Southeast AgNET

Here is a series of reports about the new Citrus Commission Long Range Planning Committee’s first meeting recently. Lively discussion. In these reports are comments from Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr who appointed the committee (left).

Committee Chairman, grower and Citrus Commissioner David Wheeler also offers insights,
as does committee member Charlie Lucas of Consolidated Citrus (right). Also attending, grower and caretaking business owner Marvin Kahn (photo at bottom), who was also a Citrus Commissioner years ago.

What would you like a headline written 12 years from now to say about the FDOC and the Florida Citrus Commission? This question was posed to committee members in the first meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission’s Long Range Planning Committee held in Sebring. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff files this report.
There were some differences of opinion between the committee members during discussion in this meeting and in this report Ernie tells us just what these differences are.

In this report, comments from Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton about progress being made toward finding a fix for the so-called “free rider” issue. He says Florida citrus growers want something done so imported orange juice helps pay for marketing and research efforts presently paid for solely by Florida growers.

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.

Southeast Agnet’s Ernie Neff has a report on important discussions at last week’s FDOC meeting in Lakeland. FDOC Economist Mark Brown had news for the growers and more. Ernie files this report.

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 the first of these two reports, Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff reviews some of the considerations under discussion about trying to get wider participation in funding for citrus research and marketing efforts. In the second feature, Neff reports on more advertising dollars likely to be available for Department of Citrus advertising due to the higher than expected Florida citrus crop forecast.

Click Here to see the Florida Senate Agriculture Committee report to the Legislature regarding the SUnset Review process for the Florida Department of Citrus.

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, AgNet’s Ernie Neff offers an overview of this week’s meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission in Lakeland.

Comments in this story from Ben Albritton, wearing his grower and grove caretaker hat when asked what he would say to growers having to deal with standing water in their groves from recent storm activity. Albritton is also Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission right now, and was among several hundred citrus growers attending the re-scheduled Citrus Expo Seminars Thursday at UF/CREC at Lake Alfred.

In this report we share reaction comments from citrus grower & caretaker, who’s also Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton of Wauchula, who offers these comments about the re-scheduled Citrus Expo seminars attended by about 350 growers and others Thursday September 4. To Ben and all the other 350 or so growers who participated at both locations we also say “Thanks” for coming out on what was a beautiful day at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) at Lake Alfred, and the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee.

Below are two reports with Florida Dept of Citrus Executive Director Ken Keck. In the first, Keck explains the background of staff cuts over the past six years. In the second, Keck discusses the need to maintain a core team at FDOC to manage ongoing marketing activities while some FDOC dollars now go toward research too.

Citrus Expo Aug 20 & 21; Pre-register NOW-click the logo!

In this week’s Friday Features on Florida Dept of Citrus (FDOC) news, an update from Executive Director Peter Chaires of the New Varieties Development and Management Corporation (NVDMC), which FDOC funds in an effort to find and develop new citrus varieties to help keep Florida growers competitive into the future.
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

In the first of these two weekly features on Florida Department of Citrus News, Chairman Ben Albritton Jr discusses budget matters and how up to $20-million dollars being set aside for possible investments into research could impact orange juice advertising next season. In the second report, Albritton discusses the possibility that Florida Citrus Mutual may be able to handle FDOC lobbying efforts in Tallahassee and Washington D C, as one way of saving Department dollars.
Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

In these reports, follow up to this week’s Florida Citrus Commission meeting where the Florida Department of Citrus budget was tentatively approved to potentially include up to 20 million dollars for citrus research as needed. Chairman Ben Albritton Jr talks more about the reasons behind the decision, and how growers and industry are pulling together to address their biggest concerns in a cooperative manner. Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

At this week’s Citrus Commission meeting at the Florida Department of Citrus in Lakeland, the FDOC budget for the coming season was a main topic of discussion. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff was on the scene and files this report. Report (1:30 mp3)

In the first report, Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr shares his feelings about citrus greening disease, as one citrus grower speaking to others. In the second report, comments from Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Ken Keck explaining FDOC proposals that could divert as much as 20 million grower dollars next season from marketing initiatives into research.
Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

In these reports, Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr responds to those who may question Department of Citrus budget proposals to hold up to 20 million dollars for greening research in case it is needed.
Report (1:30 mp3)Report (1:30 mp3)

At Florida Citrus Mutual’s annual conference this week, some questioned Florida Department of Citrus decisions about throwing some funding recently behind the citrus greening research efforts. In these reports, FDOC Executive Director Ken Keck reviews the reasoning behind the move, and explains the process FDOC will go through to help in the research effort.
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

In the first of these two weekly features on Florida Department of Citrus marketing efforts Pete Palmer, FDOC Director of Retail Communications, comments on the effectiveness of today’s streamlined retail marketing team which calls on management of huge retail grocers. In the second report, follow up comments from FDOC Research Director Bob Norberg about Market Accountability Studies that should help to keep FDOC marketing efforts on point. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (1:00 mp3)

More in these reports about results from a return-on-investment study performed by Marketing Accountability Partnership (MAP)for the Florida Department of Citrus. In the first report, the firm’s managing director, Neil Canter, (photo left) discusses the effectiveness of the on-line advertising done recently by FDOC, and says more will be learned in regular updates to the study as time moves forward. In the second report, FDOC’s Director of Research Dr Bob Norberg (photo right) says this type of accountability study is cutting edge and should provide a good management tool for FDOC marketers in the future.
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

In these two reports, comments from Neil Canter, Managing Dir of Marketing Accountability Partnership, a firm hired by the Florida Dept of Citrus in January to study the return on investment of grower dollars going into FDOC’s marketing efforts. According to Canter, the study shows about a three to one return. Hear his comments as he explains the numbers and discusses details of the study. Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff reports from this week’s Florida Citrus Commission meeting. In the first report, Florida Department of Citrus budget proposals include up to $20 million to support greening and canker research. In the second, details about a study indicating FDOC advertising gives citrus growers a 300 percent return on investment.
Report (1:15 mp3) Report (1:15 mp3)

In these two reports, interesting comments about a modern in-store marketing technique that takes advantage of key in-store locations and modern shopping habits. Retail Communications Director Pete Palmer at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) says the spring campaign used 15-second in-store videos to reach shoppers at a critical time when making their final purchase decisions. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

Recently wrapping up another series of localized grower meetings around Florida, Citrus Mutual leaders say they are pleased with the turnout and feedback derived from the gatherings. Meanwhile, members like new Mutual board member Tom Jerkins, VP & General Manager of Blue Goose Growers (photo left) who spoke to us at the Mutual grower meeting in Vero Beach recently, say Mike Sparks (photo right) at the helm of Mutual is making a positive difference. Hear his comments in these two reports. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

I’ve continued to add segments to this series, so I’m updating this post to be sure our citrus visitors hear what is now this full eight-part series with Dr Robert Davis. Among the scientists gathered in Ft Pierce recently to discuss greening and canker research, Davis is a scientist with USDA at the Beltsville MD lab and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. These reports features his comments about the greening challenge from various angles as he shares his thoughts about the value of the efforts being made by the industry to solve the greening problem.
Report Report Report Report (all reports 1:00 mp3)
Report Report Report Report(these four reports 2:00 mp3)

In these reports, candid comments from Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr about recent investments of Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) funds to help in citrus greening research efforts. Albritton also discusses the painful but real challenge of some growers not doing what is needed to deal with greening, thereby harming neighboring growers who are trying to control the spread of the disease. Report (Report 2:00 mp3) Report (Report 1:00 mp3)

Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has been attending the meeting in Ft. Pierce of some of the top scientists with the USDA and The National Academy of Sciences where citrus greening was the topic of discussion.  There were some suggestions made and Ernie tells us just what some of these were.

  Report 1 (2:00 mp3)                        Report (1:00 mp3)

In this report, comments from University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC)Director Dr Harold Browning (in photo), about citrus greening and canker research discussions going on in Ft Pierce involving scientists from UF, USDA and the National Academy of Sciences.
Report (1:00 mp3)