hlb

HLB Quarantine Expands in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared a citrus quarantine expansion in San Diego County’s Valley Center on March 26. The expansion occurred after detection of HLB disease in two citrus trees in residential neighborhoods in the Valley Center area during regular inspections.    HLB is a major threat to San Diego County’s $144 million annual citrus crop …

citrus field day

Citrus Field Day Highlights Research

Daniel CooperEvents, Research

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee hosted a citrus field day on April 10. The event showcased the research being conducted at the center. One of the tour stops featured individual protective cover (IPC) research led by Fernando Alferez, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus horticulture. Thanks in …

Growers’ Institute

Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute Included Interactive Element

Daniel CooperEvents

Growers gathered in Avon Park for the annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute at South Florida Community College in early April. Scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) presented updates on their work and the latest efforts to help in the fight against HLB. New this year, the scientists also hosted learning stations to further …

IPCs

IPCs: To Tie or Not to Tie?

Daniel CooperIPCs, Tip of the Week

By Fernando Alferez and Osbaldo Vasquez As individual protective covers (IPCs) are being adopted as a standard management practice to protect newly planted citrus trees from psyllid infestation, it has become apparent that one of the main effects of this tool is improved tree growth. Trees under IPCs grow larger with thicker canopies. This is probably the result of healthier …

pest populations

Scout to Stay Ahead of Pest Populations

Daniel CooperPests

It is much better for Florida citrus growers to be proactive than reactive when managing pest populations. Scouting and monitoring citrus groves is crucial for growers who hope to thwart off impacts from insects like the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). If growers are not successful, they will be behind the eight ball in minimizing the impact of these annual pests. …

HLB Quarantine Area Expanded in California Again

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

Federal and state officials have expanded the quarantine for huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening disease) in the Mission Viejo area of California’s Orange County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, expanded the quarantine by 13.16 square miles. The expansion was in response …

young trees

Recovering Unprotected HLB-Infected Young Trees

Daniel CooperIPCs, Tip of the Week

By Fernando Alferez and Saoussen Ben Abdallah Individual protective covers (IPCs) are now being increasingly adopted in Florida to protect newly planted citrus trees from psyllid colonization. The risk of new citrus plantings becoming infected with HLB is especially high, as young trees flush more frequently and attract more psyllids. However, the adoption of IPCs does not occur in all …

campaign

‘Zero and 10’ Is Brazil Greening Campaign Motto

Daniel CooperBrazil, HLB Management

“For the incidence to be zero, the control needs to be 10.” That’s the motto of the new Fundecitrus campaign to mitigate the incidence of citrus greening in Brazil. The campaign highlights the need for strict control of the greening-spreading psyllid, especially in new regions where citrus farming is advancing. Those regions include the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, …

mathematical modeling

Mathematical Modeling Is Preparing Europe for HLB

Daniel CooperDiseases, International, Research

A tool predicting how to protect European citrus from HLB shows how mathematical modeling can help prepare for future plant disease invasions. Europe is currently unaffected by HLB. However, there are increased concerns of an infestation since psyllids that spread HLB have been found in key citrus-producing countries, including Portugal and Spain. In response to the HLB threat, a new …

highlands

Highlands Citrus Banquet Highlights Trunk-Injection Research

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management

The Highlands County Citrus Growers Association hosted its annual banquet on March 6 in Sebring. The event drew a good crowd to catch up on the association’s activities. Two of the featured speakers during the event discussed alternative trunk-injection therapies to the current standard of oxytetracycline (OTC). Tanishka Aglave, a sophomore at Strawberry Crest High School, received the H. Robert …

emergency program

Emergency Program Expanded in California for HLB/ACP

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, HLB Management, Regulation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently announced the expansion in Orange County of an emergency program for HLB and the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) that spreads the disease. The expansion follows confirmation throughout January of the causative bacterial agent of HLB in plant tissue and/or ACP in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Orange, Santa …

Arizona

HLB Confirmed in Arizona for First Time

Daniel CooperDiseases, Regulation

HLB was recently confirmed for the first time in Arizona, first in an Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and then in another ACP and citrus plant tissue. The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) reported the details. On Dec. 16, 2024, agriculture inspectors collected ACP and plant tissue samples from a residential citrus tree in Nogales. The collections were made during a …

movement

Quarantine Updates: HLB in Mississippi; Mexfly in Texas

Daniel CooperDiseases, Pests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) recently announced a quarantine for huanglongbing (HLB) in Mississippi as well as updates to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. HLB APHIS, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, established a quarantine for the entire state of Mississippi for HLB. The action was taken …

short-term

What Georgia’s Citrus Industry Needs To Do To Succeed

Daniel CooperGeorgia, HLB Management

One Florida citrus industry leader is impressed with Georgia’s burgeoning industry. Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation chief operating officer, believes Georgia’s industry can continue to grow as long as it manages citrus greening effectively. He stressed eradication when speaking about citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), at the annual meeting on Feb. 25. “Georgia’s potential is bright …

silicon

Citrus Nutrition Day Explores Benefits of Silicon

Daniel CooperNutrition

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Citrus Nutrition Day in January at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. The event was well attended and covered various fertilizer and nutrition topics. Muhammad Adnan Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticulture, presented his ongoing research on the use of silicon as a …

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 …

Texas citrus

Texas Citrus Industry Assessing Freeze Damage

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Texas

By Maegan Beatty  Across the United States, farmers have faced freezing temperatures, snowstorms and unpredictable conditions this winter. Texas citrus growers are among those evaluating the effects of the most recent temperature drop.   “In regard to growers experiencing damage, we are still assessing,” said Dale Murden, president of Texas Citrus Mutual. “It’s too early to tell overall, but we will …

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 …

CRDF

CRDF Approves Funding for Key Research Projects

Daniel CooperCRDF, Research

Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) chief operating officer, reported that the foundation’s January board of directors meeting was a productive one that resulted in the approval of several key citrus research projects. “We had a great meeting. The board approved funding to use a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to kill the progeny of psyllids,” Dantzler said. …

usda

USDA Funds Citrus Projects

Daniel CooperDiseases, Pests, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $70 million in the Plant Protection Act program. This includes funding of 357 projects in fiscal year 2025. The work will strengthen the country’s defenses against plant pests and diseases, safeguard the U.S. nursery system, and enhance pest detection and mitigation efforts. Part of the funding is going …