Citrus Greening

Acres of dead citrus trees line the south side of Corkscrew Road east of Alico Road in what, at one time, were productive groves of oranges and other citrus fruit.

Florida citrus forecast takes a hit, slightly better than a bad 2022-23

Florida’s citrus industry got some bitter news Thursday as it enters the final months of the 2023-2024 growing season.The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report that reduced estimates of orange and grapefruit production. Overall, the new numbers indicated the industry will slightly outpace the 2022-2023 season, which was devastated by Hurricane Ian and had the lowest output in 93 years.

Some of the different citrus grown at the center. The annual Open House for the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, was held Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023. This gave a chance to show anyone interested in seeing the research being done with citrus and vegetables at the center in Immokalee. The research and best practices from the University of Florida research is then passed on to our local Florida farmers. Many of the scientists had their research on display as well as a tour of the research farm was given. You can also see how artificial intelligence technology helps growers detect pests and diseases faster and more accurately. A technology that is changing the farming industry.

Agriculture

Florida citrus 2023-24 production forecast shows an uptick

Jim Turner/News Service of Florida

As it hopes for a warm winter, Florida’s struggling citrus industry could be showing signs of recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Ian and progress in the decades-long fight against citrus greening disease.

Environment

UF agriculture research center shows what it can do

Andrea Melendez and Tom Bayles

The open house held at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center showed off what UF agricultural researchers are doing to solve problems growing citrus and vegetables

Citrus greening (Huanglongbing) is reeking havoc on Florida's citrus industry.

A.I. may be the way to stop deadly disease decimating Florida's citrus groves

Mike Kiniry

New technology being tested by researchers at UF/IFAS to help Florida farmers reduce their costs as much as possible in order to try and stay profitable in the face of what’s called ‘citrus greening.'

New UF/IFAS Study Looks to the Past to Get to the 'Root' of Citrus Greening

Julie Glenn

The citrus industry in Florida has been under assault by a psyllid that has spread the greening disease through orange groves since the ’90s, decimating yields and killing businesses. Researchers are now looking at older varieties for resilience in the face of this disease.

Citrus greening, one of the most significant citrus diseases, was first detected in Florida in 2005. The disease is now distributed throughout Florida and portions of South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. Citrus greening is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), its insect vector. ACP is widely dispersed in the United States, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii, and the Territories of Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as areas of Southern California and Arizona.

Will A Known Neurotoxin Be Used on Florida Citrus?

Valerie Vande Panne

In the final days of the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency cleared the way for use of the pesticide Aldicarb, a known neurotoxin. Florida citrus growers want to use it to fight citrus greening.

Government & Politics

Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried

John Davis

Florida’s newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried will become the first woman to ever hold the office, and she’s the…

Government & Politics

Dem Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services candidate Nikki Fried

John Davis

With the November 6 general election now less than a week away, we continue WGCU’s series of interviews with the Republican and Democratic nominees for…

Environment

Researchers Continue Search for Solutions to Citrus Greening

Mike Kiniry

Citrus greening is a disease caused by a bacterium that is spread by a small insect called an Asian citrus psyllid. It first turned up here in Florida in…

Science

UF Researchers on the cusp of Citrus Greening Cure

John Davis

As the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary, researchers there say that they’re…