Crop statistics are critical to growers and industry, but often overlooked when folks study the numbers are the many people behind the scenes dedicating their lives and careers to those statistics. Prior to his retirement in 2003, Paul N. Messenger dedicated over 50 years to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He represented the Department and the State with authority and integrity in support of Florida’s agricultural economy. The success of the citrus forecasting program was attributable to Paul’s supervision and participation in the objective count surveys. Paul never failed to provide the tools, parameters, and guidance necessary to accurately analyze survey results. He trained numerous “Limb Counters” over the years and many went on to successful careers in the citrus industry. Read the rest of this entry »
Sponsoring this news report: CLICK HERE to go to the USDA Statistics website where all the citrus crop forecasts are stored, including the just released June update. The Florida all orange forecast released today by the USDA
Agricultural Statistics Board is 159.6 million boxes, up 2.0 million boxes from last month. The change is within the Valencia portion at 75.0 million boxes. The early-midseason-Navel varieties (including Temples) are final at 84.6 million boxes. Results of the Row Count (route survey) conducted June 1-2, 2009, show nearly 94% of the rows visited have been harvested. In the past eight non-hurricane seasons, the June forecast has deviated from final production by an average of less than one percent with three forecasts above, three below, and two equal to the final production.
USDA Reports No Change in the 2008-2009 Florida Orange Crop
Sponsoring this news report: CLICK HERE to go to the USDA Statistics website where all the citrus crop forecasts are stored, including the just released MAY update as soon as they get it posted. Meanwhile, here is Florida Citrus Mutual’s take on this month’s update: LAKELAND, Fla. (Citrus Mutual - May 12, 2009) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released its May orange forecast for the 2008-2009 season showing no change to the 157.6 million box crop. Read the rest of this entry »
This month’s update on the citrus crop comes to us from Florida Citrus Mutual:
Stallings Crop Insurance sponsors this news report:
LAKELAND, Fla. (April 9, 2009) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released its April orange crop forecast for the 2008-2009 season slightly reducing the total orange estimate by 400,000 boxes to 157.6 million boxes. Read the rest of this entry »
CLICK HERE to go to the March Citrus Crop Forecast update from USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (USDA/NASS). In this report, Florida Agriculture Statistics Director Jeff Geuder reviews some of the highlights.
Sponsoring this citrus crop forecast update:
CLICK HERE to go to the Citrus Statistics page at the Florida Agriculture Statistics Service website where all the monthly citrus crop updates are stored…AND click the play icons below to hear from Citrus Statistics Administrator Candi Erick about the February numbers.
In this post, a couple of our recent broadcasts featuring Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks (photo) reacting to USDA’s announcement it plans to make a large O J purchase for federal feeding programs.
Also, here is the news release from Mutual about the January Citrus Crop Forecast update from USDA, out early this morning.
Sponsoring this news report:
LAKELAND, Fla. (Florida Citrus Mutual - January 12, 2009) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released its January orange crop forecast for the 2008-2009 season, reducing its earlier estimate by 3 million boxes to 162 million boxes. Read the rest of this entry »
Click Here to go to USDA’s website copy of this month’s January update of the Citrus Crop Forecast.
And listen to the two reports in this post for comments from Candi Erick (photo), Crop Statistics Administrator for the Florida Agriculture Statistics Service who oversees the citrus numbers.
Candi Erick now heads up the citrus statistics area with the Florida Agriculture Statistics Service. At USDA in Washington for the release of this month’s citrus crop update, she talks about the highlights this month in the first report, and in the second, she discusses some of the specifics related to this year’s high quality grapefruit crop.
In this post, citrus folks can find several features addressing several different topics. Among them, in this first report, grower Mark Wheeler of Wheeler Farms at Lake Placid talks about production matters and what some growers may consider with respect to the crop forecast and seasonal market expectations. We spoke to Wheeler shortly after the crop forecast was released earlier this month.
In this next report, info on an upcoming meeting of a new Long Range Planning Council that’s been set up through the Citrus Commission, and AgNet’s Ernie Neff has a preview of the upcoming November issue of Citrus Industry Magazine.
For these next two reports, Florida Senator J D Alexander discusses several issues important to the citrus industry in state political scene this season, including the status of the Sunset Review process of the Florida Dept of Citrus.
In report number five for this citrus news post, some pointed advice from one citrus grower who has been a leader in helping the industry deal with citrus greening disease and controls for the citrus psyllid. Jim Snively’s comments are from an interview we did with him at a grower meeting in recent weeks.
And in these final two reports in this post, FFVA researcher of the year Ron Muraro from UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred discusses fertilizer costs and some considerations for growers who may be looking for ways to mitigate the high cost of fertilization for their citrus groves these days.
Recent discussions among industry and grower leaders trying to move forward to solve the so-called “free-rider” issue continue to bring new options to the table. In this report, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr discusses the main options on the table right now and in his words the different angles of each to consider. Albritton says it is growing closer to a time when the talks need to end and decisions need to be made.
In these two headlines with citrus news, you’ll hear more on
- the Florida Department of Citrus Sunset Review process,
- citrus psyllid finds and resulting quarantines in South Carolina, and
- comments from a 15-year citrus buyer and small grower with thoughts about the crop forecast and market outlook from his grass-roots perspective.
In this first report posted herein, comments from central Florida Congressman Adam Putnam about the need for orange juice “brands” to do more to help move tremendous supplies in the orange juice pipeline right now, including putting more efforts into advertising as well as bringing retail prices more in line with market supply reality. Putnam’s comments echo what we heard from a number of growers in recent days as the USDA October Citrus Crop Forecast brought many growers together last week to discuss the season and the market situation facing them. In the second report, Putnam comments on several issues of importance to citrus and agriculture in general as we look forward to business in the nation’s Capitol that lies ahead. By the way, as mentioned briefly in the final segment to these programs, the idea of a grower referendum with regard to the Department of Citrus sounds like it may be a dead issue at this point, and we expect more about that in the industry news pipeline in the days ahead.
Sponsoring this report:
In this report comments from Mike Sparks, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, about the recent October Citrus Crop Forecast from USDA and the market situation in need of a strong push to reduce the amount of orange juice already in the pipeline.
Sponsoring this report:
Speaking with central Florida Congressman Adam Putnam at the recent Ray-Bob Groves Crop Forecast Citrus Grower Breakfast, Putnam offers his comments about the crop forecast and responds to AgNet questions about the economic situation that’s garnering so many headlines nationwide. Most folks in Florida agriculture are well aware the Congressman’s family is in citrus and cattle production, and that he therefore understands agriculture and is well informed about issues affecting the industry at state, national and international levels.
Sponsoring this report:
In these two reports, reaction to the citrus crop forecast moments after the report was released last Friday. Comments from citrus grower Mark Wheeler of Wheeler Farms, whose office is in Lake Placid. To view the entire report and hear comments from a futures trader, see our earlier post by clicking here.
The USDA’s annual October Citrus Crop Forecast is scheduled for Friday morning October 10th at 8:30 as Southest AgNet’s Ernie Neff has more information about it. . Stallings Crop Insurance is again an exclusive sponsors of our annual Citrus Crop Forecast broadcast.
Speaking recently with AgNet’s Ernie Neff, Richard Kinney of Florida Citrus Packers Association (photo left) discusses the outlook for Florida’s fresh fruit deal for the upcoming 2008-2009 season.
In this report, Florida Agriculture & Citrus Statistics Administrator Candi Erick has a few more interesting details about the release recently of updated citrus tree and acreage statistics. Scroll to earlier reports to find links to the actual USDA documents with all the details.
Release of the first ever study of Florida abondoned citrus grove acreage statistics was a topic at the recent Florida Citrus Crop Estimates Advisory Committee in Lake Wales. In the first report posted below, Citrus Crop Statistics Administrator Candi Erick discusses some detail of this year’s bi-annual citrus tree census and acreage report. In the second cut below, Erick comments on details of the new abandoned acreage report. You can also click here for a look at the inventory report, and click here for a look at the abandoned acreage report.
The latest Florida citrus tree and citrus acreage statistics were announced today at the annual Citrus Crop Estimates Advisory Committee Meeting held at the Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House in Lake Wales. Florida’s new crop statistics administrator overseeing the citrus statistics area is Candi Erick, and in this report, she offers an overview of some of the key numbers in this report. Also announced at this meeting, the first ever acreage count for abandoned citrus groves in Florida. Stay tuned for that information in reports soon to come. Meanwhile click here for a look at the inventory report, and click here for a look at the abandoned acreage report.
In this report, details about our upcoming LIVE broadcast of the release of USDA’s annual October Citrus Crop Forecast, scheduled this year for Friday morning October 10th at 8:30 a.m. As we have done for well over a decade Southeast AgNet will again broadcast the numbers the moment they are released to the industry and the public. Stallings Crop Insurance is again an exclusive sponsors of the broadcast, and Stallings will also host another grower breakfast at their Ray-Bob Groves Barn near Alturas. Find the details in the recently published September issue of Citrus Industry Magazine, and learn more by listening to this report.
If we had an award of recognition for years of dedicated service to the citrus industry, we’d give it to Bob Terry. He plans to retire the first of June. He’s been handling citrus statistics for Florida Ag Statistics Service, working hand-in-hand with USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service for many years. He’s been a regular guest on our radio network and the featured guest of our “LIVE” October Citrus Crop Forecast Broadcast for more than a decade. We’ll talk to him about that between now and then. Meanwhile, in this report, Terry talks about what his team is noticing around the citrus crop in recent days and weeks. Report (1:00 mp3)
Sponsoring this news report:
In this report, Crop Statistics Administrator for the Florida Ag Statistics Service, Bob Terry, discusses the December 2007 citrus crop forecast update released this morning. Report (approx 4:00 mp3)
The full report is now also posted to the USDA/NASS/FASS website.
Sponsoring this news report:
In this report, Citrus Statistics Administrator Bob Terry with USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service explains the main to factors influencing this year’s October Citrus Crop Forecast. Report (2:00 mp3)
In these reports, comments regarding USDA’s Citrus Crop Forecast announced last Friday and the outlook for immigration reform in Congress…We caught up with Florida Congressman Adam Putnam, whose family grows citrus in Polk County, at the Ray-Bob Groves Grower Breakfast where a hundred-plus growers gathered last week to hear the crop forecast broadcast. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3) In these next reports, comments from Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks on the recent citrus crop forecast and labor issues. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3) Sponsoring this news report:
In one of these two reports, USDA’s Bob Terry reviews the key Florida portions of the citrus crop forecast. In the other report, Florida Citrus Mutual Past President, Board Member and Citrus Grower Marty McKenna comments on the crop forecast moments after its release.
In these reports, on the eve of another Citrus Crop Forecast release set for this Friday morning, reflections on future tree and crop counts from the man who administers citrus crop forecast numbers and other citrus statistics at USDA’s Agriculture Statistics Services. Based at the Orlando offices of the USDA & Florida Ag Statistics Service, Bob Terry says he plans to retire at the end of this citrus season next June. We recently asked him for comments about crop and tree counts going forward after recent tree count updates showed declines in overall Florida tree numbers. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)
Sponsoring this news report:
Citrus growers everywhere have some options to tune in for Southeast AgNet’s “live” broadcast coverage of the USDA Citrus Crop Forecast this Friday morning. Stallings Crop Insurance is sponsoring our coverage this year. Stallings is also sponsoring their second annual country breakfast for citrus growers and industry leaders at Ray-Bob Groves near Alturas. Click on the display in this post for a map to this beautiful lakeside grove barn, and join us as we anchor the broadcast from this location. Grower groups will also gather members in Arcadia, Wauchula and Sebring, joining others in homes, pickups and offices throughout the citrus belt as they tune in to the broadcast on one of our radio station affiliate stations. Southeast AgNet will also stream the broadcast “live” on the internet. Find the link to the audio stream at our Southeast AgNet home page, in fact, there is a test message already available on line at that location. Hear more in this Report (2:00 mp3)
Crop statistics are critical to growers and industry, but often overlooked when folks study the numbers are the many people behind the scenes dedicating their lives and careers to those statistics. Prior to his retirement in 2003, Paul N. Messenger dedicated over 50 years to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He represented the Department and the State with authority and integrity in support of Florida’s agricultural economy. The success of the citrus forecasting program was attributable to Paul’s supervision and participation in the objective count surveys. Paul never failed to provide the tools, parameters, and guidance necessary to accurately analyze survey results. He trained numerous “Limb Counters” over the years and many went on to successful careers in the citrus industry. Read the rest of this entry »
In this post, a couple of our recent broadcasts featuring Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks (photo) reacting to USDA’s announcement it plans to make a large O J purchase for federal feeding programs.
Recent discussions among industry and grower leaders trying to move forward to solve the so-called “free-rider” issue continue to bring new options to the table. In this report, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr discusses the main options on the table right now and in his words the different angles of each to consider. Albritton says it is growing closer to a time when the talks need to end and decisions need to be made.
In these two headlines with citrus news, you’ll hear more on
In this first report posted herein, comments from central Florida Congressman Adam Putnam about the need for orange juice “brands” to do more to help move tremendous supplies in the orange juice pipeline right now, including putting more efforts into advertising as well as bringing retail prices more in line with market supply reality. Putnam’s comments echo what we heard from a number of growers in recent days as the USDA October Citrus Crop Forecast brought many growers together last week to discuss the season and the market situation facing them. In the second report, Putnam comments on several issues of importance to citrus and agriculture in general as we look forward to business in the nation’s Capitol that lies ahead. By the way, as mentioned briefly in the final segment to these programs, the idea of a grower referendum with regard to the Department of Citrus sounds like it may be a dead issue at this point, and we expect more about that in the industry news pipeline in the days ahead.
Stallings Crop Insurance is again an exclusive sponsors of our annual Citrus Crop Forecast broadcast.
Speaking recently with AgNet’s Ernie Neff, Richard Kinney of Florida Citrus Packers Association (photo left) discusses the outlook for Florida’s fresh fruit deal for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. 
If we had an award of recognition for years of dedicated service to the citrus industry, we’d give it to Bob Terry. He plans to retire the first of June. He’s been handling citrus statistics for Florida Ag Statistics Service, working hand-in-hand with USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service for many years. He’s been a regular guest on our radio network and the featured guest of our “LIVE” October Citrus Crop Forecast Broadcast for more than a decade. We’ll talk to him about that between now and then. Meanwhile, in this report, Terry talks about what his team is noticing around the citrus crop in recent days and weeks. 
Listen to the recording of the 2007-2008 Citrus Crop Forecast given this morning by USDA-NASS Bob Terry.
In one of these two reports, USDA’s Bob Terry reviews the key Florida portions of the citrus crop forecast. In the other report, Florida Citrus Mutual Past President, Board Member and Citrus Grower Marty McKenna comments on the crop forecast moments after its release.
