Florida struggling citrus crop, fighting disease and battered by Hurricane Irma, held steady over the past month in a newly released forecast. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated Thursday that Florida will grow enough oranges in the current season to fill 45 million 90-pound boxes, a mark unchanged from a February forecast. However, that would still be a major drop …
California Researchers Work Toward Early HLB Detection
Although the Florida citrus industry may have some slight differences compared to the California citrus industry, in the face of citrus greening disease the two industries are one and the same. Now, the brightest minds of both states are working to detect, manage and control this devastating disease. Most recently, University of California researchers have been working to find methods …
Crop Insurance Deadline Is Feb. 28
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) wants to remind farmers the deadline to sign up for crop insurance for most spring-planted crops is February 28. Other crops have a March 15 deadline. Tyron Spearman has the details. Crop Insurance Deadline is Wednesday Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Helps to Support Forage Development and Management PracticesMarch 6, 2026CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, …
Georgia Citrus Association Conference is Next Week
The 2nd Annual Georgia Citrus Association Conference will be held next Monday, February 26 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. Lindy Savelle, president of the Georgia Citrus Association, told AgNet Media that while the first conference went well, the second conference will be even better. She said “We listened to what the comments were from last year.” …
Help for Florida Farmers Advancing in Senate
Farmers and other parts of Florida’s agriculture industry could receive about $75 million in post-Hurricane Irma assistance from the state next year under a measure moving forward in the Senate. The Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously backed the proposal (SB 1608) by Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring. The proposal, in part, would reduce property assessments …
The Importance of Research Dollars in the Next Farm Bill
The new farm bill is still being negotiated and worked out. There are some kinks to it, which is why its completion is taking longer than expected. However, one thing that most people can agree on is the importance of including research funding in the new farm bill. Hurricanes asides, research has greatly impacted the Florida citrus industry industry after …
Farm Disaster Relief on the Way After Irma’s Devastation
State lawmakers continue to craft tax relief for Florida’s storm-battered citrus industry, as President Donald Trump signed off Friday on billions of dollars in much-anticipated federal disaster relief. A spending bill approved by Congress and Trump includes nearly $90 billion for disaster relief, with $2.36 billion aimed at assisting the agriculture industry for losses from Hurricane Irma in Florida, Hurricane …
Root Biologist Joins UF Fight Against Citrus Greening
An inventive fruit tree researcher has joined the University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center. Lorenzo Rossi is the center’s first-ever root biology professor and will support the university’s statewide Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ commitment to restore Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry. “Healthy roots are essential for a healthy plant. Dr. Rossi’s root biology research will …
For Florida Orange Growers No News May Be Good News
The Florida citrus industry has been struggling with HLB for over a decade. Now, with the damage following Hurricane Irma, many may be wondering exactly what the state of the industry is and what it may become. For an industry riddled with disease and disaster, no news may be good news for the Florida citrus industry. Gary Crawford has the …
Citrus Industry Remains ‘In Crisis’ Despite Stable Forecast
Forecast numbers for Florida’s struggling citrus industry held steady from December to January, the first month since Hurricane Irma that the figures didn’t drop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated Friday that Florida will grow enough oranges to fill 46 million 90-pound boxes, the same as in December. Meanwhile, grapefruit production held at 4.65 million boxes for the third consecutive month. While the …