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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “UF/IFAS”
Southeastern residents increasingly support stronger protections against agricultural disease threats as concerns grow over food-system disruptions, say researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Findings from an August 2025 public interest survey distributed to 1,035 Southeast residents reflect growing public concern about how agricultural threats can affect food systems, public health and disaster preparedness. …
By Tripti Vashisth, Taylor Livingston, Meryam Manzoor and Johann Hiller Citrus fruit quality and yield remain major concerns for sweet orange growers in the huanglongbing (HLB) era. These outcomes largely depend on the tree’s ability to support developing fruit throughout the growing season. Leaf area and canopy density are positively correlated with carbohydrate production and allocation to fruit, directly influencing …
By J. Scott Angle, jangle@ufl.edu, @IFAS_VP Steven Hall is the right guy to run a single state-supported citrus research organization. He is an agriculturalist as well as an administrator and attorney. He is a sixth-generation Florida farmer who leads his family farming operation in Jackson County. Since Hall was appointed executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) …
Florida’s soils present unique challenges for growers. The soils vary widely from nutrient-poor sandy to highly organic soils, depending on location. These conditions make it difficult to sustainably manage agriculture in a way that supports food production, environmental health and a strong economy. To address these challenges, University of Florida (UF) researchers are leading a four-year study supported by a $749,999 …
By Lauren Fessler Mathews, Ana Redondo and Ozgur Batuman Citrus canker continues to impact Florida citrus, increasing premature fruit drop and decreasing yield and fruit quality. While copper sprays have long been relied upon to control this disease, concerns about environmental impact and possible resistance development have led to efforts to find sustainable alternatives. Previous studies have shown that plant …
After significant drought in many parts of Florida, some much-needed rainfall began in May as the rainy season approaches. That seasonal transition, from a grove management perspective, is the focus of the May episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education …
By Lukasz Stelinski For many Florida citrus growers, pest management has become closely tied to Asian citrus psyllid control. That is understandable. The psyllid vectors the bacterium associated with citrus greening, and long-term disease pressure has pushed many operations toward frequent insecticide use. But frequent spraying comes at a cost. The more often the same chemistry is used, the faster …
By Ramdas Kanissery When the summer heat rolls in and the rain gets spotty, growers tend to shift their focus to irrigation, nutrition and HLB management. Weed control often gets pushed to the back burner. But here’s the thing: Heat and dry spells do not stop weeds. They change them, and those changes can make your weed management program a …
Have you heard of the term PULA yet? If not and you apply pesticides on your farm, now is the time to get up to speed on pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs). This topic was covered during the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute, held at South Florida College in Avon Park in April. Matt Smith, University of Florida Institute of Food …
Florida Citrus Mutual hosted its spring informational meeting for growers at Golden Ridge Groves in Alturas on May 13. Golden Ridge Groves is growing fresh fruit in citrus under protective screen and recently added you-pick and agritourism options for the public. Steven Hall, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation, gave an update and recounted the …
By Tripti Vashisth and Taylor Livingston Florida is currently experiencing one of the most severe droughts in the past 25 years, putting HLB-affected trees under intense water stress. With Florida’s well-draining sandy soils and increased water demand in HLB-affected trees, growers are in a difficult position trying to maintain adequate tree hydration. Soil amendments, such as biochar and compost, can …
By Megan Dewdney Algal spot is rarely a top concern for growers until it seems to be suddenly everywhere. Is the disease a major concern or a nuisance? It depends. If the disease is only in a few locations, then the management goal is making sure that the disease is not spreading too widely. If many trees are affected, the …
By Jawwad A. Qureshi Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) is a novel system for large-scale citrus production in screen houses covered with a tightly woven mesh screen on all four sides and the roof. The primary goal of this shift from a traditional open orchard to a CUPS system is to protect citrus crops from huanglongbing (HLB) disease, which is …
Research and field trials have been fairly consistent in showing that trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC) will reduce the HLB-causing bacteria in citrus trees, resulting in improved yield and quality. But what happens to the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) when it feeds on treated trees? The answer to that question is becoming clearer now from research conducted by the University …
Researcher Ute Albrecht on April 21 shared lessons learned from three years of oxytetracycline (OTC) trunk injection for HLB management in Florida. Albrecht is an associate professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) specializing in citrus plant physiology. She works at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. Albrecht reported on results of a …
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have found three commercially available insect species that devour the eggs of the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid. These natural predators could become an important new line of defense against the devastating citrus disease. This is particularly true for organic growers who have limited options to control the psyllid, said …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka hosted the 11th annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference on April 16. The event covered a range of subjects critical to farmers. Sen. Keith Truenow (FL-13) discussed the passage of the Florida Farm Bill and its benefits to farmers. The legislation, signed by …
By Michelle Danyluk, William “Billy” Mitchell, Stephanie Brown, Emmy Collins, Keith R. Schneider and Taylor O’Bannon Most citrus growers have been meeting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requirements since 2016. However, changes to this rule in May of 2024 now require growers to have an agricultural water assessment (AgWa) for production (i.e., pre-harvest) water. A …
In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park. The event is the subject of discussion in the April All In For Citrus podcast episode. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), says the Institute is among the big three citrus …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources is soliciting nominations for Class XIII of its two-year leadership development program. The program includes 11 multi-day seminars throughout Florida, the United States and internationally to develop leaders. Class XIII will begin in Gainesville in November. LEADERSHIP GOALS The goal of …
