director

Florida Citrus Show To Feature CRAFT Insights

Tacy CalliesCRAFT, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation has been a lifeline to Florida’s citrus industry in the battle against HLB. CRAFT’s programs provide incentives for new plantings and existing tree therapies in exchange for growers submitting data for those projects. In 2025, CRAFT received more than $100 million dollars from the state legislature to fund more cycles of the …

CRDF

CRDF Board Funds Plant Transformation Projects

Daniel CooperCRDF

In January, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors took up several projects aimed at plant transformation to improve HLB disease resistance in plants. MANJUL DUTT The board voted to fund work by Manjul Dutt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of horticultural sciences, to graft the most promising non-genetically modified …

See the Seminar Program for the Florida Citrus Show

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is just a month away, scheduled for March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The seminar program offers a wealth of educational opportunities, and …

Millennium Block

Millennium Block HLB Findings Expected This Year

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

Fruit harvested at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Millennium Block from 2022 to 2026 will help determine the effectiveness of potential solutions to HLB. This season’s fruit will be harvested through early February, and research results are expected later this year.  The Millennium Block was planted in 2019 at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research …

patent

Tango Mandarin’s Plant Patent Expires

Daniel CooperMandarins, Varieties

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), which developed the Tango mandarin in 2006, recently reflected on the variety’s success and noted that its patent has expired. Tango has generated more than $70 million in cumulative economic value for UCR. The virtually seedless, easy-peeling fruit has been marketed under brand names like Cuties and Halos. Now that Tango’s plant patent has …

Citrus Show

Elevate Your Knowledge at the Florida Citrus Show

Daniel CooperEvents, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show has an excellent day of education and networking planned for citrus and specialty crop growers. One of the most timely talks will cover post-freeze production considerations for citrus growers. Learn what Extension resources are available to growers to assist in their recovery efforts. Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs have been a lifeline to growers …

Griffin

OLL Orange Varieties Revisited at Griffin’s Grove

Daniel CooperEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

Last September, Jason Griffin hosted a field day in his citrus grove near Lake Alfred in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The event was well attended, and some growers requested a second field day when the crop was closer to harvest. Griffin and UF/IFAS hosted a second event in late January as …

February

Sneak Peek: February 2026 Citrus Industry

Daniel Cooperlemons, Sneak Peek, Survey

The February issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine features Part 2 of results from the Citrus State of the Industry Survey. Florida growers reveal details on their planting intentions. Find out what varieties and rootstocks they’re selecting, what percent are growing citrus under protective screen, and other insights. In the digital edition of the magazine, readers can find bonus coverage …

CRAFT

Sharing CRAFT Knowledge at the Florida Citrus Show

Daniel CooperCRAFT, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation has been a lifeline to Florida’s citrus industry in the battle against HLB. CRAFT’s programs provide incentives for new plantings and existing tree therapies in exchange for growers submitting data for those projects. CRAFT then analyzes that data for trends and potential solutions. Another key mission of CRAFT is sharing the results …

brassinosteroids

Unraveling the Mechanisms Leading to Prolonged Tree Health by Combining IPCs and Brassinosteroids

Daniel CooperHLB Management, IPCs, Tip of the Week

By Fernando Alferez, Divya Aryal and Saoussen Ben Abdallah University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research in the last three years has found that the combined use of individual protective covers (IPCs) and brassinosteroids (BRs) enhances protection of citrus trees against HLB and other diseases that limit citrus production in Florida. The research has been conducted …

Register Today for the Florida Citrus Show

Morgan ColeCitrus, Events, FCS24

The Florida Citrus Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 12. The event will be held at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce. The Florida Citrus Show combines educational seminars for both citrus …

management

Can Physical Barriers Improve Sting Nematode and Root Weevil Management?

Daniel CooperPests

Larry Duncan, professor of nematology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), recently presented his research regarding the management of sting nematodes and diaprepes root weevils. The presentation was part of an ongoing series of Zoom meetings organized by Mongi Zekri, UF//IFAS citrus Extension agent. STING NEMATODE Sting nematode is an important pest, especially in …

Whitmore Farm Field Day Returns After Hurricane Milton

Tacy CalliesEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

In early December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted its annual field day at the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm in Groveland, Florida. The field day was canceled last year due to Hurricane Milton. The storm brought 110 mph winds that stripped trees of fruit and caused other damage. The field day showcased various rootstocks and varieties that have been …

citrus Extension

Citrus Extension Agents Encourage Growers to Engage With Their Services

Daniel Cooperextension

Florida citrus Extension agents are a conduit to growers, connecting them with the educational and support resources of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Recently, two of those agents held stakeholder meetings to seek input from growers on areas where they would like to see more education and assistance from UF/IFAS. Alissa Hevesh is the …

Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake Field Day Highlights Conventional Breeding Potential

Daniel CooperBreeding, Events, HLB Management

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) citrus breeding team hosted a field day on Nov. 19 at the UF/IFAS Eagle Lake Block. The Eagle Lake Block is a 30-acre property that was gifted to CREC as part of the Jim Hughes estate. The grove tour featured several selections being …

NVDMC

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: NVDMC’s Research Initiatives for 2025–26

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source, Research

By Peter Chaires Last month’s Citrus Nursery Source article promised additional details on New Varieties Development & Management Corp.’s (NVDMC) 2025–26 sponsored projects. While there is only space for general summaries, it is important to highlight the areas of focus for each research team, and the emphasis on short-term benefits while continuing to build a foundation for the future. NVDMC …

ReMedium TI®

ReMedium TI® Approved for Fourth Year in Florida

Daniel CooperHLB Management

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently approved TJ BioTech’s request for a Section 24(c) registration related to a fourth year of use of the oxytetracycline (OTC) product ReMedium TI®. The product is a systemic injectable antimicrobial for the control or suppression of huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus. The Section 24(c) registration is a special local need registration. …

replanting

What to Consider When Replanting a Grove

Daniel Cooperplanting, Tip of the Week

By Edwin Gutierrez-Rodriguez and Bosques Jonael Replanting a citrus grove can be an exciting prospect, but it’s not as simple as swapping trees. New cultivars, for example, may require a different setup. Here are some aspects to consider before jumping in: First steps: Newly released cultivars and rootstocks as wells as the Citrus Research and Field Trial programs are refreshing the …

citrus rootstock

Agromillora Introduces New Citrus Rootstock

Daniel CooperResearch

Agromillora, in collaboration with the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA), has introduced CIVAC-19, a new citrus rootstock. CIVAC-19 is the result of more than a decade of research between IVIA and Agromillora. It is a hybrid rootstock of Citrus reshni (Cleopatra mandarin) and Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange). Its semi-dwarfing nature provides medium vigor, key for maintaining compact canopies and …

field day

Millennium Block Field Day Set for Nov. 6

Daniel CooperEvents, Indian River, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) will host its annual Millennium Block Field Day Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. The field day will showcase the center’s emphasis on research to find a solution to citrus greening disease. The IRREC is located at 2199 South Rock Road …