Australian Citrus Congress

Highlights of the Australian Citrus Congress

Daniel CooperEvents, International

The inaugural Australian Citrus Congress was held March 5–7 at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort. The event drew more than 400 attendees for a conference, trade show, gala dinner and biosecurity symposium. Organized by Citrus Australia, highlights of the event included the following: “Businesses across the supply chain had the opportunity to learn something new or make a connection that …

CRAFT

CRAFT Program Promotes New Planting and Knowledge

Daniel CooperCRAFT, planting, Research

Since its founding in 2019, the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program has been responsible for the planting of just under 10,000 acres of new trees. This includes about 6,000 acres of solid-set groves and just shy of 4,000 acres of resets. CRAFT is a first-of-its-kind program and considered an innovation among funding agencies needed to support such efforts. …

april

Sneak Peek: April 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

See what’s new in citrus in the April issue of Citrus Industry magazine. In this month’s cover story, an established company gets a new name. As the next generation joins the business, learn how DLF International has transitioned to Feek Family Citrus in Fort Pierce, Florida. Trying new things and carefully monitoring costs are a few of the ways this …

tree health

Get an Assist in Gauging Tree Health

Daniel CooperTechnology

If there was ever a time when Florida citrus growers would want to get a better read on tree health, this season might it. A significant number of acres have been treated with new trunk-injection therapies, and growers have been monitoring groves to observe the impact of the treatments. Growers have traditionally relied on visual observation to get a sense …

citrus tree

‘The Psyllids Will Like Georgia Just Fine’

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Psyllids

A California citrus leader believes Georgia will make an ideal home for the Asian citrus psyllid, which vectors the devastating huanglongbing (HLB) disease. “North of Florida, it is colder, and it’s certainly not as suitable a place as Florida is, but the psyllid is still going to be fine. The cold isn’t long enough here to knock the populations out,” …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, March 2024

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Irrigation

As winter transitions to spring, it is important to monitor irrigation needs in citrus. This is especially true in Florida, where nearly all trees are infected with HLB. Irrigation was a topic of discussion during the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) …

growing

Growing Citrus With Soil Health in Mind

Daniel CooperCover Crops, Georgia, Soil Health

Herb Young enjoyed a 40-year career in the agricultural chemical industry, starting as a technical service representative and eventually becoming a product manager. During those years, he worked on various specialty crops across the country. About 25 years of his career was spent in field research roles. So, experimentation with crops and growing practices comes naturally to Young. He has …

citrus acreage

Georgia Citrus Association Outlines Industry Initiatives

Daniel CooperGeorgia

The Georgia citrus industry has experienced a significant increase in production since it started more than 10 years ago. The Georgia Citrus Association (GCA) is taking steps to ensure continued expansion. During the GCA’s recent annual meeting in Tifton, association president Lindy Savelle spoke with AgNet Media and outlined her organization’s priorities on the heels of another harvest season. A …

Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute

Register for the 2024 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management, Tip of the Week

Citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB) continues to impact all citrus production areas of Florida. The 2024 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute is an opportunity for Florida citrus growers to come together to learn about effective management of HLB and other challenging pests and diseases affecting the industry. Topics this year include horticultural management of HLB, citrus nutrient management and management of …

Florida Citrus Show – Seminar

HomeAttendSeminarsHotelExhibitSponsor2024 Seminar Program Wednesday, April 3, 2024 General Session- Indian River Research and Education Center Auditorium 8:45 a.m. Welcome Frank Giles, AgNet Media, Scott Adkins, USDA Ron Cave, UF/IFAS 9:00 a.m. Federal Agriculture Priorities in 2024 Mike Joyner, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association 9:30 a.m. TBA 10:00 a.m. 4Roots Farm’s Reverse Demand Program Driving the Buy Local Movement Tommy Ward, …

2025 Seminar Program

HomeAttendSeminarsHotelExhibitSponsorGROVE TOURS: Following the Citrus Seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the USDA-ARS Picos Farm where the “Grove-First” trunk injection therapies are being evaluated and the UF/IFAS Millennium Block, the large-scale trial of grapefruit rootstocks and scions.Seminar schedule times are subject to change.Wednesday, April 3, 20248:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Registration at Trade Show EntranceDon’t wait in …

growers

Highlands Growers Learn More About Crop Transformation Center

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management

The Highlands County Citrus Growers Association hosted its annual meeting and banquet in early March in Sebring, Florida. The event was well attended. Growers were mostly in good spirits, hoping that trunk-injection therapy will be the bridge to the next breakthrough to return citrus production and quality to viable levels. Most believe the ultimate HLB solution will come in the …

mexican

Mexican Organic Orchards Offer Better Psyllid Control

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Mexico, Organic

A wider diversity of weeds and insects in organic Mexican citrus orchards compared to conventional orchards aids in control of the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid (ACP/Diaphorina citri), a Mexican scientist reported recently. HLB is also known as citrus greening disease.  “In the organic orchard, there are almost double the species of weeds compared to the conventional orchard,” Carlos Castillejos Cruz …

online

Find UF/IFAS Citrus Resources Online

Daniel CooperEducation, Tip of the Week

By Michael E. Rogers Were you unable to attend a recent University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) event and want to hear what you missed? Many past presentations are available online. The UF/IFAS Citrus Research Website archives presentations made by UF/IFAS faculty at various meetings across the state. These can be found by scrolling down and …

Zambon

All In For Citrus Podcast: Meet Flavia Zambon

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

Last year, Flavia Zambon was named University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of production horticulture of citrus and other tree crops. She is based at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce. In the February episode of All In For Citrus, Zambon discussed her new position and how she plans …

Citrus Showcase

Citrus Showcase Coming to California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Events

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) will host the 2024 Citrus Showcase on March 14 at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California. The event will feature informational workshops, continuing education unit-approved courses, a trade show and an industry luncheon. The luncheon keynote speaker will be California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross.  “We are extremely pleased to have a …

lennon

Surviving to Fight Another Day

Daniel CooperFlorida, HLB Management

Bill Lennon is working with researchers to learn more about survivor trees that are standing up to HLB. Bill Lennon is a fifth-generation citrus grower who can recall the industry’s glory days when Central Florida had hundreds of thousands of citrus acres before the 1980s freezes pushed production southward in the state. But he’s remained dedicated to the area, managing …

march

Sneak Peek: March 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek, Soil Health

The March issue of Citrus Industry magazine is centered on tree and soil health. On the cover is Florida citrus grower Bill Lennon of Lennon’s Grove Service. The March cover story details Lennon’s efforts to learn more about survivor trees in his groves that are standing up to HLB. He is working with University of Florida Institute of Food and …

Citrus Health Forum

Citrus Health Forum Helps Cold-Hardy Growers

Daniel CooperCold Hardy

Production in the cold-hardy citrus region is still in its infancy. Growers and industry leaders need events like the Citrus Health Forum to obtain the necessary information to help this young industry continue to flourish. The latest forum took place at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy …

citrus

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: A Day of Learning About New Rootstocks and Varieties

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Rootstocks, Varieties

By Peter Chaires The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory and Florida Citrus Research Foundation (FCRF) jointly held an open house, variety display and field tour at the W.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm between Leesburg and Groveland in early December. This annual event provides a great opportunity for industry members to see the latest innovations in …