Consumers have different tastebuds that make them prefer certain citrus varieties and other fruit more than others. What one may like, another may reject. This is especially true in the citrus industry where palate and consumer preference play a role in what varieties growers choose to produce. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) campus in Gainesville hosted …
USDA Invites Growers to Respond Online to 2022 Census of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers across the 50 states with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts.usda.gov. The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. By completing the survey, producers across the nation can …
Florida Citrus Bud Advisories Now UnderwayÂ
Regular flower bud advisories from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) were restarted Nov. 21 and will be provided every other week through early spring. Associate Professor Tripti Vashisth provides the advisories. The advisories provide critical information about the intensity and time of citrus blooms. Growers use this information to determine when to spray for Asian citrus …
Florida H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate Up Nearly $2
By Frank Giles The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the results of its Farm Labor Survey. This data is used by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to determine the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which establishes the minimum wages for H-2A workers in states. The survey results indicate the new AEWR in 2023 is estimated to be $14.33, …
Thinking Outside the Box: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify to Remain Sustainable
If cold-hardy citrus growers diversified their crops and not put all of their eggs in the satsuma basket, it would provide them a better chance at long-term sustainability. It would allow producers an opportunity to combat the negative national stigma concerning citrus juices, says Jude Grosser, a professor of plant cell genetics at the University of Florida Institute of Food …
Post-Ian Fertilizer Exemption Allowed
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) issued an emergency rule on Monday allowing enrolled producers to apply a replacement fertilizer to reestablish crops impacted by Hurricane Ian without fear of being out of compliance with their respective Best Management Practices (BMP) manuals. FDACS recommends producers conduct soil testing to confirm the need for replacement fertilizer prior to …
Satsuma Overload: Citrus Growers Need to Diversify
By Clint Thompson Citrus harvest season is in full swing across the North Florida/South Georgia production region. One thing is certain this season: Growers need to diversify their farming operations with citrus varieties other than satsuma mandarins. Grower Kim Jones, who also owns a citrus packing facility in Monticello, Florida, and is part-owner of a similar facility in Tifton, Georgia, …
CRAFT Cycle Four Application Deadline Extended
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program is now accepting applications for the fourth cycle of trials. The deadline for applications has been extended to Dec. 31, 2022. This cycle will follow practices established in the first three cycles by partnering with growers to evaluate the effectiveness and economic feasibility of HLB mitigation strategies in commercial settings. The CRAFT …
Peel Protection Key for Citrus Growers
Citrus growers producing for the fresh market should always ensure their fruit’s peel remains unblemished and without defect. This will protect the fruit against infection and consumers choosing not to purchase the fruit. Mark Ritenour, professor of postharvest technology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, spoke during the recent Cold-Hardy Citrus Field Day at the …
Hurricane Nicole Impacts on CitrusÂ
When Hurricane Nicole formed off Florida’s east coast, citrus growers held their collective breath after the beating they took in late September from Hurricane Ian. Nicole made landfall just south of Vero Beach on Nov. 10. Winds near hurricane strength were recorded at multiple weather stations as Nicole came ashore, including 75 miles per hour (mph) in Port St. John and 72 mph …