agricultural water

Young Citrus Trees May Benefit from Full Irrigation

Daniel CooperCitrus, Citrus Greening, HLB Management, Industry News Release, Irrigation, Research

Mature citrus trees affected by the bacterial disease huanglongbing (HLB) typically need about 25 percent less irrigation than their healthy counterparts However, that doesn’t necessarily mean young trees with the disease will benefit from water deficits, according to a preliminary greenhouse study by researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Experiments on 1-year-old orange …

Using Soil Moisture Sensors for Citrus Irrigation

Tacy CalliesIrrigation, Technology

By Arnold Schumann, Laura Waldo, Davie Kadyampakeni, Rhuanito Ferrarezi and Chris Oswalt Florida citrus trees may require irrigation throughout the year due to the extremely sandy soils with low water-holding capacities, and the warm subtropical climate with distinct drought periods in spring. A soil water sensor system can provide the most reliable data for effective citrus irrigation scheduling in these …

irrigation

Citrus Renovation Irrigation Support Program Introduced

Daniel CooperIrrigation

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy has a new citrus cost-share program to assist with irrigation improvements on groves that are being replanted. FDACS announced it has set aside roughly $3 million for the Citrus Renovation Irrigation Support Program (CRISP). The program is designed to be a 75 percent cost share for the …

Modern Irrigation Methods Save California’s Resources

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner, Irrigation

By Len Wilcox California’s consistent sunshine makes for long growing seasons and allows tremendous varieties of foods to be grown, but it isn’t a perfect environment. Chronic water shortages create challenges for everything except cactus grown for tequila or jelly — but not many growers specialize in that. The rest of them, including citrus growers, have to deal with water …

Current Considerations for Citrus Irrigation Management

Tacy CalliesIrrigation

Growers can use these tips and tools for trees impacted by HLB and Hurricane Irma. By Davie Kadyampakeni, Kelly Morgan, Mongi Zekri, Rhuanito Ferrarezi, Arnold Schumann and Thomas A. Obreza Water is a limiting factor in Florida citrus production during the majority of the year. This is because of the low water-holding capacity of sandy soils resulting from low clay …

freeze

Irrigation Expected to Save Georgia Trees from Freeze

Ernie Nefffreeze

Most Georgia citrus growers believe microsprinkler irrigation will save their trees from a multi-day freeze that saw temperatures dip into the low 20s Friday morning, said Georgia Citrus Association President Lindy Savelle. “I think we’re going to do fine,” said Savelle, who ran microsprinklers virtually round-the-clock in her south Georgia grove because temperatures never got above 40 for five days …

impact

Potential Impact of Drought on Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Weather

The prolonged drought in the Southeast could negatively impact citrus trees if growers are not applying the right amount and frequency of irrigation. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, shared that message following the April 2 release of the U.S. Drought Monitor map for the Southeast. The map shows exceptional drought conditions worsening and …

Georgia

Postfreeze Effects on Georgia Citrus

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Georgia

University of Georgia (UGA) Assistant Professor and Citrus Extension Specialist Mary Sutton reported on the impact of this winter’s freeze on fruit quality and trees in Georgia: FRUIT QUALITY A Tango trial was harvested at the end of January as a winter storm was hitting. A subsample was taken prior to that on Jan. 15 and sampled again after the …

postfreeze

Postfreeze Citrus Recovery Strategies

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Tip of the Week

By Muhammad A. Shahid, KeAndre Leaks, Davie Kadyampakeni and Carlos Aucique-Perez Postfreeze citrus tree management requires patience and careful observation rather than immediate intervention. Damage to the vascular system (cambium, xylem and phloem) may take months to fully appear. Trees can initially flush in spring but later decline if internal tissues are too compromised. A reliable assessment of survival should …

citrus podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, March 2026

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Events

The March All In For Citrus podcast previews a couple of events coming in April and May that growers will want to mark on their calendars. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), discusses the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute scheduled for April 14 at South Florida …

spring

Stay Ahead of the Spring Weed Flush

Daniel CooperTip of the Week, weeds

By Ramdas Kanissery Spring is here and so are the weeds in citrus groves. Warmer temperatures and increasing soil moisture create ideal conditions for weeds. Growers often notice a rapid spring flush of weeds emerging in the tree rows and in the row middles during this time (Figure 1). If not managed early, these weeds can compete with citrus trees …

patience

Postfreeze Patience Is a Virtue

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Irrigation, Nutrition

Edwin A. Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Jonael Bosques, both with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension, recently explained why patience is an important post-freeze tree management strategy. Following are highlights from the article they wrote. After Florida’s recent freeze event, a common question citrus growers were asking was: “What should I do to recover the trees?” The …

citrus canker

Alternatives to Copper Needed for Citrus Canker Management

Daniel CooperDiseases

Florida citrus producers have long used copper as a way to protect against citrus canker. However, it’s time for growers to have other options. That’s a message shared by Ozgur Batuman, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor and citrus pathologist at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. He spoke on this …

improve

Improve Water and Nutrient Retention With Compost and Biochar

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Soil Health, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth, Abhishek Neupane and Taylor Livingston Florida citrus trees are under pressure from huanglongbing (HLB). The disease weakens root systems, reducing the tree’s ability to take up water and nutrients. Compounding this issue, most Florida groves sit on sandy soils with very little organic matter. These soils drain quickly, struggle to hold nutrients and allow both water and …

trees

CUPS Trees Survive Freeze Nearly Unscathed

Daniel CooperCUPS, Events, freeze

During a Feb. 26 Highlands County ag tour hosted by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, participants had the opportunity to go inside a citrus under protective screen (CUPS) pod. Bill Bohde, director of agronomy for Dundee Citrus Growers Association, led the tour group through a 10-acre CUPS pod at Fort Meade in neighboring Polk County. …

plant defense

Plant Defense To Increase Citrus Performance

Daniel CooperProduction

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently issued an article, Science‑Based Plant Defense So Your Crops Perform Better. The authors are multi-county citrus Extension agent Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Jonael Bosques-Mendez, a county Extension director. Edited excerpts follow:   ROOTS AND WATER Plant roots are strategic. They possess the structure and ability to alter their growth …

Florida Citrus Show

Earn Continuing Education Units at the Florida Citrus Show

Daniel CooperEvents, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is only two weeks away, scheduled for March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The educational seminars have much to offer for both citrus …

citrus podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, February 2026

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast, freeze

Florida experienced one of the most damaging freezes in more than a decade this winter. The February episode of the All In For Citrus podcast addresses the impacts the freeze had on citrus. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, notes that it will take some time …

Congresswoman Cammack Hits the Road to Talk Farm Bill

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Farm Bill

More than two years after the 2018 farm bill expired, a new draft of the legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives on Feb. 13. That same day, Congresswoman Kat Cammack hit the road in Florida to host farm bill listening sessions in Alachua, Lake Wales and Clewiston. The House version of the bill is called the Farm, Food …

Postfreeze Recovery Recommendations for Citrus Trees

Tacy Calliesfreeze

Florida citrus growers hoping to expedite the recovery process for trees impacted by the late January/early February freeze event should pump the brakes and wait — at least until spring. That advice is from Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He shared tree recovery recommendations with growers during …