We Believe in Florida Citrus

Steven Callaham, CEO of the Dundee Citrus Growers Association, joins the podcast to discuss the association’s citrus under protective screen (CUPS) project. More than 300 acres under screen have been constructed to grow citrus in a psyllid-free environment, protecting trees from HLB. CUPS also promotes high-quality fruit and yields up to five times higher than conventional outside production.

The new Program Director of Florida’s Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) program Tamara Wood gives details on the effort to encourage planting and reveal promising varieties and rootstocks and production practices in the HLB-era. To date, the program is responsible for more than 4,000 acres of new plantings.

With a year under his belt serving as Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources with the University of Florida, Dr. Scott Angle discusses ag research priorities at the Land Grant. He says finding solutions to HLB and updating nutrition recommendations reflective of current conditions around the disease balanced with water quality issues are of the highest priority.

Jude Grosser, Associate Professor of Citrus Breeding and Genetics with UF/IFAS, joins to the podcast to discuss the UF/IFAS citrus breeding program and his favorite new rootsocks and scions. He says there’s a great new line-up of materials with more on the way –  a good reason for optimism for Florida’s citrus sector.

The We Believe in Florida Citrus initiative is built around telling stories on the legacy and future of the state’s signature crop. And there’s probably few people who have heard as many of those stories as Brenda Eubanks Burnette, the Executive Director of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Listen in on some of those tales and learn more about Miss Florida Citrus in this episode.

This year’s award winner Larry Black, a grower and packer from Ft. Meade, weighs in on growing citrus in the HLB-era, variety and rootstocks he’s planting now, and science frontiers he’s excited about in the fight against HLB. 

Mike Boylan of Mike’s Weather Page fame joins Florida Grower Editor Frank Giles to discuss the tropical outlook as the 2021 hurricane season gets underway. His website and Facebook page is a great resource for citrus growers and anyone else interested in tracking the tropics. Learn how what started out as a hobby turned into a calling followed by millions. 

Rick Dantzler, COO of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, addresses some changes in the research funding process at CRDF and new rootstocks and scion evaluations in the race to find solutions to HLB. And he addresses the billion-dollar question: Will we defeat HLB?

Learn how an underperforming variety from the 1970s might find new life in the HLB-era on a new rootstock. And find out how breeders and industry are managing the thousands of potential new varieties in development. Interview with Peter Chaires, Executive Director of the New Varieties Development and Management Corp.