Studies in Brazil and Florida have shown that the bactericide Firewall holds promise as a complement to copper for canker control in grapefruit groves. Registration is being sought for its use on Florida grapefruit. In this series of interviews with Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff, University of Florida researcher Jim Graham says the product would be especially helpful when applied before …
Murphy Citrus Nursery: Growing Seedlings Far From The Citrus Belt
Murphy Citrus Nursery – Producing citrus trees far from commercial citrus areas Several years ago when citrus canker changed the way citrus nursery trees would have to be produced, nurseryman Billy Murphy heard the call and focused his family nursery operation toward citrus seedling production far outside of Florida’s traditional citrus belt. Click the play icon under the photo to …
Citrus Expo: Going Strong, Much News Being Released This Week
Citrus Expo 2009 planning is well underway. The event is scheduled for Lee Civic Center near Ft Myers August 19 & 20, 2009. Here is a rundown of some of the latest developments and some links to key information growers and industry vendors need to know. Pre-registration is now open on line. CLICK HERE to pre-register, and remember, pre-registered growers …
More Learned About Citrus HLB Grove Survey Research In Brazil
The rest of the group on the recent citrus tour to Brazil returned mid week. In this report, comments from University of Florida multi-county citrus extension agent Steve Futch (photo right), about some of what is being learned both in Brazil and Florida about HLB grove surveys. This report also includes a short comment from Lake Placid grower John Smoak …
Diaprepes Still Disastrous for Many Citrus Growers
Just a few years ago, the Diaprepes root weevil was considered to be as bad a problem as growers could encounter in their groves. That was before HLB (greening disease) showed up in Florida and became growers’ biggest concern. However, Diaprepes remains a serious threat to groves it infests, especially in flatwoods soils. In this series of reports, Southeast AgNet’s …
New Gulf CGA President Describes Citrus Challenges
Carey Soud, newly elected president of the Gulf Citrus Growers Association, in this report says sustaining productivity and profitability are the broad challenges facing the citrus industry. He says serious diseases threaten productivity, and that consolidation of the processing industry potentially threatens grower profitability. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For Applied ResearchJune 12, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
Florida Ag In Review for June 1, 2009
In this weeks podcast, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack speaks on the status of Animal ID, Florida Cattlemen sizzle the summer through partnerships, Gary Cooper wraps up his Citrus Tour, Florida Food Banks take a cut in financial assistance and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson talks about the new E85 fueling station in the state. To hear Florida’s weekly …
HLB Success in China Turns Citrus Researcher into Optimist
In this series of reports from Ernie Neff, University of Florida geneticist and plant breeder Fred Gmitter tells about seeing healthy blocks of citrus in China surrounded by HLB (greening)-infected groves. He describes how some Chinese successfully manage HLB with timely psyllid control, high density plantings and good tree nutrition. There are discussions of how the China findings might apply …
Brazil Citrus Tour: More Reflections from a Florida Grower
John Smoak (in photo) and the other Florida growers participating in last week’s citrus industry tour to Brazil are back in Florida. But before leaving Brazil, Smoak offered the comments in this report about a five year old block of citrus that will soon be destroyed and replaced with sugar cane. We were told owners loved the young trees so …
Brazil Citrus Tour: Much Being Learned by All Aboard
Our small group from Florida is getting great access to groves, growers, citrus greenhouse nurseries, and government & industry officials on this week’s tour of Brazilian citrus. In the first report, an overview of the trip including mention of a new law in Brazil requiring growers to remove entire groves once HLB incidence in a grove reaches 28%. In the …