Supporting Citrus Growers of Today and Tomorrow

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Scholarship

By Tacy Callies Citrus Expo is well known for being a gathering place for industry leaders of all types — growers, researchers and other professionals. They come together at this popular annual event to get educated, network with peers and conduct business. CITRUS SCHOLARSHIPSupporting young people who are interested in agriculture — and in citrus, particularly — is becoming increasingly …

Citrus Exports to China and Hong Kong Down Significantly

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Export

Exports of citrus from the United States to China and Hong Kong are down significantly, according to a news release from California Citrus Mutual (CCM). The association has been monitoring exports to China and Hong Kong since the trade dispute started in the spring of 2018. The data is from reports filed by the International Trade Commission, a federal agency …

Citrus Expo Seminar Program Preview

Ernie NeffCitrus Expo

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) horticulturist Tripti Vashisth discusses the citrus seminars to be presented Aug. 14-15 at Citrus Expo. She also reports on a presentation she’ll make at Expo regarding fruit drop. Vashisth is organizing the Citrus Expo educational sessions for growers. She says the goal is to present “something useful for the growers …

aphis

Citrus Black Spot Quarantine Area Updated in Florida

Daniel CooperDiseases, Industry News Release

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding eight sections in Charlotte County, nine sections in Lee County, 28 sections in Hendry County, and five sections in Collier County to the citrus black spot (CBS) quarantine area in Florida. This action is in response to the confirmation of CBS during annual surveys conducted by APHIS and …

Citrus Expo Offers Interactions

Ernie NeffAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus Expo

Growers will have opportunities to learn in interactions with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers at Citrus Expo on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 15. “We wanted to do something a little bit different to keep folks involved and keep folks coming back for that second afternoon” of Citrus Expo, says Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS …

PIECES OF THE PAST: The Founding of Florida Citrus Mutual

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette On the cover of the April 1949 issue of Citrus Industry magazine, there is a paragraph that references the beginning of Florida Citrus Mutual. It simply states: “Now that Florida Citrus Mutual is definitely and permanently organized, it behooves every citrus grower in Florida to give this super-cooperative organization his loyal and whole-hearted support. With prices …

Nelsen Reappointed to Advisory Committee

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner

Joel Nelsen, former president of California Citrus Mutual, has been reappointed to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee. This committee advises the U.S. secretary of agriculture and the U.S. trade representative on a myriad of policy issues. Nelsen has served on this committee since the George W. Bush administration. He has been the committee chair for the …

Technology: Consider the Costs

Ernie NeffTechnology

Tara Wade, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences economist, has some advice for growers considering new technology for the grove. “What we’d like growers to do is start to think about all the costs involved … do the math before they invest,” she says. “Growers have to constantly think about the trade-offs” of adopting new technology …

Florida Citrus Commission Approves Preliminary 2019-20 Budget

Tacy CalliesFlorida Citrus Commission

The Florida Citrus Commission approved a preliminary 2019-20 budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) based on an estimate of 71.40 million boxes of oranges and 4.51 million boxes of grapefruit. Presented Wednesday, the department’s total preliminary budget is $14.82 million with an overall budget decrease of about $4 million over the previous year, which is largely due to …

UF/IFAS

Jack Payne Announces Retirement

Daniel CooperAgriculture, Citrus, Citrus Greening, Research

After serving nearly 10 years as the senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Jack Payne announced he will retire next year. His last day with UF/IFAS will be July 1, 2020. Payne has overseen Extension offices across Florida and its 12 research and education centers since …

img citrus

Rogers Discusses Media Reports on Bactericides

Ernie NeffBactericides

Michael Rogers, Citrus Research and Education Center director, focuses on recent media coverage about the use of antibiotics, or bactericides, in Florida citrus. Most of the coverage in the mainstream media has been negative.  His discussion is part of the current episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, a partnership of the University of Florida Institute of Food and …

Citrus Expo Registration Opens June 1

Tacy CalliesCitrus Expo

The 28th annual Citrus Expo is quickly approaching! AgNet Media, organizer of the event, is excited to once again bring the citrus industry together. Citrus Expo will take place Aug. 14–15 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. All pre-registered growers will automatically be entered for a chance to win a John Deere gun safe, courtesy of …

soil

Soil and Water pH Play a Key Part in Nutrition

Tacy CalliesNutrition, Water

By Tripti Vashisth, Davie Kadyampakeni and Lushan Ghimire In the past few years, horticultural citrus grove management practices have changed significantly in Florida. It is a common observation across the state that huanglongbing (HLB)-affected trees respond well to complete and balanced nutrition programs. Therefore, citrus growers are currently focusing on intensive management of irrigation and nutrition. HLB-affected trees suffer a …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Noteworthy 1921 Tangelo Tree

Tacy CalliesPieces of the Past

I came across an article in the March 1921 issue of Citrus Industry that was titled “Tangelo Tree Attracts Attention” by W.B. Powell of Lakeconics. Two things caught my eye: 1) “Lakeconics” — where or what the heck was that!? and 2) the singular use of “Tree.” What was so special about this one tree? So, of course, I had …

Critical Leaf Nutrient Thresholds to Diagnose Deficiencies in HLB Trees

Tacy CalliesHLB Management, Nutrition

By Arnold Schumann, Laura Waldo, Tripti Vashisth, Alan Wright and Kelly Morgan Huanglongbing (HLB) disease severely impacts the nutrient status of citrus trees, particularly by stunting the feeder roots and causing measurable deficiencies of nutrients in the roots and canopies. Visible symptoms of nutrient deficiencies on citrus foliage are characteristic but not diagnostic of HLB disease. Recent HLB research efforts …

field hearings

Department of Citrus Receives $550,000 in USDA Funding

Tacy CalliesIndustry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $200 million award to 57 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program to help the nation’s agriculture community identify and access new export markets. The Florida Department of Citrus was one of the specified organizations and is set to receive $550,000 in funding to promote citrus in various new markets. Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried shared, “We’re thrilled the USDA has provided this opportunity …

citrus greening

Study Zeroes in on Organic Ways to Beat Citrus Greening

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, HLB Management, Industry News Release, Research

Results show promise for organic groves, but more research is needed. Since it was first discovered in the United States in 2005, the bacterial disease known as citrus greening, or Huanglongbing, has devastated millions of acres of citrus crops throughout this country and abroad, ravaging citrus groves in Asia, Africa and South America. Citrus greening has impacted conventional and organic …

Ross Reappointed as California Department of Ag Head

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner

New California Governor Gavin Newsom has reappointed Karen Ross, 67, of Sacramento, as secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The state cabinet-level department was established in 1919 to promote and protect a safe, healthy food supply, local and global agricultural trade, and environmental stewardship. Ross successfully served as CDFA secretary under Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. …

Government Shutdown Not Affecting California Citrus — Yet

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Citrus

An analysis by California Citrus Mutual (CCM) indicates there is no major impact at the present time on government programs that affect California’s citrus industry. This could change if the shutdown drags on, however. According to the report, “Our major priority would be the ACP/HLB program sometimes known as CHRP (Citrus Health Response Program). We are not suffering any major …

California Citrus Conference Calls Attention to Key Industry Issues

Tacy CalliesCalifornia Corner

By Len Wilcox The Citrus Research Board’s (CRB) annual California Citrus Conference took place in October in Visalia. This year’s event included a celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The CRB is an important resource to California’s citrus industry. It awards more than $7 million each year to researchers throughout the state. Since 2008, CRB has focused much of its …