New Opportunity for Citrus Growers to Earn CEUs Online

Tacy CalliesCEU

When the annual 2020 Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute was canceled due to the stay-at-home guidelines recommended by the state, growers were shut out of learning the latest research updates from University of Florida citrus scientists. In addition, they were denied access to earning valuable continuing education units (CEUs) needed to renew pesticide licenses. University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural …

Antibiotics Used in Citrus

Tacy CalliesBactericides

A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension document, Antibiotics in Crop Production, was published in May by Leigh Archer, Ute Albrecht and Pamela Roberts. The authors found that the use of antibiotics has resulted in the successful control of bacterial diseases in some crops but not in others. The publication includes research information on antibiotics …

New Citrus Greening Treatment Shows Promise

Tacy CalliesCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Research

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have discovered another possible solution to the plague of citrus greening that is impacting Florida’s citrus groves. This new information adds to the growing portfolio of knowledge that UF/IFAS scientists are amassing to fight the disease. Led by UF/IFAS microbiology and cell science professor Claudio Gonzalez, a team of plant …

chemicals

Automated System Under Study to Deliver Bactericides

Daniel CooperCitrus Greening, Industry News Release, Research

Imagine using a robotic arm to grip and puncture the trunk of a citrus tree to deliver chemicals into the vascular parts of the plant, reducing its susceptibility to the citrus greening disease. Ozgur Batuman, an assistant professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), leads a team of researchers trying to …

tree

Bridging the Gap to the Tree of the Future

Daniel CooperEvents, HLB Management

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center hosted an OJ Break seminar on May 14. The speakers provided updates on developing a gene-edited citrus tree with resistance to HLB and how growers can use existing tools to mitigate the disease. Nian Wang, UF/IFAS professor, provided an update on the status of …

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 …

encouraged

Florida Citrus Grower Feeling Encouraged

Daniel CooperEvents, Florida, HLB Management

In a time when hope can be hard to find for the Florida citrus industry, one grower left last week’s Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute feeling encouraged. Whether it was meeting with fellow growers or learning about ongoing research that has long-term ramifications, Paul Koukos felt optimistic following the April 8 meeting. “It’s always good to get together with other growers, …

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 …

Florida Citrus Show

Last Chance to Preregister for the Florida Citrus Show

Daniel CooperCitrus, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

Online preregistration for the Florida Citrus Show closes on Sunday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. The event is a great day of networking, learning, food and fun. THE PROGRAM Between the morning general session and breakout seminars dedicated to citrus and vegetables, there’s a lot to learn. Check out the full program here. CEUs AVAILABLE Attendees of the citrus seminar …

Florida Citrus Show

Florida Citrus Show: A Day Full of Activities

Daniel CooperEvents, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is coming up fast. For many, it’s an annual tradition. For those who have never attended, come prepared to experience a full day packed with fun and education. Here is a quick summary of what the event includes: THE EDUCATION The day kicks off with a general session tackling topics that touch all of specialty crop …

Florida Citrus Show

See the Florida Citrus Show Seminar Schedule

Daniel CooperCitrus, Education, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is a day full of learning, fellowship and fun. The educational seminars includes presentations for all specialty crop growers. The general session tackles some of the big issues facing growers today, including ag labor, what to expect from the new Trump administration and a grower panel discussing the challenge of citrus greening. After lunch, breakout sessions …

june

All In For Citrus Podcast, February 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast

In the February episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers provides an update on activities at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. He said the beginning of the year is the time when current and future projects are evaluated. “The months of February and …

Sneak Peek: February 2025 Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesSneak Peek

The citrus section in the February issue of Specialty Crop Grower is coming soon. It’s full of features for growers to dive into. First up is part two of results from the Florida Citrus State of the Industry Survey. (See part one here.) Learn out what percent of growers say they are replanting and how many are participating in the …

Agriculture and a New Administration

Daniel CooperEvents, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The new year is off and running at a brisk pace. The Trump administration came to office with a large agenda and has begun to put it into action. With a new administration at the helm, now is a good time to assess how policies and economics could affect agriculture. Danny Munch will be speaking at this year’s Florida Citrus …

Florida Citrus Show

Registration Is Open for the Florida Citrus Show

Daniel CooperCitrus, Events, FCS24, Florida Citrus Show

The Florida Citrus Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025. 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 …

milton

Survey Tracks Hurricane Milton Impacts and OTC Usage

Daniel Cooperhurricane, planting, Survey

The Florida Citrus State of the Industry Survey seeks input from growers on key issues affecting their groves. While not a scientific survey, it has reflected general trends over the years. This year’s survey asked growers to weigh in on major events like the impact of Hurricane Milton and the performance of trunk-injection therapies. HURRICANE MILTON Hurricane Milton made landfall …

navel oranges

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Navel Oranges After OTC and Milton’s Impact

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source

By Peter Chaires As fall approached and Hurricane Milton was not yet on the radar, growers were quietly discussing promising results from oxytetracycline (OTC) therapy. As one would expect, results are as variable as the products, methods of application and factors in the field. However, the view from 40,000 feet was encouraging. Growers not only reported positive observations in their …

January

Sneak Peek: January 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

Citrus Industry subscribers will now receive their magazine content inside of Specialty Crop Grower. The new home for Citrus Industry begins with the January issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine, available in print and digitally. On the cover of the January issue of Specialty Crop Grower is a face familiar to many in Florida’s citrus community. Jim Snively of Southern …

root recovery

Root Recovery Precedes Production Gains

Daniel CooperHLB Management, OTC Expert

Sponsored Content In this special series, Tom Johnson, owner of TJ BioTech, tackles questions about optimizing trunk-injection applications to treat HLB. Q: There have been some mixed results from OTC injections depending on geography within Florida. Is the citrus industry in Florida experiencing a recovery from the effects of HLB or not? Tom Johnson: Since the release of ReMedium TI® …

HLB

Changing With the Times

Daniel CooperIndustry News Release

By Robin Loftin and Frank Giles When HLB was first confirmed in Florida in October 2005, it was difficult to imagine the path the disease would take the state’s citrus industry down. In some ways, it has been a testament to the resolve and ingenuity of growers who have kept trees alive and continued planting, despite some early prognostications that …