medfly

California Medfly Quarantine Expanded

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

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 …

symposium

Psyllid Control Discussed at South African Citrus Symposium

Daniel CooperBrazil, Events, Psyllids

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 …

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo: Agriculture Matters

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

More than 350,000 acres of citrus and specialty crops were represented at this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Tampa, Florida, on Aug. 21–22. These acres represented growers from central and southern Florida, as well as producers from the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama. More than 150 exhibitors and sponsors covered the trade …

NOAA

NOAA Updates Above-Normal Hurricane Outlook

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Weather

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service forecasters issued an Atlantic hurricane outlook update on Aug. 8 very similar to its initial outlook issued in May. Both outlooks projected an above-normal hurricane season.   The forecasters updated the number of expected named storms to 17 to 24 (with winds of 39 mph or greater), of which eight to 13 …

citrus forecast

Global Citrus Crops on the Rise

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Global production of tangerines/mandarins, grapefruit and lemons/limes is expected to climb in 2023–24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported in its Citrus: World Markets and Trade publication.  TANGERINES/MANDARINS Global tangerine/mandarin production for 2023–24 is estimated up 1.2 million tons to 38.2 million tons. Here are expectations for major producing countries: GRAPEFRUIT Global grapefruit production in …

booth

Visit the UF/IFAS Citrus Extension Booth at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Tip of the Week

By Jamie D. Burrow and Michaela Ivy Since the spring, planning has been underway for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus Extension team booth to be on display at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event is Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The booth will be in the same …

Australian

Update on Global Orange and OJ Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Global orange production for 2023–24 is expected to rise slightly while orange juice (OJ) production dips. This forecast is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) Citrus: World Markets and Trade July report. ORANGES Global orange production for 2023–24 is estimated to rise 1% to 47.4 million tons. Lower production in Brazil and the European Union …

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Preview of the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo Seminars

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus Expo

In the July All In For Citrus podcast, Tripti Vashisth, associate professor of horticultural sciences with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), gave a sneak peek of the citrus educational seminars at the upcoming Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event takes place on Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Vashisth coordinated …

fruit and vegetable industry

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisors Needed

Daniel CooperAgriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting nominations to fill up to 25 upcoming vacancies on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). The committee was established to develop recommendations for submission to the U.S. secretary of agriculture on issues affecting the produce industry.  Nomination packages must be postmarked on or before Sept. 3. The packages should include …

Mississippi

Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine Expanded in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

On June 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) expanded a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine in Harlingen, Texas. The expansion of the quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection between May 26 and June 11 of three wild mated Mexflies from traps in …

South Korea

South Korea Grants Market Access to Texas Grapefruit

Daniel CooperGrapefruit, International, Texas

Texas grapefruit growers recently gained access to a new international market in South Korea worth $5 million annually. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) negotiated the technical details that will help ensure grapefruit exported from Texas are free from pests, such as the Mexican fruit fly. On June 27, 2024, South Korea’s national …

Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Ag Policy Leaders to Headline Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo

The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is scheduled for Aug. 21–22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This year’s event will be the second at the fairgrounds — a venue which was well received by attendees of last year’s Expo. The event features an expansive trade show providing growers with an opportunity to learn about the products and services …

European

European Citrus Production Update

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) semi-annual European Union (EU) citrus report forecasts a decline in mandarin production and an increase in lemon production for 2023–24.  TANGERINES AND MANDARINS EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2023–24 is forecast at 2.6 million metric tons (MMT), down from 2.9 MMT the prior season. USDA FAS reported that unfavorable …

Argentine

Argentine Orange and Tangerine Forecasts Slashed

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has reduced its 2023–24 production forecasts for Argentine oranges and tangerines by 44% and 30%, respectively, since the last forecasts. The 2023–24 crops are now expected to be 650,000 metric tons (MT) of oranges and 280,000 MT of tangerines.  The decrease in production is due to a combination of factors, …

July

Sneak Peek: July 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Sneak Peek

The conversation in Florida citrus continues to center around trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC). The July issue of Citrus Industry magazine presents the latest information on the OTC topic. OTC product labels require a one-year pause in application after two years of use. This requirement was put in place to prevent pathogen resistance to the product. Florida growers who have …

quarantine areas

Mexfly Quarantine Expansions in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Agriculture officials on May 20 expanded Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in areas of Texas containing commercial citrus. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) increased the Harlingen Quarantine and the Sebastian Quarantine, which include areas of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. The expansion of the Harlingen Quarantine is in …

root recovery

Trunk Injection Shows Positive Results on Early Varieties

Daniel CooperHLB Management, OTC Expert

Sponsored Content Q: There have been questions about the effectiveness of ReMedium TI® injections on early varieties like Hamlins. What have you seen from the data collected this past season? Tom Johnson: The early varieties respond well to ReMedium TI® injection. We received data from a grower that had three separate blocks of Hamlins. Each block was about 70 acres. …

noaa

NOAA Announces Hurricane Season Predictions

Daniel Cooperhurricane, Weather

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center on May 23 predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), …

citrus black spot

Florida Citrus Black Spot Quarantines Expanded

Daniel CooperDiseases, Florida, Regulation

Agriculture officials have increased the existing citrus black spot (CBS) quarantine area in Florida and established a new quarantine area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS DPI) took these actions. CBS is a fungal disease that leaves fruit speckled …