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.
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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.
In Sarasota, Florida this week John Deere officials displayed hundreds of tractors, many of them new models to become available in 2009, many of them geared toward the ‘lifestyle’ rural crowd and folks involved in things like citrus, nursery, vineyards and other agriculture operations. According to John Deere representatives on hand for the event, the new models coupled with the more traditional larger models target today’s farm equipment consumer no matter what size of the operation. Whether it be for the very large ag operations or the very small, and all in between, John Deere seems to be making a real effort to serve all market segments when it comes to farm and lawn care equipment. In this post herein you can listen to interviews and view documents we received from the John Deere folks this week in Sarasota, as they hosted agriculture media along with John Deere dealer representatives from throughout North America. Just click to see the rest of this post and you’ll find links to the interviews and other materials. Read the rest of this entry »
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that agricultural producers in 59 of Florida’s 67 counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance as a result of damage from Tropical Storm Fay in late August. Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 - Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced that USDA has awarded more than $28 million through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to solve critical specialty crop agriculture issues, address priorities and solve problems through multifunctional research and extension.
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative was established by the 2008 Farm Bill to support the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions in five focus areas: Read the rest of this entry »
This week in Sarasota, Florida John Deere is holding an ag media event to kick off its “Drive Green” campaign. We’re on the scene here in south Florida for this event. Hear more in this report and be sure to stay tuned to Southeast AgNet for more information.
Sponsoring this report:
In this feature, USDA radio’s Gary Crawford reports on how the woes in the overall economy are also creating downward pressure in commodity markets across the board.
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In the first report posted below, Lake County Extension Agent Ryan Atwood explains why fogging in groves for citrus psyllid control is not allowed, and what is being done about getting product labels changed to allow for this application method. Many believe fogging shows promise in the battle against the spread of psyllids and citrus ‘greening’ disease. In the second report, more from Atwood regarding other concerns of citrus growers his region of Florida.
Sponsoring this report:
In the northern portions of Florida’s citrus belt, it appears that HLB, known as ‘greening disease’ is not as prevalent in commercial grove areas. In these two reports, some comments from the region’s citrus extension specialist, Ryan Atwood, about what growers in his region are thinking with regard to HLB, and how they are dealing with the threat.
These two reports feature Tim Gaver, who recently landed the regional citrus extension slot based out of Ft Pierce, FL. In the first report, Gaver discusses citrus greening, as one of those involved in a series of greening information meetings going on around Florida right now. In the second report, he talks about how growers in his region are dealing with the aftermath of Storm FAY, which dumped more than a foot of rainfall along the River region a few weeks back.
In this report, how citrus growers working together can have a better chance of controlling the citrus psyllid pests that spread HLB, also known as ‘citrus greening’ disease. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff recently caught up with VP of Grove Operations for Southern Gardens Citrus (in photo), to discuss the value of working closely with neighbors in the effort to best control the spread of citrus psyllids.
In this report, some brief comments about the progress being made at Florida Citrus Packers Association with regard to new varieties research. Packers’ spokesman Richard Kinney says his team is searching far and wide for varieties that will do well in Florida, and which may help growers and industry weather the ongoing storm of disease challenges facing them.
Researchers continue to look for new and better ways to detect and confirm the presence of citrus greening. Meanwhile, a process known as the “PCR Test” is recognized as the best available method so far, albeit not 100 percent reliable as yet according to the research community. In this report, horticulturist Dr Tim Spann at University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center is asked just what the so-called “PCR” test is and how it works.
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.
There are several HLB, or “Greening Mini-Summits” are scheduled across the state. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff gives the dates, times and locations of them.
Meetings were held in Washington between citrus groups and the Florida Congressional Delegation. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff tells us just what was discussed.
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, comments from Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton, who is also a grower and grove caretaker business operator from Wauchula, about his thoughts for the Commission and the Florida Department of Citrus looking ahead.
In this report, comments from Dr Tim Spann, Horticulturist at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred, FL, about what is being learned in the area of discovery of citrus greening. Spann was a recent speaker at the Re-Scheduled Citrus Expo Seminars. In fact, he was a key player on the Citrus Expo Committee this year who assembled and handled the logistics for the seminar speakers lineup overall. And you can also now find the power point presentations from most of the presentations on line by clicking here. Now click the icon below to hear Spann’s comments in this report.
In this report, information about a brand new event for lovers of Florida heritage type events, and this one is being organized by the home folks. Florida Cattlemen invite one and all to their first annual Florida Ranch Rodeo and Free Cowboy Heritage Festival set for Friday and Saturday Oct 3 & 4 in Kissimmee. Also in this report, commentary about the importance of keeping the facts fully engaged in discussions about the citrus industry’s future, particularly in light of recent updates to Florida citrus inventory and abandoned acreage reports.
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.
Jeff Geuder (in photo) will soon be back in Florida after serving a stint in Washington D C with USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). As you will learn by listening to this report, Jeff is very familiar with Florida agriculture, having spent a good deal of time in the Sunshine State with NASS in earlier years. Jeff will replace Ben Klugh who retires the end of this month.
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 these two features on this subject with soil scientist Arnold Schumann at the Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred, he describes different methods and technologies involved, and talks about the costs to get into variable rate fertilization techniques. Schumann was one of the featured presenters at the recently re-scheduled Citrus Expo seminars at Lake Alfred.
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.
In Sarasota, Florida this week John Deere officials displayed hundreds of tractors, many of them new models to become available in 2009, many of them geared toward the ‘lifestyle’ rural crowd and folks involved in things like citrus, nursery, vineyards and other agriculture operations. According to John Deere representatives on hand for the event, the new models coupled with the more traditional larger models target today’s farm equipment consumer no matter what size of the operation. Whether it be for the very large ag operations or the very small, and all in between, John Deere seems to be making a real effort to serve all market segments when it comes to farm and lawn care equipment. 
In this post herein you can listen to interviews and view documents we received from the John Deere folks this week in Sarasota, as they hosted agriculture media along with John Deere dealer representatives from throughout North America. Just click to see the rest of this post and you’ll find links to the interviews and other materials. 
In the first report posted below, Lake County Extension Agent Ryan Atwood explains why fogging in groves for citrus psyllid control is not allowed, and what is being done about getting product labels changed to allow for this application method. Many believe fogging shows promise in the battle against the spread of psyllids and citrus ‘greening’ disease. In the second report, more from Atwood regarding other concerns of citrus growers his region of Florida. 
These two reports feature Tim Gaver, who recently landed the regional citrus extension slot based out of Ft Pierce, FL. In the first report, Gaver discusses citrus greening, as one of those involved in a series of greening information meetings going on around Florida right now. In the second report, he talks about how growers in his region are dealing with the aftermath of Storm FAY, which dumped more than a foot of rainfall along the River region a few weeks back. 
In this report, how citrus growers working together can have a better chance of controlling the citrus psyllid pests that spread HLB, also known as ‘citrus greening’ disease. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff recently caught up with VP of Grove Operations for Southern Gardens Citrus (in photo), to discuss the value of working closely with neighbors in the effort to best control the spread of citrus psyllids.
In this report, some brief comments about the progress being made at Florida Citrus Packers Association with regard to new varieties research. Packers’ spokesman Richard Kinney says his team is searching far and wide for varieties that will do well in Florida, and which may help growers and industry weather the ongoing storm of disease challenges facing them. 
Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff attended the first of another series of HLB updates and offers this report.
Researchers continue to look for new and better ways to detect and confirm the presence of citrus greening. Meanwhile, a process known as the “PCR Test” is recognized as the best available method so far, albeit not 100 percent reliable as yet according to the research community. In this report, horticulturist Dr Tim Spann at University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center is asked just what the so-called “PCR” test is and how it works.
Stallings Crop Insurance is again an exclusive sponsors of our annual Citrus Crop Forecast broadcast.
In this report, comments from Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton, who is also a grower and grove caretaker business operator from Wauchula, about his thoughts for the Commission and the Florida Department of Citrus looking ahead.
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. 
Jeff Geuder (in photo) will soon be back in Florida after serving a stint in Washington D C with USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). As you will learn by listening to this report, Jeff is very familiar with Florida agriculture, having spent a good deal of time in the Sunshine State with NASS in earlier years. Jeff will replace Ben Klugh who retires the end of this month. 
In these two features on this subject with soil scientist Arnold Schumann at the Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred, he describes different methods and technologies involved, and talks about the costs to get into variable rate fertilization techniques. Schumann was one of the featured presenters at the recently re-scheduled Citrus Expo seminars at Lake Alfred.
