While the Florida citrus industry has seen its fair share of challenges from HLB and recent hurricanes, the industry still swings a big stick according to research conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The study, The 2020-21 Economic Contributions of the Florida Citrus Industry, was released in February. Christa Court, UF/IFAS economist and …
Reduce Pests With Natural Enemies
By Jawwad Qureshi A wide range of pests colonize citrus crops. Most of these species target tree canopies, and a few feed on the roots. Damage is either direct through feeding on the plant tissues or it can be twofold if the pest is also responsible for transmitting the pathogens of a disease or making conditions favorable for the disease …
Latest CRDF Funding Includes Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Projects
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors convened its March meeting with a busy agenda, addressing fast-moving current events. Discussion focused on newly approved oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) trunk-injection products currently being applied in groves. The board funded a project to measure the impact of OTC-HCI applications on the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Specifically, the study will determine …
New Offerings at Florida Grower Citrus Show
The 2023 Florida Grower Citrus Show, presented by AgNet Media, will be held April 13 in Fort Pierce. The show has a new venue this year — the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) and the adjacent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory. …
All In For Citrus Podcast, March 2023
Growers have been deploying several new therapies aimed at improving the health of HLB-infected citrus in recent years. Plant growth regulators like gibberellic acid, 2,4-D and brassinosteroids have demonstrated the ability to improve tree health and help in fruit retention. More recently, direct delivery of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) via trunk injection has been approved for use in groves. There is …
New Plantings a Focus of Phytophthora Management
Plant pathologist Megan Dewdney put emphasis on new plantings during a mid-March discussion of phytophthora management for citrus trees infected with HLB. Dewdney is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center, where she spoke. Dewdney’s presentation was part of an OJ break hosted by UF/IFAS Extension multi-county …
Citrus Institute: One-Stop Learning Opportunity for Growers
By Ruth Borger Keeping up with the latest news and research findings that impact how growers can successfully produce citrus in the HLB era can be an overwhelming task. Tracking down the right information at the right time for the changing conditions that face citrus growers takes time, effort and persistence. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences …
Showcasing Research Results
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Overnight success comes after years of hard work. In science, that means the “eureka” moment isn’t a moment at all. It comes after years of research that can cost millions of dollars. That’s a level of resources that the federal government helps deliver. We’re fortunate that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of …
Citrus Agent Discusses Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Products
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo recently provided information about two commercial oxytetracycline hydrochloride products approved for use against HLB. TJ Biotech LLC was the first company to receive approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for trunk injection of this formulation. EPA granted TJ Biotech a Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, …
Citrus in the Home Landscape Initiative Launched
After HLB disease was first found in Florida in 2005, many people were discouraged from growing citrus in their home landscapes. There were no citrus recommendations tailored for home gardeners in the HLB era. Now, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has responded to home gardeners who want to plant citrus trees again. Researchers are …
Gibberellic Acid Shows Promising Results on Hamlin
By Tripti Vashisth and Taylor Livingston Grower-led trials in 2022 showed positive results of gibberellic acid (GA) treatment on Hamlin trees in Florida. This article primarily discusses two growers’ trials in detail. Both sites showed improvement in fruit production from the GA application. Many growers have adopted GA applications in the past year as part of their grove management strategy. …
Benefits of Increasing Citrus Hybrids in Orange Juice
Allowing citrus hybrids with certain criteria in orange juice (OJ) was one of several issues addressed in a recent workshop about potential changes to OJ’s standard of identity. Peter Chaires, executive director of the New Varieties Development and Management Corp., discussed benefits of increasing the hybrid allowance in OJ. Chaires presented a consumer study of juices conducted by University of …
How to Liven Up Your Soil
How much life lives in a tiny bit of soil? A lot, according to Sarah Strauss, assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “The estimate I often mention is there can be over a billion microorganisms in a gram of soil, which is about this size of a quarter,” she said during the …
Register Now for the Florida Grower Citrus Show
The event’s fresh format will pack plenty of education and fellowship in a single day. The Florida Grower Citrus Show, scheduled for April 13, is fast approaching. The event opens at 7:30 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m. Growers and industry stakeholders are invited to sign up for complimentary preregistration. NEW LOOK AND LOCATION This year, the …
Campaign Promotes Best Neonicotinoid Practices
Growing Matters has kicked off its annual BeSure! campaign to promote best stewardship practices when using neonicotinoid products. Using a wide range of media channels, the campaign reminds growers, crop protection applicators and others to follow label directions to minimize any potential impact on pollinators and other wildlife. Since its inception in 2019, the BeSure! campaign is estimated to have …
Florida Forecast Sees Small Gains
The Florida 2022–23 all-orange forecast inched up 1% in March to 16.1 million boxes while the grapefruit forecast rose 7% to 1.6 million boxes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) forecast for Florida tangerines and tangelos was unchanged at 500,000 boxes. The entire rise of 100,000 boxes in the orange forecast was in the …
Nutrient Uptake Potential of Rootstocks
The objective of a new study published in HortScience was to evaluate and understand the nutrient uptake potential of citrus rootstocks. Conducted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers, it is one of the first citrus studies to report nutrient uptake efficiency and the potential of rootstocks. The information presented in the study can be …
OJ Standard of Identity Discussed
No action was taken after numerous speakers discussed potential changes to the standard of identity for orange juice (OJ) at a March 1 public workshop. Taking place at Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) headquarters in Bartow, the workshop was titled “Continuing the OJ Standards Conversation.” FCM Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner offered background on the standard of …
Top 10 Best Practices for Trunk Injection
By Ute Albrecht Replicated field studies have demonstrated positive effects of oxytetracycline administered by trunk injection to manage HLB. In October 2022, a 24(c) special local need label was approved that allows the use of this technology in Florida, and final clearance was given in January. When practicing trunk injection, it is important to do so properly and to be …
The Advantage of Youth
Morgan McKenna Porter brings new energy to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation. By Ernie Neff New Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board President Morgan McKenna Porter was born Feb. 29, 1992. There’s only a Feb. 29 every fourth year, a leap year. “So,” she quipped, “CRDF has a seven-year-old president if we go by my leap year age.” …