Indian River Center to Add Citrus Researcher

Josh McGillIndian River, Research

Brazil native Flavia Zambon will become assistant professor of production horticulture of citrus and other tree crops at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in November. The IRREC, located in Fort Pierce, is a branch of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).  Zambon has had years of research experience in all of Florida’s …

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Long-Term Research Proves CUPS Performance

Josh McGillCUPS, Research

Arnold Schumann, a professor of soil fertility and water quality with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), led the effort to study the effectiveness of citrus under protective screen (CUPS) in protecting trees from HLB. The work resulted in growers having confidence in the practice. Today, Florida CUPS plantings are closing in on 1,000 commercial …

Adjustments to the Florida Citrus Crop Forecast

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, Florida

The May Florida citrus crop forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) saw some ups and downs. FLORIDA ORANGESThe Florida 2022–23 all-orange forecast declined 3%, from 16.1 million boxes in the April forecast to 15.65 million boxes in May. If the forecast is realized, this will be 62% less orange production than last season. …

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Weather, Costs and Other Citrus Impacts

Josh McGillProduction, Weather

In U.S. Citrus Production – An Uphill Battle to Survive, Daniel Munch zeroed in on issues impacting citrus-producing states. In excerpts that follow, the American Farm Bureau Federation economist focuses on weather, disease, population, production shifts and increasing costs that have impacted citrus. FLORIDA FACES NUMEROUS CHALLENGESIn 2017, Hurricane Irma’s high winds and damaging rains battered key citrus-producing regions in …

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Brazil’s Initial Orange Forecast for 2023–24

Tacy CalliesBrazil, Crop Forecast

The 2023–2024 initial orange forecast for Brazil’s citrus belt is 309.34 million boxes. The forecast was announced on May 10 by Fundecitrus and its cooperators. The projected volume is 1.55% less than the previous crop, which totaled 314.21 million boxes. Fundecitrus reported that weather conditions are positive for the 2023–24 crop with rains being 50% above the historical average. However, …

U.S. Citrus Concerns Summarized

Josh McGillProduction

American Farm Bureau Federation economist Daniel Munch recently detailed concerns about the U.S. citrus industry in a report titled U.S. Citrus Production – An Uphill Battle to Survive. Excerpts providing an overview of those concerns follow.  Once leaders in citrus crop production, U.S. growers (particularly those in Florida) have faced numerous challenges that have led to an unfortunate decline in …

Seminar Speakers Share Latest Citrus Research

Josh McGillEducation, Events, Research

The citrus session at the Florida Grower Citrus Show started off with a special award acknowledgement by Ron Cave, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC). Cave recognized Pasco Avery for his induction into the 2022 class of the IPM Hall of Fame from the Southern IPM …

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Considerations for High-Density Citrus Plantings

Josh McGillplanting, Tip of the Week

By Amir Rezazadeh Among all the factors that will affect the productivity and profitability of a citrus grove, choosing the optimal tree spacing is crucial. Florida citrus growers are planting trees at significantly higher densities than in the past. Due to negative impacts on plant health following the emergence of huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening) in Florida, canopy growth substantially …

California Psyllid Program Requires Compliance Agreements

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) quarantine program now requires all harvesters/farm labor contractors (FLCs) to have valid compliance agreements to harvest citrus groves. An FLC is defined as any person or establishment that employs people to perform work related to grove management and/or harvesting commercial citrus fruit. The requirement was announced by CDFA’s …

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Leader Development Program Seeks Applicants

Josh McGillEducation

Applications are open until June 16 for those interested in being part of Class 13 of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP). ELDP, administered by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, was launched in 2011 to identify and develop leaders to be strong advocates for Florida agriculture. Program sessions provide a wealth of information about …

What’s New in Citrus Breeding?

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, Breeding, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus plant improvement team joined the All In For Citrus podcast to discuss new varieties and those in the breeding pipeline. Fred Gmitter, professor of horticultural sciences, Jude Grosser, professor of plant cell genetics, and John Chater, assistant professor of horticultural sciences, also discussed how HLB has impacted their …

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Federal Legislation Would Conserve Citrus Land

Josh McGillLand, Legislative

Due to hurricanes, citrus greening and unfair trade pressures, Florida’s citrus growers are increasingly left with little choice but to sell their land to developers, said U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Because of that, he introduced the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act to establish a subprogram under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to conserve citrus agricultural land. The legislation …

Getting the Most Out of Your Nutrition Program

Josh McGillNutrition

By Brandon White Taking a wholistic, helicopter view of nutrient management programs can be beneficial in reducing high input costs and environmental implications in the continued era of HLB. START WITH THE SOILAn obvious first stop on the considerations list is the soil. It’s the foundation of the system. Almost any economically feasible thing growers can do to improve organic …

Sneak Peek: May 2023 Citrus Industry

Josh McGillCUPS, Sneak Peek

Some growers are taking a closer look at citrus under protective screen (CUPS), while others have already adopted the production system. CUPS has been proven to protect trees from HLB and hurricane damage. The May issue of Citrus Industry magazine features grower brothers who are early adopters of CUPS. Jerry and Keith Mixon have 150 acres of CUPS production in …

Gibberellic Acid Applications: Day vs. Night

Josh McGillHLB Management, PGRs, Tip of the Week

By Alessandro Franco, Faisal Shahzad and Tripti Vashisth Gibberellic acid (GA) is one of the most commonly used plant growth regulators which affects flowering, fruit and vegetative growth. Multiple monthly GA foliar applications have reduced preharvest fruit drop and increased yield in huanglongbing (HLB)-affected sweet oranges. The potential impact of these findings is huge for commercial citrus production. However, there …

Brazil’s Sustainable Citriculture Effort Updated

Josh McGillBrazil

Sustainable Citriculture, a voluntary initiative by citrus growers and orange juice industries in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, has completed two years in search of sustainable development for Brazilian citriculture. The initiative, which is committed to preserving natural resources, has created a set of actions and partnerships that seek to encourage responsible food production and environmental protection. Its goals include …

Can Brassinosteroids Help Citrus Cope With Disease and Extreme Weather?

Josh McGillDiseases, Research, Weather

By Fernando Alferez and Muhammad A. Shahid Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a natural group of hormones that regulate physiological and biochemical attributes that include seed germination, flower development, root formation and resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. BRs have shown promise in reducing pests and diseases in a wide range of plants, including citrus. A commercial formulation of BRs has …

Redesigned Florida Grower Citrus Show a Sweet Success

Josh McGillEvents

The reinvigorated Florida Grower Citrus Show was a crowd-pleaser in its first year hosted by AgNet Media. The annual event was relocated to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) facilities in Fort Pierce. It was streamlined from a two-day format to a one-day event. The show brought together exhibitors who …

Project Seeks Quick HLB Diagnostic Tests

Josh McGillHLB Management, International, Research

Canadian college Seneca, in partnership with Ottawa-based Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc., is working to develop a quick diagnostic test for the citrus disease HLB. Frank Merante, professor in Seneca’s School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry, is the principal investigator for the project. The idea behind the research was to develop a simple way for growers to test crops and identify the …