Southeast AgNET

In this report, some insight and information on Citrus Expo scheduled for August 20 & 21, 2008 at Lee Civic Center in Ft. Myers. There are reasons Citrus Expo attracts ten times the number of real citrus growers in comparison to any other industry event. It’s two days of intensive grower seminars, and a sold out trade show with more than 150 exhibiting companies, making it THE place to be for serious citrus growers, production managers and grove business decision-makers. Pre-register now to make your arrival easiest and to help us plan for the crowd. And please leave your farmworker crews at home. This event is free for growers, production managers and other decision-makers involved in citrus production and industry. If you are a vendor or company representative who chooses not to sponsor or exhibit at Citrus Expo, you’re still welcome but you need to purchase a one- or two-day attendance pass. Find pre-registration, seminar and total program information at www.CitrusExpo.net. And click on the Report to hear more about it. Report (1:30 mp3)
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In this report, dates and details of two summer gatherings for citrus growers. First will be Florida Citrus Mutual’s Annual Conference June 11 - 13 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, FL. Then in August the “World’s Premiere Citrus Expo” August 20 and 21, 2008 at Lee Civic Center, Ft Myers, FL. Find all the details on Citrus Expo at www.CitrusExpo.net. Report (2:00 mp3)

In these reports, comments from University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC)Director Dr Harold Browning (in photo), about Citrus Expo grower seminar planning currently underway. Browning is a member of the Citrus Expo Steering Committee. The committee met today in Sebring to continue the Citrus Expo seminar plannning process.
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Citrus Blackfly has been reportedly discovered in Brazil’s main citrus producing region, on trees in municipal areas so far. Hear more details in this report. Report (1:00 mp3)

54th ANNUAL CITRUS ENGINEERING CONFERENCE
Thursday, March 20, 2008
BEN HILL GRIFFIN, JR. CITRUS HALL
Univ of Florida, IFAS, CITRUS RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER, LAKE ALFRED, FLORIDA
Sponsored by: ASME Florida Section
REGISTRATION INFORMATION Read the rest of this entry »

The 2006-2007 Citrus Summary is now available online. The summary contains all of the latest facts and figures about United States citrus production; acreage, boxes, county by county numbers, etc.

Here is the latest citrus industry research update from UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. (pdf file)

HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

In these citrus reports hear details about the February Citrus Crop Forecast update from Bob Terry at Florida Agriculture Statistics Service. Also in the second report below, a mention of plans at Alico, Inc to soon elevate Dan Gunter to the C-O-O position. And if you are among those concerned about what somebody said they heard that the president of the University of Florida might have said, you should listen to the interview with UF President Bernie Machen himself, wherein he discusses Florida agriculture, IFAS and the pressure the University budget is under due to the poor state of the Florida economy.
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HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

Citrus growers in the Indian River citrus production region have had to adjust their thinking about canker and greening over the past 12 months. In this report, Indian River Citrus League’s Doug Bournique discusses how growers now realize greening is at least as big a threat to grapefruit as it is to oranges. Report (2:00 mp3)

FEBRUARY 4TH IS THE DEADLINE - HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 28, 2008
CITRUS EXPO EXHIBITOR SIGN UP AT RECORD PACE – PROGRAM PLANNING BEGINS!
Exhibitor reservations for the 17th annual Citrus Expo August 20 & 21, 2008 at Lee Civic Center Ft. Myers are well ahead of schedule even before initial exhibitor brochures have been distributed. More than half of the available exhibit spaces have been reserved months earlier than at anytime in history.
Meanwhile, Citrus Expo Steering Committee members are seeking grower input (see end of this post for list of committee members) Read the rest of this entry »

MIAMI, Jan. 23, 2008–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today broke ground for the construction of its new 45,000-square-foot plant inspection facility. At this new location, APHIS inspectors will inspect, process and certify the ever-growing number of imported plants arriving in Miami–the nation’s busiest port of entry for propagative plants. Read the rest of this entry »

Something different in this post that all fruit and vegetable growers will want to hear about. It can be said that farmers know what farmers need. My cousin Mark DuBois grew up in the family vegetable farming business in south Florida. After years in development his family’s inventions are now helping all kinds of growers meet EPA guidelines for portable personal cleanup in the field, and saving growers money and hassle when it comes to efficiently killing weeds. In this interview, hear Mark describe the Scrub N Go and Weed Wipe systems, now available to growers everywhere, and learn more about their product line from either of the websites linked to the product names above. Mark DuBois Interview (2:00 mp3)

FEBRUARY 4TH IS THE DEADLINE - HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

Two more features today with Peter Chaires of the New Varieties Development and Management Corporation, as the global search continues for all kinds of new citrus varieties to help Florida growers remain profitable for the future. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

In these reports, news and comments from the first meeting of the Marketing Alternatives Subcommittee of the Florida Department of Citrus. The subcommittee’s existence is part of the overall efforts of the Citrus Commission to find answers to the “free rider” issue where other orange producing states and nations get benefits from Citrus Department marketing efforts that are presently paid for only by Florida growers. In the first report Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff files a brief general report from the meeting Tuesday afternoon. In the second report, comments from Sub-Committee Chairman Mike Taylor about the complexities of “just marketing ‘Florida’ orange juice.”
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)
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In this report, news and issues revolving around upcoming Citrus Commission meetings, with comments from Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton. Report (2:00 mp3)
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But before you book your tickets to attend the summit in Beltsville, Maryland Dec 17 & 18, you need to know attendance is ‘by invitation only’ and not open to the public. More details in this report. Report (2:00 mp3)

These reports feature coverage of this week’s meetings at the Florida Department of Citrus, with comments from Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton, Jr.
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

In this report, comments from Dr Harold Browning, Director of the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, about the latest progress on the citrus research front. Report (2:00 mp3)

In the first report, an overview of efforts underway to deal with “Free Riders”, who many believe unfairly benefit from Florida citrus marketing efforts without joining Florida growers to pay for it all. Comments from Citrus Commissioner Bob Behr (top right), from an earlier interview about “Free Riders.” In the second report, core members of the Citrus Expo planning committee gathered Tuesday in Lakeland to review the 2007 event and lay groundwork for the next Citrus Expo to be held August 20 & 21, 2008 at Lee Civic Center, Ft Myers. Expo Planning Committee member, Director Dr Harold Browning of UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center, comments on Expo successes Citrus Expo and plans for 2008. By the way, we are serious about Citrus Expo Seminars being ‘driven by growers and facilitated by UF/IFAS’ so if you’re a grower and have an idea for a needed seminar topic at Citrus Expo 2008, please E-mail me at gary@southeastagnet.com and your idea will be considered. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

For Immediate Release:
FL Citrus Mutual, LAKELAND, Fla. (October 25, 2007) – The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has again affirmed its determination that Brazilian orange juice dumped in the United States at less than fair value prices has harmed Florida citrus growers and processors. Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Beattie was one of the featured speakers at the Citrus Expo late this summer in Fort Myers, Florida. Beattie is a recognized citrus researcher in citrus greening from the University of Western Syndey, New South Wales, Australia. In this “Ask the Citrus Expert” feature, Beattie offers comments on controlling the citrus psyllid in order to slow the rate of greening spread.
Report (2:00 mp3)

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Catching up with Florida Dept of Citrus Executive Director Ken Keck recently at the Ray-Bob Groves citrus grower breakfast sponsored by Stallings Crop Insurance the morning of the crop forecast, Keck discussed the crop, factors in Brazil that could further impact world supplies, and the outlook on the marketing side for the coming season. Keck is featured in both these reports.
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

Here is a fill-in-the-blank form (pdf file) that can be printed and used to track the citrus crop forecast announcement this Friday. Also, here is a news release (word document)with information on the various ways growers and others can tune in to hear “live” coverage of the citrus crop forecast announcement this Friday morning beginning at 8:29 a. m. eastern time.

In these reports, President Tom Farley of I C E Futures U. S. explains how the name change from the New York Board of Trade better reflects modernized services being offered at the Exchange. Electronic trading in particular is allowing more efficiencies to come into play, and many more traders to come into the market.
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Checking in with Indian River Citrus League’s Doug Bournique, about the upcoming Florida grapefruit crop. Hear his comments in these reports.
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Report (2:00 mp3)
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This just in this afternoon from Florida Dept of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI). Report (2:00 mp3)
INDUSTRY ADVISORY Citrus Greening Found in Polk County in Two Locations including the State’s Citrus Arboretum

In late August, citrus greening disease (huanglongbing) was detected at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services’ Citrus Arboretum in Winter Haven. Additional samples collected from a commercial citrus grove in Fort Meade a few days later have also been confirmed positive. Polk County is the 26th county in which positive samples of citrus greening have been identified. Read the rest of this entry »

The International Symposium: “Application of Precision Agriculture for Fruits and Vegetables” is set for Orlando January 6-9, 2008. Here are a couple of documents with more details.
Press Release (pdf file)
Program Details (pdf file)

Continuing with the series of reports about Florida’s fresh fruit packers awaiting finalization of new rules from USDA pertaining to shipment of fresh fruit for this season. According to comments from Richard Kinney of Florida Citrus Packers Association, packers are getting a bit anxious to see the new rules finalized by the first of October when shipments are expected to begin.

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Dr Jim Graham of University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center says there are lessons to be learned from the recent spread of citrus greening to previously uninfected areas of Brazil’s commercial citrus regions, due to the movement of an ornamental plant known as ‘orange jasmine.’
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Report (2:00 wma)

Andrew Beattie from University of Western Sydney in New South Wales Australia was among numerous presenters at Citrus Expo recently. We caught up with him after his talk for a brief but interesting review of the history of the movement of citrus “greening” disease around the world. Hear his comments in this report.
Report (2:00 mp3)