FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM TURNER THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 16, 2016………. The Florida Citrus Commission, under pressure to downsize by a group of large growers, will start building a budget for next fiscal year that projects a much-smaller crop than in the current year. The commission advised staff on Wednesday to project revenue for operations based …
FDOC Update
Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ellis Hunt Talks Budget, Bactericides and Bloom Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ellis Hunt Jr. reports on plans to consider a proposal to greatly reduce the grower box tax that funds the Florida Department of Citrus. In addition, he discusses support for the department from the Florida Legislature as well as positive developments with bactericides and bloom. …
Thermotherapy Gives Grower Mixed Results
Thermotherapy Gives Grower Mixed Results After Year-Long Trial Growers gathered at a citrus thermotherapy follow-up field day at Whitaker Groves in Grand Island, Florida. They came to see the effects thermotherapy had on a block of Valencias that were treated in July 2015. Cliff Whitaker, the owner of the grove, said that while the treatment did reduce fruit drop, he …
Future of Florida Citrus
Hope for the Future of Florida Citrus Anyone involved in the Florida citrus industry can speak of the hardships the industry has faced since HLB first appeared in the state in 2005. One member of the industry, who has stuck with it through thick and thin, offered his positive perspective on the future of the industry. Bill Castle, University of …
Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees
Citrus Industry Legends Inducted into Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Friday, March 11, was the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Celebration Luncheon, where a crowd of over 400 citrus community and industry members welcomed three new inductees into the Hall of Fame. The inductees are Dr. William S. “Bill” Castle of Lake Alfred, John C. “Jack” Norris of Palm City, …
Kubota’s New M7 Tractor
Kubota’s New M7 Will be the Largest Tractor Ever Produced by the Company Kent Brown senior product manager for Ag Tractors spoke with us about Kubota’s new M7 tractor, the largest model ever produced by the global tractor company. The M7 has approximately 170 HP, which is a huge step from the first tractor Kubota ever released in America in …
Florida Growers Share Insights on HLB Fight
Florida citrus growers were in California recently to share their real-life accounts of huanglongbing (HLB) disease with the citrus industry. California Citrus Mutual invited several Florida growers to California for its annual showcase. At a question-and-answer lunch, the Florida growers gave California’s industry a frontline perspective on citrus greening. Citrus grower Ric Freeman was part of that group. His accounts …
What the Crisis Declaration Means
What the Crisis Declaration Means for Florida Citrus Growers At the Florida Citrus Mutual board meeting today, Harold Browning, chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, spoke to a crowded room about the recent Crisis Declaration passed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam to allow the use of three bactericides for treating HLB in citrus. Browning …
Florida Youth Institute Summer Program
New Florida Youth Institute Summer Program Seeking Applicants for 2016 This program, which is being offered for the first time by the University of Florida College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is a great way to expose a young person to the wide range of opportunities within Florida’s agricultural community. Participants will also gain a better understanding of Sponsored ContentWhat …
UF/IFAS Scientists to Present Plant Diagnostic Data at D.C. Conference
By: Brad Buck, 352-294-3303, bradbuck@ufl.edu Source: Carrie Harmon, 352-273-4640, clharmon@ufl.edu GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Plant Diagnostic Center will help shed light on potentially devastating plant diseases at the 4th National Meeting of the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) in Washington, D.C. Held every three to four years, this year’s …