citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, November 2021

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast

The important process that gets new citrus varieties in the hands of growers is the main topic of the November episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) director, discusses the recent CREC open house where breeders displayed potential new varieties for …

Researchers Share Tree Health Suggestions

Ernie NeffHLB Management

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers gave a crowd of growers suggestions that can help keep citrus trees healthy. The panel discussion was part of the Nov. 16 open house and field day at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. HLB-affected trees need enhanced nutrition “throughout the growing season,” said horticulturist …

Graft Compatibility of New Scion−Rootstock Combinations

Tacy CalliesRootstocks

By Ute Albrecht, Bo Meyering, José Chaparro and Kim D. Bowman Grafting is an ancient horticultural technique. There is evidence of citrus grafting in the Roman era dating back to the fifth century. In western Europe, grafting was regularly practiced in the 16th and 17th centuries when citrus was grown as an exotic ornamental in containers in orangeries. In Florida, …

psyllid

Manage Psyllids at Reduced Cost

Ernie NeffHLB Management

At the 2021 Citrus Expo, entomologist Lukasz Stelinski suggested ways growers can manage HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) while reducing costs. Some of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist’s key points follow: Psyllid density is related to tree stress; more psyllids lead to higher damage, compromising tree health and yield. Spray for adults at bud …

support

Legislative Efforts for Florida Citrus

Ernie NeffLegislative

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) recently reported its efforts and priorities for the next Florida legislative session. As in past years, much of FCM’s focus will be on funding programs (Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Citrus Research and Field Trial and New Varieties Development and Management Corp.) critical to solving HLB and the marketing efforts to continue movement of 100% premium …

CRDF Approves Five Projects

Ernie NeffCRDF

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors acted on proposed research projects during its Oct. 26 meeting. “The board meeting was the culmination of the 2021 request for proposals (RFP) process,” CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler reported. “Of the 12 proposals considered, the board approved funding five as presented and requested revised budgets on two more. …

Stay Aware of Citrus Leprosis Symptoms

Tacy CalliesDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Amit Levy Citrus leprosis is an exotic viral disease not currently present in Florida citrus, although the virus is present in non-citrus hosts. This disease was reported in citrus in Florida and Brazil in the early 1900s, where it caused great crop and tree losses, but was eliminated from Florida in the early 1960s. In recent years, the disease …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Michael Leaves His Mark

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette In 1917, A.B. Michael consolidated his citrus groves in Wabasso, Florida, with the Deerfield Groves Company of Cocoa, becoming vice president and general manager. This eventually led to his involvement in the American Fruit Growers, Inc., becoming one of the original stockholders and directors, and handling all Florida operations. Noted for his commitment to quality, he …

Gator Bites: Competition for Clementines

Ernie NeffVarieties

Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Director Michael Rogers recently praised the Gator Bites mandarin variety that is being developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Gator Bites look like California clementines, branded as Cuties and Halos, but Rogers thinks Gator Bites is a better piece of fruit. “This makes the Cuties and Halos …

An Improved Method of Nutrient Analysis

Tacy CalliesNutrition, Technology, Tip of the Week

By Yiannis Ampatzidis and Ute Albrecht Optimizing nutrition is important for tree health and productivity and can improve tolerance to stresses and diseases. Good nutrient management requires regular field monitoring to identify problems and examine crop responses. Leaves need to be collected and sent to a specialized laboratory for detailed information on macronutrients and micronutrients, which is time-consuming and costly. …

CUPS Not for All Citrus Growers

Tacy CalliesCUPS

One of the unique ways of managing citrus greening disease developed by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers is not for all producers. Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) is just too expensive for all growers to take advantage of, says Fred Gmitter, a UF/IFAS citrus breeder. “It’s an extremely expensive investment,” Gmitter says. “For that …

Consumers Prefer Citrus Juice Blended With Sugar Belle®

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

By Yu Wang, Xixuan Tang, Charles Sims, Zhifeng Gao and Renee Goodrich Citrus fruit produced from HLB-affected trees are green and taste bitter. They are usually not suitable for either the fresh market or juice market because they have a lower Brix/acid ratio. Mitigation strategies can cause less fruit drop and help citrus trees survive. However, they triple production costs, …

South Korea

Grapefruit: Production Down, Imports Up

Ernie NeffGrapefruit

Florida led the United States in grapefruit production in the 2020-21 season. Sunshine State growers produced a combined 174,000 tons for the fresh and processed markets. California came in second with 156,000 tons, while Texas was third at 96,000 tons. This production information was recently reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Texas grapefruit production declined 46% …

june

All In For Citrus Podcast, October 2021

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus breeding team discusses development of new varieties and rootstocks in the October episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. But before that discussion begins, Michael Rogers, UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) director, has the details on two upcoming events, including one in which growers can …

Open House/Field Day Set at CREC

Ernie NeffHLB Management

The work that University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty members have done on HLB will be featured Nov. 16 at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. The center will host growers and others that day at an open house and field day. The morning program will kick off with a panel discussion …

Survey Seeks Input on Fresh Fruit Decay

Ernie NeffFresh

Florida growers, packers and shippers of fresh fruit are being asked to take a survey that will help guide programs addressing fresh fruit decay. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher Mark Ritenour said he’d like as many survey responses as possible by mid-November. Ritenour said funding has been provided from a Florida Citrus Packers/U.S. Department of …

Millennium Block Field Day Draws Growers

Ernie NeffRootstocks, Varieties

More than 50 citrus growers and researchers attended a field day Oct. 14 in Fort Pierce to view 154 new citrus scion-rootstock combinations. Some of the combinations will result in trees that tolerate HLB. The Millennium Block Drive-Thru Field Day occurred at the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC). …

Growers React Differently to Crop Forecast

Ernie NeffCrop Forecast

Florida citrus grower Kyle Story of The Story Companies thought the initial Florida orange crop forecast for the 2021-22 season was “realistic.” But the 47-million-box forecast struck fellow grower Paul Meador as low. Meador is president of Everglades Harvesting and Hauling and serves on the Florida Citrus Commission. The crop forecast, well below last season’s 52.8 million boxes of Florida …

Protecting Citrus From Pests and Diseases

Ernie NeffPests

The federal Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program summarized its efforts to protect the U.S. citrus industry from pests and diseases in a recent report about its fiscal year (FY) 2020 activities. PPQ is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. A summary of its citrus efforts follows. PPQ works with citrus growers to …

citrus

CUPS Pest Management Pointers

Ernie NeffCUPS, Pests

Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) systems in Florida provide trees significant protection from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the HLB it spreads. Several other pests are also significantly reduced in CUPS, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers reported. For instance, citrus leafminer (CLM) populations were reduced by more than 80%. Large predators such as …