diversification

Cold-Hardy Citrus Research Initiatives

Josh McGillCold Hardy, Research

The Fruit Crop Physiology Lab at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy is focused on developing a sustainable and profitable cold-hardy citrus industry in the southern United States. To do that, it is conducting research-driven Extension projects. The NFREC is part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The lab collaborates …

Growers Needed for UF/IFAS Tree Recovery Assessment

Josh McGillhurricane, Tip of the Week

By Christopher Vincent Growers affected by flooding and high winds from Hurricane Ian have seen the immediate effects, but the stress to the trees will have longer lasting effects as well.  It is not known how big these effects will be or how long trees take to recover. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers want …

Making Sense of Pesticide Formulations

Josh McGillCEU

By Brandon White 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. Have you ever wondered what the numbers or letters following the trade name of your pesticide stand for or why …

Post-Hurricane Disease Management Advice

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, Diseases

Megan Dewdney, associate professor of plant pathology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), joined the October All In For Citrus podcast to discuss Hurricane Ian and tips on disease management after the storm. Hurricanes weaken citrus trees and spread disease.  “If a tree has a full canopy, the wind will put a lot of …

Fungi Controlling Whiteflies in North Florida

Josh McGillBiologicals, Pests

Entomopathogenic fungi have recently been seen attacking citrus whitefly and cloudywinged whitefly nymphs in North Florida citrus groves. Muhammad Shahid, Mujahid Hussain and Danielle Sprague, all with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), wrote about the “friendly” fungi in the October UF/IFAS Cold Hardy Citrus Connection newsletter. Shahid is a horticulturalist and Hussain is a …

Cold-Hardy Growers Learn About Fruit Sales

Josh McGillFresh, Marketing, sales

Growers in Florida’s central and southern citrus belts have long been familiar with ways to market and get paid for their fruit. But those elements of the citrus business are not so familiar in North Florida and South Georgia, where citrus is a relatively new enterprise for many. Some groves in that area are just being harvested for the first …

Hurricane Ian Citrus Damages Could Hit $675 Million

Josh McGillEconomics, hurricane

Total Florida citrus crop and tree losses from Hurricane Ian are estimated to be from $417 million to $675 million by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). FDACS’ Hurricane Ian’s Preliminary Estimates of Damage to Florida Agriculture report echoed a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) preliminary assessment of $147 million to $304 …

Evolution of Sting Nematode Integrated Pest Management

Josh McGillPests, Research

By Homan Regmi, Larry Duncan and Johan Desaeger Two field trials were initiated in a Polk County, Florida, commercial grove of 15-month-old Valencia on Kuharske trees in 2019 to measure the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for managing sting nematodes (Belonolaimus longicaudatus). Six chemical nematicides, many newly released, were compared in one trial. In the second, perennial peanut …

Sneak Peek: November 2022 Citrus Industry

Josh McGillhurricane, Sneak Peek, Technology

While irrigation and technology were meant to be the focus of the November issue of Citrus Industry, the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, combined with the low initial crop forecast that does not even account for the storm’s damage, proved to be the much bigger story. Editor-in-Chief Frank Giles provides early details on the hurricane’s damage to Florida’s citrus industry and …

Controlling Pest Pressure Post-Hurricane

Josh McGillhurricane, Pests

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo summarized suggestions for controlling pest pressure after Hurricane Ian in a recent Extension newsletter. Along with horticultural practices and disease control, growers should be monitoring for pests in their groves post-hurricane. UF/IFAS entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock provided some suggested practices for keeping pest pressure as …

Millennium Block Field Day Gives Growers Firsthand Look at Trials

Josh McGillEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) in Fort Pierce hosted a drive-through field day for attendees to tour its Millennium block. The grove features more than 5,500 2- and 3-year-old trees. A total of 154 new citrus scion/rootstock combinations are included in the research project. The trial has …

Phytophthora Treatments for Hurricane-Damaged Groves

Josh McGillDiseases, hurricane, Tip of the Week

By Megan Dewdney A priority for the Florida citrus industry is evaluating groves for damage and determining the best course of action going forward after the destruction of Hurricane Ian. One of the many considerations is the effect of flooding on root health, particularly if standing water has remained longer than 72 hours. The main diseases are phytophthora foot, crown …

Quality Aspects of Citrus Juices

Josh McGillOrange Juice

By Renée Goodrich and Charles Sims In this era of huanglongbing (HLB), almost every scientific and popular press article alludes to HLB’s impact on fruit and juice quality. The citrus industry uses the term “high-quality” to denote a fruit, product or byproduct that has an array of positive, expected and measurable attributes. Consumers also use terms referring to quality, but …

citrus

All In For Citrus Podcast, October 2022

Josh McGillAll In For Citrus Podcast, hurricane

The October All In For Citrus podcast focuses on Hurricane Ian and its impact on the state’s signature crop. The storm tore a path across Florida’s citrus-growing regions, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, provides details on how …

Preliminary Assessment of Hurricane Ian Citrus Loss

Josh McGillEconomics, hurricane

Florida citrus likely suffered production losses ranging from $147 million to $304 million due to Hurricane Ian, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The preliminary assessment was issued Oct. 17 by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department. “This estimate only accounts for production losses, or changes in expected revenues for the current …

Gibberellic Acid Continues to Show Benefits

Josh McGillCitrus Expo, Fruit Drop, HLB Management

Researcher Tripti Vashisth has been telling citrus growers about the benefits of using gibberellic acid (GA) on citrus trees. At the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences horticulturist said GA continues to show efficacy, based on 2022 harvest numbers. Vashisth’s Expo presentation included details from a 2016–2022 study of 10-year-old Valencia …

Factors Affecting Nutrient Concentration of Citrus Leaves

Josh McGillNutrition

By Chris Oswalt Growers may have compelling reasons to collect and analyze citrus leaf samples at different times of the year. Current tables allow growers to interpret the results of their citrus leaf analysis based on the collection and analysis of 4- to 6-month-old leaves from non-fruiting twigs (Figure 1). This begs the question of the potential consequences of interpreting …

Best Bets for HLB-Tolerant Citrus

Josh McGillVarieties

B9-65 Valencia received much attention from horticulturist John Chater during a virtual meeting highlighting HLB-tolerant citrus varieties developed by the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Plant Improvement Team. Chater is an assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences CREC. ORANGESAccording to Chater, pound solids per acre and yield per acre are the most …

Two Ways to Treat Ian-Stressed Trees

Josh McGillhurricane, Irrigation, Tip of the Week

Give trees a bit of relief with frequent irrigation and kaolin particle film. By Christopher Vincent Hurricane Ian caused damage to orange trees, knocking fruit on the ground, twisting and breaking limbs, stripping leaves off trees and flooding soil. Although lots of damage was visible immediately, the after-effects will continue to rear their ugly heads in the months to come, …

Maximizing the Use of Soil Moisture Sensors

Josh McGillIrrigation

By Davie Kadyampakeni, Ajia Paolillo and Sandra Guzmán Citrus trees require water to be able to carry out the natural processes of growth, making food, and developing fruit and juice. To get the water from the soil, the fibrous roots do the extraneous work of absorbing the water and carrying it via the transpiration stream (or the water highway) to …