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 …

bill

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 …

Mexfly quarantine

Texas Mexfly Quarantines Established and Expanded

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and Texas agriculture officials have established some new Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantines in Texas and expanded others. The dates and actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) were: APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of …

pollinators

Growing Matters: BeSure! Campaign on Keeping Pollinators Safe

Daniel CooperBeSure!, Pollination

The BeSure! campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition helps growers protect bees and other wildlife. To learn more about pesticide safety for pollinators, we’re talking with Todd Hanson, Bayer product manager for corn seed treatments. About Growing Matters BeSure! Growing Matters is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to scientific discourse on the stewardship, benefits and alternatives of neonicotinoid insecticides in North America. …

may

Sneak Peek: May 2024 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperHLB Management, hurricane, Sneak Peek

Inside the May issue of Citrus Industry magazine, you’ll find photos and coverage from the Florida Citrus Show. The annual grower-focused event was held in Fort Pierce on April 3. A high point of the day was the outdoor trade show of exhibitors serving an array of tailgate-style foods to attendees. Educational programs included a general session on current agricultural …

growing matters

Growing Matters: BeSure! Campaign on Keeping Treated Seeds Covered

Daniel CooperBeSure!, Seed

The BeSure! campaign from the Growing Matters Coalition helps growers protect bees and other wildlife. To learn more about what we can do, we’re talking with Nick Tinsley, seed treatment technical field representative with BASF, who says one important action is to keep treated seeds covered. About Growing Matters BeSure! Growing Matters is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to scientific discourse on the …

SCFBA

Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee to Continue

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) plans to renew the charter of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) for two years. The FVIAC’s current charter expires May 23. The purpose of the FVIAC is to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and suggest ways the USDA can …

Mississippi

Mexfly Quarantines Established in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and state agriculture officials in March established several Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. The actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) occurred: APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread …