Four federal disaster assistance programs and one Florida program are among those available to growers to assist in recovery after Hurricane Ian. The first four programs listed below are available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). To apply for these programs, contact a local FSA office, or the Florida FSA office at 352-379-4500. EMERGENCY LOAN PROGRAMThe …
A Conversation With SWFREC’s Director
Editor’s note: The September All In For Citrus podcast was recorded prior to Hurricane Ian’s impact on Florida. During the September All In For Citrus Podcast, Michael Burton discussed his recent move to Florida to become the new center director of the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC). Burton provided details on his background and shared his research priorities …
Extension Agents Assess Hurricane Damage
“Hurricane Ian has devastated much of Florida’s citrus industry,” said Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. “The harsh reality is that the 2022–2023 season will be one of the most challenging that any of us has faced.” Several UF/IFAS Extension agents made early assessments of the …
Forecast Luncheon to Become Post-Hurricane Meeting
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) announced that an Oct. 12 event in Hardee County originally scheduled as the initial crop forecast luncheon will now be a post-Hurricane Ian information meeting. Lunch will still be provided. The meeting, open to all Florida citrus growers, will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Putnam Ranch, 8290 Martin Lane, Zolfo Springs. FCM asks that …
Grower Says Fruit Drop Worsening Each Day Since Ian
A week before Hurricane Ian tore across Florida, Glenn Beck of Beck Bros. Citrus reported that there were hopeful signs for the coming season. Fruit in his better-looking groves were in the size range that tends to hold on trees until harvest. Beck, and his brother Mark, own and manage citrus groves across the state. He says each day since …
Solution Sought for Lack of Australian Labor and Housing
Citrus Australia has asked Victorian Premier Dan Andrews to appoint a commissioner of horticultural labor and accommodation to manage solutions to a current horticulture crisis. Nathan Hancock, Citrus Australia’s chief executive officer, said extreme shortages in both labor and housing will get worse without direct intervention. “These issues (labor and housing shortages) are having a significant impact on the current and …
Preventing Further Hurricane Damage in Groves
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty recommend actions citrus growers can take to prevent further damage to root systems and future fruit drop following Hurricane Ian. DEAL WITH PHYTOPHTHORAIf standing water has occurred in groves with phytophthora problems, growers should evaluate for root damage and treat accordingly. Floodwaters resulting from heavy rains can severely impact …
Meet Matt Joyner
Editor’s note: This Q&A was conducted prior to Hurricane Ian striking Florida. After the storm, Matt Joyner said that Florida Citrus Mutual is working with growers in the recovery process and collecting information to aid in any potential requests for assistance. Matt Joyner started with Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) in December of 2018 as director of government relations. In April …
5 Tips for Hurricane Reporting and Documentation
As growers begin to assess the damage left by Hurricane Ian, there’s some important considerations to keep in mind. Kimberly Lott, with Crop Disaster Recovery, provides five tips. She noted that many growers didn’t receive the full amount of money they could have been eligible for after Hurricane Irma — reporting and documentation are key. 1. REPORT LOSSES, GET INSPECTIONGrowers …
Storm Recovery, Drought & Beyond: 4 Reasons Your Citrus Grove Needs Biologicals
The severe impacts of recent storms are layered on top of the complex set of challenges already facing U.S. citrus growers—especially in Florida. From high input costs to domestic supply shortages, the unmatched devastation caused by citrus greening disease, and now the recovery efforts needed post-hurricane, growers need holistic solutions–and they need them fast. The good news is that breakthrough …
Heavy Fruit Loss Expected From Hurricane Ian
Although early assessment attempts were limited by cell phone and internet outages, Hurricane Ian likely caused extensive citrus fruit loss as it tore through Florida Sept. 28–29. The catastrophic hurricane churned through the Gulf and Peace River Valley citrus regions, then headed northeast to impact Highlands and southern Polk counties and the Indian River citrus region. REGIONAL REPORTSRay Royce of …
CRDF Funds CRAFT and Pest Projects
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) was able to hold its September board of directors meeting just prior to Hurricane Ian. During the meeting, CRDF awarded funding for Cycle Four of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program. This will allow for another round of investments in grower-led research projects. “Kristen Carlson, Tamara Wood, the Technical Working Group …
Hurricane Ian Damage Assessment Gets Underway
By Frank Giles There is no question Hurricane Ian will go down as a historic catastrophe in Florida. It’s impact on agriculture will likely be historic as well. While it is too early to know the full extent of damage, AgNet Media is reaching out to growers and various industry associations and agencies to learn the extent of damage to …
Addressing the Imidacloprid Shortage
Imidacloprid has been a key tool in the fight against HLB. The insecticide is particularly important in protecting young trees from the Asian citrus psyllid, the vector of HLB disease. Admire Pro SLN is currently labeled to treat young citrus trees for HLB. But a fire at the Bayer manufacturing facility where the product is made has disrupted supplies. During …
HLB Tolerance Data Expected in Early 2023
Conclusive data on trials in the Millennium Block, expected in early 2023, may reveal which of more than 5,500 trees can tolerate HLB, researchers say. The Millennium Block is at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce. IRREC Director Ronald Cave said the 20-acre grove, established …
CRAFT Adds Assistant Program Manager
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently hired Tina Buice as assistant program manager. The Highlands County resident had previously worked for nearly two decades at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS DPI). She was most recently an environmental specialist in the FDACS DPI Avon Park office. Through her work with …
Canker Resistance Progress May Help With HLB
A team of researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has successfully identified the CsDMR6 gene, which impacts a citrus tree’s reaction to the citrus canker pathogen. Zhanao Deng and Fred Gmitter, both professors and plant breeders, are members of that team. By editing the CsDMR6 gene in the plant’s DNA to interfere with …
Sneak Peek: October 2022 Citrus Industry
The October cover story in Citrus Industry magazine is a Q&A with Florida Citrus Mutual’s new leader. While Matt Joyner is new to the role of Mutual executive vice president/chief executive officer, he is not new to the association or the citrus industry. Learn about how his experience has uniquely prepared him for the position. Joyner discusses his goals and …
CUPS Update From the Citrus Research and Education Center
By Arnold Schumann, Laura Waldo, Chris Oswalt, Napoleon Mariner, Timothy Ebert, Perseveranca Mungofa, Shankar Shrestha and Laura Cano-Castro Florida grapefruit production for the 2021–22 season was 92% less than in 2003–04, which was prior to the arrival of huanglongbing (HLB) disease [Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, (USDA NASS)]. The decrease in Florida tangerine production for the …
When Are Cover Crops Profitable?
At 200 boxes per acre, cover crops can be profitable in Valencia orange production, according to a Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo presentation. Tara Wade and Shourish Chakravarty prepared the presentation. Wade is an assistant professor, and Chakravarty is a post-doctoral associate, both at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. …





























