Florida citrus

Florida Citrus Budget Adopted; Issues Updated

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Oct. 22 adopted a revised $23.4 million 2025–26 budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). The FDOC budget is funded in part by a tax on each box of fruit growers produce. That tax will remain unchanged from last year, as follows: The FCC also received updates on several issues affecting the Florida …

shutdown

FFVA Urges H-2A Processing During Government Shutdown

Daniel CooperLabor

The  Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently urged the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to authorize the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to continue processing H-2A labor certifications during the government shutdown. An Oct. 17 letter from FFVA Director of Labor Relations Jamie Fussell stated that delays in H-2A certifications caused by the shutdown imminently threaten agricultural production, …

Callaham

Dundee Citrus Growers Association’s Callaham Honored

Daniel CooperAwards

Steven Callaham, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida’s Dundee Citrus Growers Association (Dundee CGA) for the last 22 years, was recently honored by The Packer. He was recognized as one of the 25 fresh produce industry innovators and agents of change. Callaham graduated from the University of Florida College of Agriculture and joined Dundee in 1999. He …

water management

Optimize Citrus Water Management

Daniel CooperIrrigation, Tip of the Week, Water

By Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Bosques Jonael Efficient water use in citrus production, like other fruit tree crops, goes far beyond simply turning on the irrigation system. It’s a strategic practice that affects tree health, fruit quality and long-term sustainability, making it a smart agricultural practice. Some key tips to optimize your water management are: Remember, water is also a signal, …

Lennon Grove Service

Lennon Grove Service Awarded for Sustainable Farming

Daniel CooperAwards

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation presented Lennon Grove Service, Inc. with a This Farm CARES award on Oct. 6 at the Orange County Farm Bureau annual meeting. The grove was recognized for sustainable farming practices. The award is given to farmers and ranchers enrolled in best management practices. Established in 2000, Lennon Grove Service focuses on citrus production as well as …

freeze tolerance

Freeze Tolerance Is Key to Diversification

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Research, Varieties

Freeze tolerance is a focal point of citrus studies conducted at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. As citrus production continues to grow in the cold-hardy citrus region, growers need varieties that are able to withstand prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures. Leading that research is Muhammad Shahid, …

benefits

Silicon Benefits Citrus

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Nutrition

A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher recently highlighted a number of benefits from using silicon as a nutrient for citrus. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, presented silicon research findings at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in August.   According to Shahid, silicon is categorized as a plant …

financial management

Financial Conference Covers Tariffs and Economic Outlook

Daniel CooperCitrus

The Florida Agricultural Financial Management Conference returned Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 after several years of hiatus. The event was held at the Margaritaville Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. Speakers covered topics including measuring financial performance, risk management, optimizing business operations and cybersecurity. Ed Seifried, professor emeritus of economics and business at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, was a featured speaker. …

citrus research

CRDF Considers RFPs on Citrus Juvenility

Daniel CooperCitrus, CRDF

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) held its board of directors meeting on Sept. 30 in Lake Placid, Florida. During the meeting, the board reviewed recommendations from the CRDF Research Management Committee. “We had a productive meeting and addressed several key issues,” said CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler. “CRDF issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to explore methods …

Tip of the Week

Fall Insect and Mite Management

Daniel CooperPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock Unlike northern regions, fall in Florida is not generally a time when insect, mite and other invertebrate pest populations decline rapidly. In Florida citrus, we generally see the opposite of this trend. In the hot, dry end of summer and early fall, mite populations often soar, requiring management to prevent excessive damage to fruit. (See The Florida …

blood oranges

Blood Oranges Could Be Profitable Option for Cold-Hardy Citrus Producers

Daniel CooperCold Hardy

Blood oranges may be an enticing fruit to grow for cold-hardy citrus producers in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), highlighted his blood orange research during the Cold-Hardy Citrus Field Day and Workshop at the North Florida Research and Education Center …

grove

What’s Working in Griffin’s Grove

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Production, Rootstocks, Varieties

Not far from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, Jason Griffin owns and operates a commercial citrus grove. While commercial in nature, the grove also has become a working experiment for the CREC citrus breeders. Griffin has worked closely with UF/IFAS citrus breeder Jude Grosser to …

California citrus

California Mandarin Forecast Issued

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The 2025–26 California forecast for Tango and W. Murcott Afourer mandarin varieties, released Sept. 12, is 33 million 40-pound cartons. The forecast came from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS). The forecast is based on the results of the 2025–26 Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey, which …

crop forecast

First Citrus Crop Forecast of the Season Is Oct. 9

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast

After low yields in recent years due to hurricanes and HLB, Florida citrus growers are eager to see what the crop forecast will look like for the 2025–26 season. There is some optimism that the cumulative effects of oxytetracycline trunk-injection treatments may improve production this season. Growers will learn what the initial 2025–26 forecast is when the U.S. Department of …

OTC injection

Influence of Rootstock and OTC Injection on Valencia Yield

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research, Rootstocks

By Kim D. Bowman, Ute Albrecht and Caroline Tardivo Profitability of citrus in Florida has been severely reduced by the impact of huanglongbing disease (HLB). Previous studies have demonstrated that rootstock selection and injection of established trees with oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) can both significantly improve the health, cropping and fruit quality of trees affected by HLB. However, neither a superior …

Navel

California Navel Orange Forecast Announced

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The initial 2025–26 California navel orange forecast is 80 million cartons, up 6% from the previous year. It was issued Sept. 12 by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. The forecast is based on results of the 2025–26 Navel Orange Objective Measurement Survey, conducted from June 12 …

legislative session

Grower Recognizes Citrus Achievement Award Winner

Daniel CooperAwards

Editor’s note: This is the first installment of four articles honoring Ben Albritton, the 2025 Citrus Achievement Award winner. With the 2024–25 citrus season complete, growers are now turning their attention to the coming year. That comes with a new sense of optimism as HLB therapies appear to be improving overall tree health and turning quality and production numbers in …

Psyllids

Psyllids and HLB Spreading in Georgia

Daniel CooperGeorgia, HLB Management, Psyllids

Populations of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) have been found in residential and commercial citrus in Georgia’s Lowndes and Wayne counties during the past two months. ACP spread huanglongbing (HLB) disease. In several places where ACP were found, HLB-infected trees were identified nearby. University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UGA CAES) entomologist Apurba Barman provided details about the …

podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, September 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

Varieties and rootstocks are the topics of the September episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Earlier this month, a field day was held in Jason Griffin’s grove near Lake Alfred, Florida. He is collaborating with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to evaluate several rootstock/scion combinations developed by UF/IFAS citrus breeders. Griffin has …

brown rot

Putting Down Brown Rot

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney Sometimes there is an unfortunate coincidence between the timing of fruit changing color and rain events. This can set up a situation where brown rot occurs unexpectedly and growers need to stop the disease after it has begun. CONTROL OPTIONS By this time of year, the traditional brown rot control measures are less effective. These are primarily …