Initial assessments indicate that Alico, Inc. sustained minimal tree damage and some fruit drop from Hurricane Milton. The company stated that its approximately 48,000 acres of citrus groves in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Polk counties, Florida, sustained hurricane or tropical storm force winds for varying durations of time. Initial observations include measurable drop of fruit from trees …
Update on Orange Juice Processing in São Paulo
Orange juice processing for the 2024–25 season was moving at a good pace in Brazil’s São Paulo state at the end of September, the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) at the University of São Paulo reported. The Pera orange has been the most processed variety so far, but the harvesting and processing pace of late fruit such …
Hurricane Milton: Assessing and Reporting Losses and Damages
The University of Florida Institute of Food And Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program is deploying a survey to assess the agricultural impacts of Hurricane Milton. Once it is safe to do so and immediate needs are met, Florida’s agricultural producers are encouraged to complete the following steps related to assessing and reporting agricultural losses and damages: This UF/IFAS survey is …
Pest Risk Assessment of Importing Citrus from Botswana
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) has drafted a pest risk assessment (PRA) that describes potential pests associated with importing fresh commercially produced citrus fruits from Botswana into the United States. The PRA evaluates pest risk presented by lemon, grapefruit, mandarin and sweet orange from Botswana for consumption. The entry of these citrus fruits …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Tree Propagations Provide Insight on Plantings
By Peter Chaires The summer of 2024 has been one of suspense, hope and anticipation. There is great suspense in learning how many acres will remain in citrus production, be repurposed or worse yet, be developed. There is a great sense of hope that Mother Nature will provide ideal growing conditions for the crop, and natural disaster recovery will not …
Marketing Plan Essential for Growers
Crop production is only half the battle for citrus growers in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. The other half is knowing where that crop is headed once it is harvested. Bill Barber, Ag Services LLC and Certified Crop Adviser, stressed to growers during a recent citrus meeting that they should have a marketing …
HLB-Tolerant Scion Breeding Update
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) geneticist Matt Mattia with the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida, recently provided a scion breeding update on HLB-tolerant citrus. A slightly edited version follows: Significant strides are being made in the development and evaluation of new citrus varieties, with many now nearing commercial release. These varieties are not only promising …
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Optimizing OTC Injections
By Ute Albrecht, Caroline Tardivo, Larissa Nunes, Gabriel Pugina, Gerardo Moreno and Jasmine de Freitas As growers are well into the second year of oxytetracycline (OTC) injections since approval for commercial use, more and more data are accumulating. The good news is that in all University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) trials, trees have been responding …
SCFBA Calls for Action on Farm Bill
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has issued the following statement in response to an Oct. 2 letter from the chairs [Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and David G. Valadao (R-Calif.)] of the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate: “The status quo for U.S. specialty crop growers is …
Florida Ag Eligible for Loans After Hurricane Helene
Florida farmers, ranchers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers can use loans to restore, repair or replace essential physical property — including fences, equipment, greenhouses and other buildings — or to remove vegetative debris. The loan availability was announced …
Update on Efforts to Lower Required OJ Brix Level
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and federal lawmakers from Florida are pushing legislation that would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required Brix level of not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The change has been requested because many Florida oranges no longer produce juice that meets the 10.5% Brix requirement. FCM Chief …
Survey to Determine Hurricane Helene Ag Impacts
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has started a study to estimate the agricultural impacts resulting from Hurricane Helene in the state of Florida. Results of a survey, which can be accessed here, will be combined with a detailed baseline database on agricultural assets in Florida to estimate and communicate production losses. The information UF/IFAS …
California Medfly Quarantine Expanded
Federal and state agriculture officials on Sept. 6 established a Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; Medfly) quarantine in Alameda County, California. On Sept. 11, this quarantine was expanded to include a small portion of Santa Clara County. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of …
Association Names Danyluk Researcher of the Year
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) has presented University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Professor Michelle Danyluk its 2024 Researcher of the Year Award. The award was presented at FFVA’s recent annual convention in Marco Island. The honor is given to individuals who have dedicated themselves and their work to improving Florida agriculture. Danyluk works in …
PIECES OF THE PAST: A Legacy of Citrus Service
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I recently met Megan and Jeffrey Forbes at a presentation I gave on the Citrus Label Trail during Preservation on Main Street’s annual meeting in Tallahassee. They are interested in adding Alachua and Marion counties to the Citrus Label Trail. Megan is a board member of the Old Florida Heritage Highway, and Jeffrey is the development …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Concerns Prior to Harvest
Cold-hardy citrus growers are on the cusp of starting another harvest season. Management options need to continue up until the first crops are plucked from the trees, according to Certified Crop Adviser Bill Barber with Ag Services LLC. Barber spoke at a citrus workshop on Sept. 24 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office …
Sneak Peek: October 2024 Citrus Industry
With the news that oxytetracycline (OTC) has been approved for a third consecutive year of trunk injection in Florida citrus, growers are looking to optimize their applications for the coming season. The October cover story in Citrus Industry magazine aims to help growers make the most of their OTC injections. University of Florida researchers tell the good, the bad and …
What To Do if Brown Rot Surprises You
By Megan Dewdney It is late summer or early fall, and the usual time to consider brown rot treatment options has passed. However, you smell a sharp fermented fruit odor. When you look closer, fruit have the telltale soft brown lesions of brown rot. What options exist to minimize losses now? It is too late for the traditional control options …
Initial 2024–25 Forecasts for California Navels and Mandarins
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, has issued initial 2024–25 forecasts for California’s navel orange crop and for part of the mandarin crop. NAVEL ORANGES The initial 2024-25 California navel orange forecast is 78 million cartons, up 2% from the previous year. The forecast is based on …
Psyllid Control Discussed at South African Citrus Symposium
Researchers Marcelo Miranda and Haroldo Volpe with Brazil’s Fundecitrus discussed control of the HLB-spreading psyllid during a recent visit to a South African research symposium and accompanying events. During the Citrus Research Symposium in Drakensberg, Miranda discussed studies developed at Fundecitrus on the management of the HLB-spreading psyllid (Diaphorina citri). In South Africa, HLB is caused by a bacteria different …





























