain unchanged …

court

Court Halts Enforcement of H-2A Rule Amendment

Daniel CooperLabor, Legal

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) applauded the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi for halting enforcement of a rule amending H-2A visa program regulations. IFPA and its co-plaintiffs argued that the regulation is both unconstitutional and beyond the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) statutory authority. They maintained that the rule imposes unlawful demands on agricultural employers …

forecasts

Florida Citrus Forecasts Tumble

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, Florida

Federal forecasts for Florida citrus production tumbled Dec. 10, led by a 20% decrease in oranges compared to the initial October forecast. The declines primarily reflect damage from Hurricane Milton, which was not accounted for in the initial forecast. The 2024–25 season forecasts for all other citrus-producing states were unchanged from October. The Dec. 10 Florida forecasts by variety are …

hall of fame

Adams, Graham and Richey to Join Hall of Fame

Daniel CooperAwards

The late Charles W. Adams, James H. “Jim” Graham and Daniel R. “Dan” Richey will be inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame March 28, 2025. ADAMS Adams (1879–1945) was a partner in Adams Packing Association and Growers Fertilizer Corporation. He impacted the citrus industry with his progressive ideas for growth. Adams moved from Michigan to Florida in 1911 …

success

CUPS Success Rate a Relief for Researcher

Daniel CooperCUPS

The success of citrus under protective screen (CUPS) in protecting Florida citrus from citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing or HLB, was not surprising to Arnold Schumann. The professor of soil fertility and water quality at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center is thankful research had yielded a temporary solution …

Citrus Industry

Citrus Industry: A Continued Commitment

Daniel CooperHistory

As Citrus Industry changes to a new format in 2025 (see more here), now is a good time to look back at some of the stories the publication has covered over the years. The world’s largest citrus library at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred holds a mostly …

All In For Citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast Discusses Indian River Events

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Events, Indian River

The Millennium Block grove is a large-scale trial evaluating HLB tolerance of various rootstock/scion combinations at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. The trial is primarily focused on grapefruit scion/rootstock combinations. Recently, a Millennium Block field day allowed growers to view various selections that …

HLB

Changing With the Times

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

By Robin Loftin and Frank Giles When HLB was first confirmed in Florida in October 2005, it was difficult to imagine the path the disease would take the state’s citrus industry down. In some ways, it has been a testament to the resolve and ingenuity of growers who have kept trees alive and continued planting, despite some early prognostications that …

hybrid

HLB-Tolerant Hybrid Varieties Highlighted

Daniel CooperEvents, Indian River, Varieties

Two varieties that tolerate HLB and produce ample fruit yield and juice were the highlights of the recent Millennium Block Field Day in Fort Pierce, Florida. The 20-acre Millennium Block at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) examines fresh fruit varieties and rootstocks. “The two varieties that give …

flowering

How to Handle Extended Flowering in HLB Trees

Daniel CooperProduction, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) flower bud induction advisories for 2024–25 started on Nov. 25. The advisories will be posted bi-weekly until March 2025. The goal of the advisories is to provide growers and production managers with a complete overview of flowering prediction. Every advisory will aim to deliver recommendations for that …

momentum

Juice Maturity Standards Eased; Varieties Approved for Licensing

Daniel CooperFlorida Citrus Commission, Varieties

Update as of 12-2-24: For the period beginning 12:00 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2024, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on May 23, 2025, maturity standards in regard to ratio are suspended for all grapefruit including field run and eliminations. This emergency rule supersedes Emergency Rule 20ER24-4. At the request of Florida processor and grower associations, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) …

December

Sneak Peek: December 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

Citrus Industry magazine has been proudly serving growers for more than a century. In the December issue, AgNet Media announces some important changes to the 105-year-old brand. Beginning in January of next year, Citrus Industry content will become a part of Specialty Crop Grower magazine. The Citrus Industry website and weekly e-news will continue as is. Learn about the reason …