The USDA just released the season’s final citrus forecast for Florida. It’s one that’s been greeted with both praise and dismay, a bit like winning a skirmish but still facing a difficult war. The forecast increased slightly—as it has for the several past months, in contrast with what’s par for the course since citrus greening [...]
Florida’s citrus growers got some help in the fight against citrus greening (HLB) in March of 2016 when the EPA approved the emergency use exemption for bactericides. Through the Section 18 exemption, growers were given access to three different brand name products, Mycoshield, FireLine 17WP and FireWall 50WP, to use against citrus greening. Bactericides are [...]
The importance of honey bees as pollinators of our country’s food supplies cannot be understated. A special program in Louisiana will see honey bees getting a leg up from another group important to our country: military veterans. A partnership between a USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) lab and the Louisiana Armed Forces Foundation (LaAFF) will [...]
There are many different innovations and treatments that are being tested by the Florida citrus industry for dealing with HLB, or citrus greening. One interesting concept is about to be put to real-life testing in two different Central Florida locations: Citrus Undercover Production Systems, or CUPS. A Florida Grower article details the efforts of two [...]
Water conservation is an important topic in Florida, and there are many in The Sunshine State who could be doing more to help conserve water. However, one of the most promising groups for water conservation targeting may be those who already conserve water in some measure, but who could stand to improve. According to a [...]
With every report of citrus greening’s destructive toll, there’s also a story of how researchers and scientists are working alongside growers and others in the industry to beat the disease once and for all. Read up on the latest developments in citrus greening (HLB) research. […]
Agriculture is in need of warm bodies in the industry, with vacancies in the scientific and technical side of agricultural employment growing rapidly. It’s one reason why ag education is so important. Traditional ag education classes that pair with organizations like 4-H, Future Farmers of America and others—both in and out of public school classrooms—are [...]
Florida agriculture may be one of the strongest in the nation, but the tropical climate, abundant sunshine and plentiful rains (barring drought!) that created a land so favorable to agriculture also welcome a lion’s share of pests and pathogens to attack the fruits of The Sunshine State’s labors (and the vegetables, nuts, livestock and so [...]
It’s common knowledge that Florida’s citrus industry is in the fight of its life. The industry has been fighting against HLB—also known as citrus greening—for a decade, and things aren’t going too well. However, the last few months have seen some successes that seem to indicate this year’s Florida citrus season is poised for good [...]
According to the statistics, school gardens are NOT too cool for school, as a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) review counts about 1,300 school gardens growing in The Sunshine State alone. A recent study by Karla Shelnutt, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension nutrition specialist and Associate [...]
