global

Global Grapefruit and Mandarin Crops to Drop

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projects world grapefruit and tangerine/mandarin crops will decline in 2024–25 from the previous season. GRAPEFRUIT Global grapefruit production for 2024–25 is forecast down slightly to 6.9 million tons as decreases in Türkiye and the United States more than offset higher production in China. Exports and fruit for …

virus

Stay Vigilant About Virus Threat

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Ozgur Batuman and Amit Levy Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) was first reported on lemon and sour orange trees in Pakistan in 1988. Since then, the disease has been primarily restricted to Asian countries. However, CYVCV was more recently detected in dooryard citrus in California in 2022. While there is no indication that the virus is present in …

Florida Citrus Show

Florida Citrus Show: A Day Full of Activities

Daniel CooperEvents, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is coming up fast. For many, it’s an annual tradition. For those who have never attended, come prepared to experience a full day packed with fun and education. Here is a quick summary of what the event includes: THE EDUCATION The day kicks off with a general session tackling topics that touch all of specialty crop …

legislative

Florida Citrus Mutual’s Legislative Priorities

Daniel CooperFlorida, Legislative

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) recently announced its “key advocacy efforts” during the upcoming state legislative session include the following: CITRUS RESEARCH AND FIELD TRIAL (CRAFT) FUNDS The top priority for FCM this legislative session is securing funding to bolster the CRAFT Foundation’s efforts to replant citrus trees. Putting healthier trees in the ground that are apt to be tolerant against …

Florida Citrus Show

See the Florida Citrus Show Seminar Schedule

Daniel CooperCitrus, Education, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is a day full of learning, fellowship and fun. The educational seminars includes presentations for all specialty crop growers. The general session tackles some of the big issues facing growers today, including ag labor, what to expect from the new Trump administration and a grower panel discussing the challenge of citrus greening. After lunch, breakout sessions …

satsuma

Why Some Citrus Growers Are Removing Satsuma Trees

Daniel CooperCold Hardy, Mandarins

Satsuma mandarins are easily produced in the cold-hardy citrus region. But their lack of shelf life is causing multiple growers in the region, which includes North Florida and South Georgia, to pull trees in favor of something else. Those growers includes Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. She’s removing 400 of 1,000 satsuma trees, or about 40% …

capture

Psyllid Capture Rate Decreases in Brazil

Daniel CooperBrazil, HLB Management, Psyllids

The capture of greening-spreading psyllids in traps in the Brazilian Citrus Belt states of São Paulo (SP) and Triângulo Sudoeste Mineiro dropped 41% in 2024 compared to 2023. The data is part of a survey carried out biweekly by Fundecitrus and made available on the Psyllid Alert platform. The average capture recorded in 2023 was 2.23 psyllids per trap, compared …

Israeli citrus

Israeli Citrus Crops to Rebound

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) has forecast all varieties of Israeli citrus to rise in 2024–25 compared to the prior year. The 2023–24 marketing year saw lower production largely as a result of the war with Hamas.  PRODUCTION PROJECTIONS Production by varieties in 2024–25 are projected at: GROWING REGIONS Israeli citrus production is located throughout the …

Vegetable Seminar Program Available

Daniel CooperEducation, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

With expanding vegetable acreage in parts of South Florida, the Florida Citrus Show now hosts a special vegetable breakout seminar to serve growers in the region. The researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and U.S. Department of Agriculture have put together an informative agenda covering a wide range of topics. Some of the subjects …

weather

Foliar Disease Watch in Florida

Daniel CooperDiseases, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney Spring is the time to start thinking about foliar disease management in Florida. Depending on the type of citrus being produced and the market destination, different diseases will be important. POSTBLOOM FRUIT DROP The disease that affects all citrus, particularly oranges, is postbloom fruit drop (PFD). This disease is highly dependent on the weather during bloom. Currently, …

Harvesting

Mechanical Harvesting Highlighted at Demo Citrus

Daniel CooperHarvesting, Technology

A citrus mechanical harvesting demonstration and a discussion of Brazilian citrus farming were among presentations at Demo Citrus 2025, held in Seville, Spain in late January. Harvest+ demonstrated a robot harvesting oranges. Harvest+ is a consortium of Fundecitrus, Move Agro and the Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Organic Production in partnership with Pek Automotive. …

Moroccan

Moroccan Tangerine/Mandarin Crop to Climb

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently forecast Morocco’s tangerine/mandarin production for 2024–25 at 1.1 million metric tons (MMT). That’s an increase of 16% from the prior season due to increased irrigation practices and a high level of new plantings coming into full production for the Nadorcott and Afourer varieties. The Moroccan area planted with tangerines/mandarins is …

Brix

Brix Bill Reintroduced

Daniel CooperLegislative

U.S. representatives from Florida have reintroduced legislation to have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alter the Brix standard in not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice from 10.5% to 10%. The Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act was reintroduced by Reps. Scott Franklin and Debbie Wasserman Schultz and is cosponsored by the entire Florida congressional delegation.  Currently, oranges below the 10.5% …

Orange Crop

Update to Brazil’s Orange Crop Forecast

Daniel CooperBrazil, Crop Forecast

Fundecitrus and its cooperators released an orange crop forecast on Feb. 10. Total production is forecast to be 228.52 million boxes for 2024–25. This is a 2.4% increase from the December forecast of 223.14 million boxes, but a decrease of 1.7% from the season’s initial orange estimate that was released in May. This forecast is for the São Paulo and …

Florida Crop Forecast Has Changes

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, Florida

The Feb. 11 citrus crop forecast, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), shows both decreases and an increase for Florida when compared to the January forecast. LESS ORANGESThe 2024–25 Florida orange forecast is 11.5 million boxes, down 500,000 boxes, or 4%, from the January forecast. If realized, this will be 36% less …

survey

Survey Shows Popular Scions and Rootstocks

Daniel CooperRootstocks, Survey, Varieties

The Florida Citrus State of the Industry Survey seeks input from growers on key issues affecting their groves. The survey has been conducted for many years, has tracked the trajectory of HLB and reported on production practices. While not a scientific survey, it has reflected general trends over the years. Last month, we published results on trunk-injection therapy and the …

temperature inversion

Temperature Inversion: Not a Friend of Pesticide Applicators

Daniel CooperCEU, Pesticides

By Wael Elwakil Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. Temperature inversion is a weather phenomenon that alters the natural air movement in the lower layer of the atmosphere (troposphere). …

oxytetracycline

Lessons From Oxytetracycline Injection Trials

Daniel CooperHLB Management

By Ute Albrecht, Carol Tardivo, Gabriel Pugina, Larissa Nunes, Jasmine de Freitas and Gerardo Moreno Since the approval of oxytetracycline (OTC) injection to manage citrus greening (huanglongbing, HLB) in Florida, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant physiology team at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) has completed various research trials with multiple …

herbicide tolerance

Strategies for Managing Herbicide Tolerance

Daniel CooperTip of the Week, weeds

By Ramdas Kanissery Tackling herbicide tolerance in weeds is a critical aspect of effective weed control in citrus groves. It helps prevent both current and future weed management challenges. Herbicide tolerance occurs when certain weed species naturally survive and reproduce after herbicide treatment. Unlike herbicide resistance, where genetic changes allow weeds to survive and spread, herbicide tolerance doesn’t involve any …

export

Brazilian Orange Juice and Trade

Daniel CooperBrazil, Orange Juice, Trade

Orange juice processing and trade are among topics addressed in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FAS) report on Brazilian citrus.  Approximately 80% of Brazilian orange production is used for juice processing, and 20% goes to the market as fresh fruit, USDA FAS reported. Orange juice production is concentrated in the state of São Paulo, followed by Minas Gerais. …