As we wade our way through these difficult and unprecedented times, it is just as important now as ever that we are able to grow a healthy Florida citrus crop. To that end, the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program continues to move forward — adjusting for many unforeseen challenges — to find efficient, effective, and economically feasible methods for growers to produce a quality crop in the face of HLB.
Round one of the CRAFT application process ran from September to October 2019 and garnered 43 viable candidates. The CRAFT Technical Working Group (TWG) determined that all the applications met the basic criteria for participation and applicants should develop an approved experimental design.
As of April 1, 2020, 29 of the applicants finalized their experimental designs and had their projects approved by the CRAFT board of directors. Those growers are now in the process of completing pre-audits with CRAFT staff and actively planting the first round of CRAFT demonstration groves. These 29 projects include eight resets in existing groves and 21 solid set plantings, for a total of 1,493 acres.
In addition to the approved projects, the TWG continues to work with the remaining applicants to develop experimental designs on an additional 575 acres. These totals fall right in line with the goals set by the CRAFT Foundation Inc. and our funding partners at the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and USDA.
Each of the projects in the first cycle of the CRAFT program fall in to one of five testable categories:
- Scion/Rootstock
- Fertility/Nutrition
- Pest Management
- Biostimulants
- Reset
For example, a participant in the Reset category will focus primarily on comparing production between historical grove yields and future yields utilizing either a new rootstock/scion combination, new planting density, or some other mitigation strategy such as individual protective tree covers. Participants also may use additional HLB management strategies within their groves beyond their assigned categories.
Moving forward into cycle two of CRAFT, the TWG and board of directors will work together to ensure any gaps in the research design are adequately filled and that new strategies and opportunities are investigated. To that end, CRAFT recently held a public workshop to discuss the evolution of the program and to get input from growers on what practices and strategies they would like to see included in the anticipated 3,000 acres included in cycle two. More than 50 growers, industry members, and supporters took part in the workshop. The TWG and board are now taking that information to develop the framework for cycle two.
It was our goal to roll out the criteria for cycle two during a CRAFT breakout session at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference, which was scheduled for June 18 in Bonita Springs. Unfortunately, the conference has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
More details about cycle two will be shared on the CRAFT website — Craftfdn.org.
We’ll get through these tough times, and the CRAFT program will continue to seek to develop the best production strategies so growers can provide our nutritious products as they always have.