Michael Rogers discusses several educational opportunities for citrus growers, including the Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo and Citrus Packinghouse Day. Rogers is the director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC). The Expo (Aug. 18-19) and Packinghouse Day (Aug. 26) will be held in-person this year after taking place virtually in …
Floridians Consider Farming Important
An overwhelming 98% of Floridians consider farming and ranching important, according to the findings of a survey recently conducted by the Tyson Group among registered voters statewide. “We’re humbled to see the overwhelming support from Florida voters for the hard work and commitment of our farmers,” said Gene Adams, chair of the Florida Ag Coalition. “These survey findings indicate that Florida families …
Register Now for Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo
Preregistration is underway for the 2021 Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo. The event will take place August 18-19 at the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers, Florida. One of the purposes of the Expo is to bring together industry members, and this includes Florida FFA officers. They’ve been a big part of the Expo for the past few years, …
Inspect Your Irrigation System Regularly
Throughout the year, it is a good practice to check your irrigation system for leaks, wear, corrosion, and other physical damage that can limit the efficiency of the system. When it comes to ensuring the integrity of your plumbing, having a trusted plumber like a Townsville plumber can provide peace of mind and expert solutions for any issues that arise. …
Grapefruit Challenges and Opportunities
A recent report summarizes the U.S. grapefruit market’s challenges, including citrus greening disease and hurricanes, and opportunities. Lijun (Angelia) Chen and Lisa House with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences authored the report, titled “An Overview of the Grapefruit Market in the U.S.” “The U.S. grapefruit industry has been facing fierce challenges in both production and …
Combating California Red Scale
California red scale (CRS) is one of the key pests for growers in the San Joaquin Valley, home to 75% of the state’s citrus production. CRS is a sap-sucking insect that attacks all parts of citrus trees. It causes dieback of branches, yield loss and downgrading of fruit. According to Sandipa Gautam, University of California assistant research entomologist at the …
Court Blocks Controversial Pesticide
(TALLAHASSEE/June 9, 2021) — In a victory for environmental and farmworker groups, an appeals court has overturned federal approval of a controversial pesticide that supporters say could help fight a disease that has caused heavy damage in Florida’s citrus industry. The decision this week by a panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia came …
Increasing Agriculture Literacy
Agriculture is the second largest industry in Florida, but there is uncertainty about the industry’s labor force, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently reported. UF/IFAS stated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the market value of Florida agriculture at more than $7.46 billion. “But career interest from youth does not match the size …
Michael Woodley: From Firefighter to Lemon Grower
Michael Woodley returned to his hometown of Frostproof, Florida, in 2011 at the request of his dying mother to take care of the land and keep it in the family. After a firefighting career of more than 30 years with the Florida Forest Service that took him all over the state, he is now growing lemons on 20 acres on …
Citrus Australia Focuses on Biosecurity
Citrus Australia recently applauded the federal government’s additional investment in national biosecurity and stated that it will seek an opportunity for additional dialogue on enhancing plant biosecurity. The government announced $400 million in funding to enhance biosecurity over a four-year period. According to Citrus Australia, citrus exports alone are worth $500 million to the national economy annually. A pest incursion has …