June

All In For Citrus Podcast, May 2026

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Irrigation

After significant drought in many parts of Florida, some much-needed rainfall began in May as the rainy season approaches. That seasonal transition, from a grove management perspective, is the focus of the May episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …

program

Building a Resilient Insecticide Spray Program

Daniel CooperPests, Psyllids

By Lukasz Stelinski For many Florida citrus growers, pest management has become closely tied to Asian citrus psyllid control. That is understandable. The psyllid vectors the bacterium associated with citrus greening, and long-term disease pressure has pushed many operations toward frequent insecticide use. But frequent spraying comes at a cost. The more often the same chemistry is used, the faster …

heat

Weed Management Still Mandatory When the Heat Is On

Daniel CooperTip of the Week, weeds

By Ramdas Kanissery When the summer heat rolls in and the rain gets spotty, growers tend to shift their focus to irrigation, nutrition and HLB management. Weed control often gets pushed to the back burner. But here’s the thing: Heat and dry spells do not stop weeds. They change them, and those changes can make your weed management program a …

Frank Hunt

Frank Hunt Honored for Service to NVDMC

Daniel CooperAwards

The New Varieties Development & Management Corp. (NVDMC) supports new variety development research to provide Florida citrus growers with unique, high-value varieties for the fresh and processed markets. The organization was established in 2005 just as HLB was confirmed in the state, making its mission even more important. A name that has been synonymous with NVDMC is Frank Hunt of …

meeting

Florida Citrus Mutual Hosts Spring Grower Meeting

Daniel CooperEvents, Florida Citrus Mutual

Florida Citrus Mutual hosted its spring informational meeting for growers at Golden Ridge Groves in Alturas on May 13. Golden Ridge Groves is growing fresh fruit in citrus under protective screen and recently added you-pick and agritourism options for the public. Steven Hall, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation, gave an update and recounted the …

citrus

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: As the Postfreeze Dust Settles …

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, freeze

Icy trees from the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm in Groveland during the recent Florida freezePhotos courtesy of Lennon Grove Service By Peter Chaires Emerging from the 2025 hurricane season unscathed, there was a newfound optimism in the air for Florida citrus growers. Trees were upright, fruit was on the tree, and incremental quality improvements were being reported. The industry collectively …

crop expo

New Location and Format for the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Events

The 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo makes its return to Fort Myers on Aug. 12–13 at the waterfront Caloosa Sound Convention Center. The Luminary Hotel, the event’s host hotel, is conveniently connected to the convention center. ENJOY YOUR STAY The new venue offers several opportunities to refresh and improve the Expo. The convention center will allow educational seminars to …

citrus breeding

Funding Expanded for California Citrus Breeding

Daniel CooperBreeding, California Corner

The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations has included additional funds in the fiscal year 2027 Agriculture Appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) citrus breeding program in Parlier, California. It is allocating an additional $500,000 in federal funding, on top of the $1.5 million previously granted, to expand the program into California. If approved, the program …

Scab

California Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine Expanded

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Diseases, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the area quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS). The expansion is in the Irvine area of Orange County and in the La Puente area of Los Angeles County in California. QUARANTINE ACTIONS APHIS is expanding …

Hancock

Hancock To Be Honored With the 2026 Citrus Achievement Award

Daniel CooperAwards

AgNet Media, publisher of Specialty Crop Grower magazine, is pleased to announce that Ned Hancock has been selected as the 2026 Citrus Achievement Award winner. Hancock and his family have been involved in the Florida citrus industry for generations.  Hancock has dedicated countless hours serving in leadership roles for numerous citrus associations, including Florida Citrus Mutual’s board of directors. He …

projects

Citrus Projects Funded by Plant Protection Act

Daniel CooperPests, Research, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $90 million under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act to support 441 projects that will: Of the 441 projects, 421 fall under the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and 20 support the National Clean Plant Network. USDA will reserve approximately $17.2 million to support rapid …

May

Sneak Peak: May 2026 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

The Citrus Industry section in the May issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine highlights evolving strategies designed to sustain long-term citrus productivity. A key theme is industry collaboration and knowledge-sharing, underscored by the upcoming Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Fort Myers, previewed in this issue. The event’s new venue and integrated format aim to foster deeper engagement between growers, …

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 …

trunk

Trunk-Injection Takeaways Presented

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Researcher Ute Albrecht on April 21 shared lessons learned from three years of oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection for HLB management in Florida. Albrecht is an associate professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) specializing in citrus plant physiology. She works at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. Albrecht reported on results of a …

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. …

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 …

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 …