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 …
Insect Pests To Watch for in Georgia
Georgia citrus growers are a couple of months away from harvest season. If producers are going to maximize this year’s crop, they need to protect it from insect pests. Apurba Barman, University of Georgia assistant professor of entomology at the Tifton Campus, discussed insect pests during the Southeast Citrus Update in Lyons, Georgia on July 24. He focused on a …
Honeymoon Phase for Georgia Citrus Production
Georgia citrus growers are still in the honeymoon phase of production with regards to disease, said Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. While established groves in Florida have had to deal with disease buildup for decades, disease has yet to be problematic for South Georgia citrus production. But that could be changing. “With respect …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers Should Consider Multiple Varieties
By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin The potential lack of satsuma mandarins this season in the cold-hardy citrus region should not discourage growers from adding to their production portfolio in the future. It just means they need to try other varieties, despite satsumas being the most commonly produced variety in the region. Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) area citrus …
Cold-Hardy Citrus Production: A Learning Process
Production in the cold-hardy citrus region continues to be a learning process for growers. Producers in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama are learning this year the price of alternate bearing for their satsuma mandarin crop. After a heavy crop load last season, production is expected to taper off quite a bit this season across the cold-hardy citrus region. …
Trees With Fruit Left During Freeze Have Damage
Jake Price, University of Georgia Extension coordinator, recently wrote about cold damage from leaving fruit on trees during a freeze: Last fall, the Owari satsuma trees at J.L. Lomax produced a tremendous amount of soft fruit that became puffy very quickly. Category 2 hurricane Helene may have contributed to the fruit quality being so bad last year. With all the …
Citrus Rust Mites in Georgia
By Jake Price There are two types of rust mites, the citrus rust mite (CRM) and the pink citrus rust mite (PCRM). The CRM is one of the biggest citrus pests in Georgia on fresh fruit. I don’t know that I have seen the PCRM in Georgia, but it is probably here. Every year, CRM is a problem at the …
Management Methods for Alternate Bearing
Practices that might help with alternate bearing were recently addressed in a report by Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist. Alternate bearing, a common problem in many mandarin varieties, is the tendency of a tree to produce a heavy crop one year followed by a light crop the subsequent year. A slightly edited version …
The Causes of Alternate Bearing
Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, recently wrote about the causes of alternate bearing in Georgia groves. Alternate bearing is a common problem in many mandarin varieties. A slightly edited version of Sutton’s report follows. CARBOHYDRATES During photosynthesis, leaves produce sugars that are either exported and utilized for growth or stored as starch in …
Alternate Bearing Affecting Cold-Hardy Citrus Production
Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region are expected to produce a low crop in 2025 following a massive crop in 2024. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, believes the trees’ alternate bearing cycle will contribute to the decreased crop in 2025, especially for satsuma mandarins. “This alternate bearing pattern probably started in 2023. That …
Citrus Water Needs Critical Amid Dry Period
The current dry period in the Southeast can negatively impact the region’s citrus groves. Trees in the cold-hardy citrus region of North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama need water, especially ahead of the next harvest season. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed why water is so important this time of year. “Water …
Georgia Citrus Crop Outlook Following Hurricane Helene
More than a month removed from Hurricane Helene, Georgia citrus growers have a better idea of the impact the devastating storm had on this year’s crop. All things considered, Georgia growers are fortunate with the fruit that is still left to be harvested, says Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. “Everything we’ve heard so far is that …
Hurricane Damages Georgia Citrus Research Plot
Jake Price with University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension recently described Hurricane Helene damage to the UGA citrus research plot. His observations, slightly edited, are as follows: When I had a chance to look at our citrus research plot, I expected the worst. But to my surprise, all of the trees were still standing. There was limb breakage due to …
Immediate Response Required When Managing HLB
The first chore for growers in the cold-hardy citrus region when managing citrus greening is scouting for the disease and its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid. The next step is prompt removal of any trees infected with the disease, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “At this point, we think greening is still …
Scouting Critical for Georgia’s Citrus Industry
Regular scouting for Asian citrus psyllids and citrus greening disease is critical for Georgia’s citrus industry to remain healthy. That advice applies to both commercial growers and homeowners, Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist, said during the recent Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting in Valdosta. Oliver encouraged all growers to scout for the disease …
HLB and Psyllids in Georgia Commercial Citrus
One of Georgia citrus growers’ worst fears is slowly becoming a reality. Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), was observed in a Georgia commercial citrus grove for the first time in 2023. This is alarming news for the industry, says Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist. “We knew HLB was here in residential …
Angle to Return as UF/IFAS Leader
J. Scott Angle, who recently served as University of Florida (UF) provost, will return as leader of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He will become UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources in September, a position he originally assumed in 2020. He left as leader of UF/IFAS in July 2023 to become interim provost and …
Stressed Farmers Turn to Alcohol to Cope
A new University of Georgia (UGA) study published in the Journal of Agromedicine reveals that one in five U.S. farmers report binge drinking alcohol when they experience high levels of stress. Farming is a uniquely stressful vocation. Farmers work long hours performing labor-intensive, repetitive and often dangerous tasks. Farming is among the 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States, …
Georgia Research Projects Underway
Jake Price, University of Georgia (UGA) county Extension coordinator, recently provided a summary of citrus projects he has been working on: Source: Georgia Citrus Association Sponsored ContentTake Advantage of Rising Temperatures to Treat for Fire AntsJuly 1, 2025Take the Sting Out of Fire AntsJune 1, 2025A Simpler, Safer and More Effective Way to Fight HLBOctober 25, 2024
Georgia Growers Now Voting on Citrus Commission Funding
Through April 30, Georgia citrus producers are voting in a referendum to determine if they will fund the newly formed Georgia Citrus Commission. If growers pass the referendum, the state will begin collecting an assessment from citrus growers to carry out research, education and promotion projects coordinated by the commission. The commission consists of Georgia citrus growers. At the request …
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