Citrus Trees Weather Sub-Freezing Nights

Clint ThompsonAlabama, Citrus, Florida, Georgia

By Clint Thompson Trees in the Cold-Hardy Citrus Region weathered last week’s multiple nights of sub-freezing temperatures, according to one industry expert. “I had somebody here at the house and they said, ‘Are you still running sprinklers?’ I was like, ‘Heavens no, but it’s all that ice thawing out and running out into the road.’ It’s a pond out there …

planning

New Hardiness Zones Favor Citrus Production

Clint ThompsonCitrus, Florida

By Clint Thompson Citrus production in the Southeast has spiked due to increased warmer temperatures in recent years. This is reflected in the new U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The updated hardiness zones show a region that is more conducive to growing crops than it has been in prior years. The concern over colder temperatures has dissipated …

planning

Planning Pointers for Cold-Hardy Citrus Production

Dan CooperCold Hardy, Production

Crop planning is an essential part of the citrus production process. What are you going to grow? Where are you going to market? How are you going to overcome HLB (huanglongbing or citrus greening)? John Chater, assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, discussed the different factors that …

Season’s Expectations for Cold-Hardy Citrus

Web AdminCitrus

High quality and low quantity are in store for this year’s cold-hardy citrus crop in eastern Alabama, southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Too many natural disasters negated the volume of this year’s crop load, according to Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission. “We had a freeze, and then we had another freeze, and …

UGA to Hire Citrus Researchers Next Year

Web AdminCitrus, Georgia

Georgia citrus growers will soon have research support from the University of Georgia (UGA), says Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission. She confirmed the news at the recent Cold Hardy Citrus Field Day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy. …

Cold-Hardy Citrus Growers Gather for Field Day

Web AdminCitrus, Events

Production in the cold-hardy citrus region was under the spotlight during a recent field day in Quincy, Florida. Growers and industry leaders visited the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) to learn about various facets of citrus production. Topics like controlled-release fertilizers, crop diversification and implementation of artificial intelligence …

Optimistic First Forecast for Florida Citrus

Web AdminCitrus, Citrus Crop Forecast

The bad news is that severe weather warnings caused the annual citrus crop luncheon to be cancelled at Putnam Ranch in Zolfo Springs, Florida. The good news is that the Florida citrus crop forecast is up in all categories. Bill Curtis, agricultural statistics administrator with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, presented the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) …

Citrus Display Season Is Here

Web AdminCitrus

By Peter Chaires Each year, the citrus breeding teams provide opportunities for interested parties to sample fruit from new and recent selections. This is a great opportunity to keep current on the results of this research. Some of these events also include field tours and opportunities to see the trees. A significant effort is being made to accelerate the identification …

Florida Citrus Growers Vote to Amend Federal Marketing Order

Web AdminCitrus, USDA

Florida citrus producers voted to amend the federal marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Aug. 29. In a referendum held April 1–May1, all amendments met the requirement of being favored by two-thirds of the producers voting or by two-thirds of the volume represented. The …