All In for Citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, August 2025

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus Expo

The August All In For Citrus podcast features seminar recaps from the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, which was held this month at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The event included an extensive citrus educational program with more than 20 presentations. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and …

solutions

New, Faster Solutions Needed for Citrus Survival

Daniel CooperBreeding, Citrus Expo, HLB Management

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have made significant progress in finding ways to manage citrus greening disease. But solutions needs to be expedited for the sake of the citrus industry’s future in Florida. Scott Angle, UF/IFAS senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, emphasized that point during last week’s Citrus & Specialty Crop …

Citrus Sustainability

The Five Rs of Citrus Sustainability

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Irrigation, Nutrition

One of the themes that emerged during the citrus seminars at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was that integration of multiple strategies is needed to keep HLB-infected trees productive. Davie Kadyampakeni’s talk detailed the five Rs of sustainable citrus production in the era of HLB. Kadyampakeni is an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and …

soil moisture sensors

Installing and Using Soil Moisture Sensors

Daniel CooperIrrigation, Tip of the Week

By Sandra M. Guzmán and Amir Rezazadeh During Florida’s rainy and hurricane season, accurate water management becomes even more critical for citrus growers. Soil moisture sensors (SMSs) can be used as a baseline tool for making informed irrigation decisions. But to get reliable readings, it is critical to choose, install and use them correctly. WHERE TO INSTALL Proper SMS placement …

magazine

UF/IFAS Launches New Magazine at Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Daniel Cooperextension

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) debuted a new publication at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The UF/IFAS Citrus Magazine is an Extension initiative to deliver Florida’s geographically dispersed citrus research to growers. “You can expect three editions per year, featuring articles written by UF/IFAS citrus scientists and Extension faculty across the state,” said …

plot

Florida CUPS: From a Small Plot of Potted Plants to 1,500 Acres

Daniel CooperCUPS

When University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Professor Arnold Schumann started a citrus under protective screen (CUPS) plot in Florida in 2014, the grapefruit trees were in above-ground pots. The plot at the Citrus Research and Education Center was on 1.33 acres that included 1 acre of planted citrus. After five years, the grapefruit trees on …

fruit drop

Reducing Fruit Drop in HLB Citrus

Daniel CooperFruit Drop, HLB Management, Tip of the Week

By Tripti Vashisth Fruit drop has become one of the biggest challenges for Florida citrus growers, especially in groves hit hard by HLB. On top of the disease, recent hurricanes like Ian and Milton have made the problem worse, causing fruit to drop not just during the storm but often weeks later. Other stresses — such as drought, flooding or …

summer update

Summer Update Informs Growers on Impactful Issues

Daniel CooperEvents, Georgia

The annual Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting on Aug. 14 in Valdosta, Georgia, provided cold-hardy growers with updates on several factors impacting the industry. Information on topics ranging from snails to phytophthora to Asian citrus psyllid trapping were presented to growers who are on the cusp of harvesting another season’s crop. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) area citrus agent …

gene

Gene-Edited Citrus Comes Closer to Commercial Realization

Daniel CooperBreeding, Research

In 2012, Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier and their research team published a paper in the journal Science describing the CRISPR-Cas9 system as a precise gene-editing tool. It was considered a major scientific breakthrough with huge possibilities in human medicine and in agriculture. Doudna and Charpentier were awarded the Noble Peace Prize in chemistry in 2020 for their pioneering work with …

sweet spot

CUPS: Sweet Spot, AI Tool and Spraying

Daniel CooperCUPS

Researcher Arnold Schumann recently discussed much about citrus under protective screen (CUPS), including the ‘sweet spot’ size for a structure, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for gathering information, and pest spraying tips. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor has learned much from a CUPS facility he initiated in 2014 and from commercial CUPS growers. …

Extension agent

Florida Has a New Citrus Extension Agent

Daniel Cooperextension

Edwin Gutierrez is the new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus Extension agent for Florida’s Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties. “The citrus industry in Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties faces significant challenges,” said Gutierrez, who was raised in a farming family in Colombia. “Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about the resilience of local growers …

soil

AI To Help Growers Improve Soil Health

Daniel CooperSoil Health, Technology

Someday soon, farmers might use technology equivalent to Siri or Alexa to check the status of their soil’s quality. Anastasia Kritharoula, a doctoral student in the Soil Science Artificial Intelligence lab of the University of Florida, works under the supervision of Nikolaos Tziolas, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor at the Southwest Florida Research …

season

CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: Gearing Up for a New Season

Daniel CooperCitrus Nursery Source

By Peter Chaires Summer schedules can make it challenging to assemble board meetings and facilitate planning for the fall season. Once the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference concludes in June, folks tend to disperse to their favorite islands, fishing holes, mountain hideaways and beaches. Some visit friends and family. Others seek isolation and a psychological recharge. For everything, there is …

Performance

CUPS Performance Continues to Shine

Daniel CooperCUPS

Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) performance in Florida got a big thumbs up from researcher Arnold Schumann in a virtual presentation on Aug. 7. Schumann, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, reported on findings from his research at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) as well as commercial CUPS in Florida. Schumann’s summary of …

Extensive Educational Opportunities at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast, Citrus Expo, Education

The Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is fast approaching. During the July All In For Citrus podcast, Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor, discussed the extensive citrus seminar program scheduled for Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The citrus sessions will include more than 20 speakers over the course …

high-density plantings

Managing Psyllids in Groves and Protected Structures

Tacy CalliesPsyllids, Tip of the Week

By Jawwad A. Qureshi The impact of the Asian citrus psyllid continues to intensify through devastation of its vectored huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Although there is no permanent solution for HLB yet, psyllid suppression reduces its impact. Chemical control is the most implemented method. Its strategic use helps reduce psyllid resistance and collateral damage to non-target organisms, including beneficial organisms needed …

Research Renders Reasons to Replant

Tacy CalliesCitrus, planting, Research

By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Growing up in Polk County, Emily Worbington saw the groves disappearing. She passed more and more rooftops as she drove around Auburndale. In nearby Eagle Lake, Joe Volpe watched trees vanish, too. In fact, he tore out trees himself in his family’s century-old grove. “It broke my heart,” he says. PERSONAL PURSUITSWorbington and Volpe’s …

Proper disposal of pesticide containers should not be overlooked.

Pesticide Exposure and Response Strategies

Tacy CalliesCEU, Pesticides

By Lisa Hickey Editor’s note: This article grants one continuing education unit (CEU) in the Core category toward the renewal of a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services restricted-use pesticide license when the accompanying test is submitted and approved. A minimum score of 70% is required to receive credit. The Florida citrus industry plays a crucial role in the state’s …

august

Sneak Peek: August 2025 Citrus Industry

Daniel CooperSneak Peek

August signals that the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is soon to come! The August issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine previews the show growers look forward to every year. The not-to-be-missed event takes place Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. In the Citrus Industry section of the magazine, growers can get an update on the progress …