The All In For Citrus Podcast

AllInForCitrus

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Southeast AgNet are partnering to provide the latest news on citrus-related research in a monthly podcast. The podcast, “All in for Citrus,” will feature short interviews with scientists working to find solutions to citrus greening and other devastating citrus diseases.

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94 episodes
Updated June 24

Episodes94

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June 24 · 28 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 94 June 2026
The citrus research team at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) generates a lot of information from the trials and experiments they conduct each year. That information can be a valuable resource to growers who are seeking production guidance for their groves. In the June episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, was excited to announce a new redesign of the citrus research team website. Visit citrusresearch.ifas.ufl.edu to see the new look. Rogers said the redesign is intended to make relevant citrus research easier to find through intuitive drop-down menus and highlighted sections. In addition, the new design includes a section on new citrus cultivars, which was previously unavailable online. He added that the team in charge of the redesign put a lot of thought, time and effort into creating something that should be more useful to growers seeking information. The website will be regularly updated and improved with feedback from users. Also in the June episode of the podcast, Lauren Diepenbrock, UF/IFAS entomologist, discusses another item that is getting a makeover. The Florida Citrus Production Guide, which has been a hardbound book, will now come in a three-ring binder format for easier use and organization. It should also make it easier for UF/IFAS researchers to update relevant sections from year to year. The new Florida Citrus Production Guide will be available for free at the UF/IFAS citrus research team booth during the Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 12-13. The event will be held at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center and adjoining Luminary Hotel in downtown Fort Myers. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
May 22 · 42 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 93 May 2026
After significant drought in many parts of Florida, some much-needed rainfall began in May as the rainy season approaches. That seasonal transition, from a grove management perspective, is the focus of the May episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, reminds growers that spring is a critical time of year to manage the fruit set occurring in groves for next season’s crop. He emphasizes the importance of proper irrigation and fertigation during mid-May as drought conditions persist, noting that grower decisions now will determine fruit set and yields for the rest of the year. Without adequate fertilizer applications during this window, fruit will not size up properly, and fruit retention will be reduced. Frequent irrigation during the dry period is critical to help trees meet the demands of the fruit set period and avoid stress. Sandra Guzmán, UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, offers a timely discussion on a software platform she and her team have developed called IrrigMonitor. The system helps growers determine optimal watering times to avoid both over-irrigation and under-irrigation during drought or rainy periods. The software works with tools like soil moisture sensors and weather stations that growers already have on their farms. Guzmán said IrrigMonitor is a decision support platform designed to help growers determine whether trees need water based on combined data from soil moisture, weather forecasts and irrigation schedules. She describes the tool as a "weather app for irrigation" that provides real-time guidance for irrigation decisions. For growers interested in learning more about IrrigMonitor, Guzmán can be contacted at sandra.guzmangut@ufl.edu. Also in the May podcast, Fernando Alferez, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus horticulture, shares new data from his research on the use of individual protective covers (IPCs) and brassinosteroids to protect and rejuvenate trees impacted by HLB. He also discusses new research data on citrus canker management. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
April 20 · 33 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 92 April 2026
In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park. The event is the subject of discussion in the April All In For Citrus podcast episode. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), says the Institute is among the big three citrus events each year. The others are the Florida Citrus Show held in March and the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo scheduled for Aug. 12–13 in Fort Myers. The morning session of the Institute included timely presentations from UF/IFAS citrus researchers. After lunch, a meet-and-greet format gave growers the opportunity to converse with scientists one-on-one. Rogers discusses a presentation by Ute Albrecht, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant physiology, which laid out data from her ongoing research on trunk-injection of oxytetracycline. Her trials over three years show steady improvement in yields, and fruit-quality improvements are beginning to show up. Rogers also emphasizes the importance of the presentation given by Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension commercial crop production and food systems agent for Lake and Orange counties. His talk outlined new pesticide regulations related to the Endangered Species Act. Growers need to understand what these rules mean and how they impact herbicides and insecticides. Fungicide regulations are coming soon. The podcast also includes an interview with Smith on the scene at the Institute. He discusses pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs) in detail. PULAs are part of the new rules for pesticide application. Smith says this is no longer a regulation coming soon; it is a regulation that is in place. Also included in the podcast are interviews with UF/IFAS entomologist Lukasz Stelinski and UF/IFAS weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery, conducted at the Institute.
March 25 · 43 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 91 March 2026
The March All In For Citrus podcast previews a couple of events coming in April and May that growers will want to mark on their calendars. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), discusses the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute scheduled for April 14 at South Florida State College in Avon Park. A presentation that will be given by Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension commercial crop production and food systems agent for Lake and Orange counties, will focus on new pesticide regulations related to the Endangered Species Act. These regulations will apply to any pesticide applications, especially those in pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs). Rogers says this is a big change that comes with a lot of information, so Smith’s presentation is one growers and applicators will not want to miss. Rogers also previews a workshop being held at CREC on May 19. It will take a deeper dive into these new regulations and PULAs. Both events will be available for pre-registration at the CREC website. Rogers also takes a moment to congratulate CREC citrus breeders Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser, who will be honored with a special CREC Professorship Award in April. The award has only been given to a handful of CREC scientists in the center’s more than 100-year history. Gmitter and Grosser discuss the award and some of their more recent rootstock and variety selections. They say they are proud to be honored together, because they’ve worked as a team for many years at CREC. After the freeze this year, citrus trees were rebounding and flushing nicely in March. Tripti Vashisth, CREC assistant director, joins the podcast to discuss demands this is putting on trees in terms of irrigation and fertilization needs. Irrigation is especially important as many areas in Florida continue to be suffering from significant drought. The All In For Citrus podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
February 20 · 44 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 90 February 2026
Florida experienced one of the most damaging freezes in more than a decade this winter. The February episode of the All In For Citrus podcast addresses the impacts the freeze had on citrus. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, notes that it will take some time for the full scale of damage to be sorted out. He adds the intensity of damage varied from location to location, but early reports are that some groves took on significant damage. Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension commercial crop production and food systems agent for Lake and Orange counties, shares what he is observing in terms of damage. He noted there is significant damage in the counties he serves. Smith also talks about the potential disaster relief programs that might be forthcoming and how growers can prepare to be in a good position to receive funds. A key element of this is documenting all damage that has occurred on the farm. That damage could include lost fruit, injured or dead trees, or broken equipment like irrigation pipes. Take many photos to document the damage, Smith advises. While not directly related to the freeze, Smith also discusses the recently announced Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program. This U.S. Department of Agriculture bridge payment program is making a total of $1 billion available to specialty crop growers. The deadline to apply is March 13. Muhammad Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, details agronomic measures growers can take to rehabilitate freeze-damaged trees. He says a key is patience to give trees time to adjust before taking actions like fertilization and pruning. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
January 22 · 43 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 89 January 2026
In the latest All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, discussed a statewide citrus workshop hosted at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in January. The event provided a day full of educational presentations covering a wide range of topics. Rogers noted several of the talks explained how HLB impacts citrus trees internally and how certain therapies help counteract those effects. Ute Albrecht, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant physiology, also joined the podcast to discuss her research on the use of oxytetracycline (OTC). Albrecht reported the yield results from a fairly large trial in a commercial Hamlin grove that has had three applications of OTC. The trial results reinforce the thinking that OTC has a cumulative effect over the course of several years as root systems get reestablished and tree health returns. The third-year yield data show significant yield increases in OTC-treated trees compared to controls. Davie Kadyampakeni, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus water and nutrient management, summarized the take-home messages from his presentation at the workshop, which focused on optimizing citrus nutrition. A key point was to ensure nutrition is always available to citrus trees and in amounts that the trees can actually take up due to reduced root systems from HLB. This is even true with slow-release fertilizers. He recommended split applications throughout the year to ensure there is some overlap as one dose of slow-release fertilizer plays out. Kadyampakeni also gave a brief update on the status of new recommendations from UF/IFAS for citrus nutrition. He said there has been a slight delay in releasing the update but expects it will be coming soon.
Dec 19, 2025 · 46 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 88 December 2025
As 2025 winds down, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), took time to recognize Chris Oswalt during the December All In For Citrus podcast. Oswalt is retiring from his post as a citrus Extension agent, which he’s held for nearly 30 years. He served Polk and Hillsborough counties. “I quickly got connected with Chris when I first came to CREC in 2004,” Rogers said. “He was a big help to me, especially earlier in my career. He has helped get many new faculty pointed in the right direction when they come on board. He is down to earth and grounded in reality, and growers trust him because of that. We wish him well in retirement.” Rogers also took the occasion to remind growers to engage with the citrus agents in Florida because they can be a valuable resource. Find your citrus agent here. “If you’ve not had an agent out to your operation, invite them to come out,” Rogers said. “Get them involved and visiting you in the field. It will help the agents develop their programs and serve you better.” One of the citrus agents, Edwin Gutierrez, also joins the podcast to discuss ways to prepare groves for winter and potential freeze events. He covers DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee counties. Some of his key points include making sure trees are as healthy as possible going into winter because a healthy tree will withstand a freeze better. He also advises growers to check their irrigation systems regularly to ensure they are operating properly. Irrigation is the main line of defense to protect trees during a freeze. Muhammad Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, addresses winter preparations for the cold-hardy region. Freezes are far more regular occurrences in that area. Shahid discusses his research with silicon, which appears to boost citrus trees’ resistance to freezes. He also tells how a new mandarin variety, nicknamed Greenie, may have found a home in the cold-hardy region. The podcast is partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
Dec 2, 2025 · 46 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 87 November 2025
The November All In For Citrus podcast takes a trip around the globe. Faculty from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) join the show to describe citrus production in regions outside of the United States. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, gives an update on citrus in the Caribbean and how UF/IFAS scientists collaborate with colleagues in those countries to advance citrus production knowledge. The podcast also provides updates on citrus production in South America, Brazil, the Indian subcontinent, Israel, Africa and the Mediterranean. One of the key takeaway messages from the episode is that sharing knowledge with other production regions benefits all citrus growers globally. UF/IFAS scientists say that, in most cases, U.S. citrus producers can gain beneficial knowledge by following what is happening in other parts of the world. Flavia Zambon, UF/IFAS assistant professor, gives an update on citrus in her home country of Brazil. The world’s largest citrus producer has begun to feel the bite of HLB more acutely in recent years. In addition, an ongoing drought in Brazil is challenging citrus production. Tripti Vashisth, UF/IFAS associate professor, discusses citrus production on the Indian subcontinent. Interestingly, growers in that part of the world have been dealing with HLB for more than 100 years but have remained relatively productive. Vashisth said that is due in part to the region’s better soils and production practices. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
Oct 22, 2025 · 57 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 86 October 2025
The October All In For Citrus podcast features citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Over the past decade, the practice has grown in popularity due to its ability to exclude the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Roughly 1,500 acres of citrus are grown under screen in Florida with more acreage under development. Lauren Diepenbrock, associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), addresses pest management in CUPS. While CUPS successfully keeps out the psyllid, other pests are small enough to breach the mesh netting. Those pests include chilli thrips, lebbeck mealybug and mites. Diepenbrock discusses her research on how these pests enter, survive and multiply in CUPS and the latest knowledge on managing the pests. She also provides information on strategies like introducing beneficial insects in the structures to manage the pests. Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant pathology at the CREC, joins the discussion to talk about disease management in CUPS. She says greasy spot and citrus canker have been the most problematic diseases in the system. Jerry Mixon, a CUPS grower in Central Florida, shares why he tried the CUPS approach and what his experience has been like so far. Mixon says he was impressed with the yields and very high-quality fruit CUPS can produce. He also had experience building similar structures (to exclude birds) when he and his family grew blueberries. Mixon mostly grows grapefruit in his CUPS but is evaluating other varieties in collaboration with UF/IFAS. He has also worked with Diepenbrock and Dewdney on pest and disease trials in his structures.
Sep 23, 2025 · 47 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 85 September 2025
Varieties and rootstocks are the topics of the September episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Earlier this month, a field day was held in Jason Griffin’s grove near Lake Alfred, Florida. He is collaborating with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to evaluate several rootstock/scion combinations developed by UF/IFAS citrus breeders. Griffin has focused much of the trial work on the OLL variety line, which was developed by Jude Grosser, UF/IFAS professor of plant cell genetics. Both Griffin and Grosser are podcast guests this month. Grosser discusses his research developing the OLL varieties and why he believes they are a good fit for Florida growers. The OLL line grew out of his relationship with Orie Lee. Lee was a legend in citrus breeding circles and discovered an interesting tree in his research groves near Saint Cloud, Florida, where the original OLL cuttings were taken. Grosser has developed several OLL varieties that are now commercially available. Combinations like OLL-8 on UFR-4 rootstock have performed well. Grosser also recommended growers consider the Orange 14 rootstock, which has shown some tolerance to both diaprepes and HLB. Griffin discusses his grove trials and why he selected the OLL line. Tolerance to HLB, good yield and quality are among the reasons he likes the varieties. There are several rootstock/scion combinations he highlights as favorites during the podcast. One of those is OLL-20 on a mutant X639 rootstock. Griffin also talks about the importance of a solid production program to promote tree health and productivity. In addition to a solid fertilizer program, he is a big believer in compost and mulch to increase soil organic matter. More frequent and controlled irrigation is also an important part of his program.
Aug 29, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 84 August 2025
The August All In For Citrus podcast features seminar recaps from the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo, which was held this month at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The event included an extensive citrus educational program with more than 20 presentations. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, shares highlights from the event in this month’s podcast. Rogers discusses the citrus under protective screen (CUPS) presentation by Arnold Schumann, UF/IFAS professor of soil, water and ecosystem sciences. The presentation included details on the significant increase in acres dedicated to CUPS in Florida and the high value of CUPS-grown crops. Schumann also introduced a new AI chatbot called "CUPS Chat" to assist growers with questions about CUPS production. Rogers also talks about the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) programs and the new cycle of funding for new plantings and therapies in existing groves. Many of the new varieties and therapies that are part of the CRAFT programs have been developed and/or evaluated through UF/IFAS research. In the podcast, John Chater, UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticultural sciences, provides descriptions of new varieties that have been added to CRAFT and are eligible for the program’s planting incentive. Sarah Strauss, UF/IFAS associate professor of soil microbiology, also joins the August episode of All In For Citrus to discuss her presentation at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. Her talk focused on ways to measure the impact that cover crops and/or compost have on soil health. She said with Florida’s sandy soils, the practices take time to increase organic matter and soil health, but they do offer potential benefits.
Jul 23, 2025 · 27 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 83 July 2025
The July All In For Citrus podcast episode focuses on the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo. The event is scheduled for Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Micheal Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, previews a new, special educational session on alternative crops. Rogers said the session will focus on bamboo, macadamia, avocado and mango production. The bulk of alternative crop presentations will focus on bamboo, which has been gaining more attention in recent years. Rogers said there are more than 1,000 acres of the crop planted in Florida, and some processing infrastructure is falling into place. Bamboo has food, wood and other use functions and is in high demand. He said the goal of the bamboo presentations is to set realistic expectations about the cost of establishing the crop, growing it and its market potential. Tripti Vashisth, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus horticulture, joins the podcast to provide details on the citrus seminars, which include 21 presentations on HLB management and other current topics. She said the primary focus of the presentations will be to provide information that growers can use in their groves right now. Jamie Burrow, UF/IFAS Extension program manager, talks about the UF/IFAS citrus research booth that will be on the trade show floor. The booth is one of the largest exhibits and is always a highlight for attendees. Burrow said several key research scientists will be available throughout the event at the booth so growers can have one-on-one interactions with the experts. Attendees can also pick up educational materials in the booth like the new edition of the Florida Citrus Production Guide. And there’s plenty of swag like pens, notepads and other freebies for the taking in the booth. Don’t miss the latest All In For Citrus episode. And don’t miss the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo; register here!
Jun 25, 2025 · 43 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 82 June 2025
In the June All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers gives an update on some of the activities keeping University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers busy this summer. Rogers is the director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. One of their big projects is helping to coordinate the citrus seminars for the upcoming Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo on Aug. 20–21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Rogers provides a sneak peek of the citrus presentations, which number more than 20. While the Expo program will focus on HLB management, additional topics will be addressed. This includes other diseases and pests, crop insurance considerations and more. The citrus seminars will provide growers with the latest knowledge on how to optimize trunk injection of oxytetracycline (OTC). New research on OTC applications and degradation and how different varieties respond to treatments will be shared. There will also be a presentation on advancements in automated trunk injection. Lukasz Stelinski, UF/IFAS professor of entomology and nematology, joins the podcast to give growers useful reminders on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) management. He stresses the importance of new flush in timing insecticide applications targeting the ACP. Stelinski also emphasizes the importance of dormant sprays during the winter to really push the pest’s population down. On the disease front, Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant pathology, speaks in the podcast about some key disease concerns this time of year, including phytophthora brown rot, algal spot and canker. She adds that melanose could be more problematic than normal due to recent weather patterns of heavier rainfall.
May 23, 2025 · 41 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 81 May 2025
The May All In For Citrus podcast features highlights from a recent OJ Break hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. Podcast host Frank Giles caught up with Michael Rogers, CREC director, during the event. Rogers summarized some of the information presented at the OJ Break, including a talk by Nian Wang, UF/IFAS professor and Graves Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Biotechnology, on his work to develop a CRISPR citrus tree with resistance to HLB. Wang has already engaged with the regulatory agencies required to get a CRISPR tree approved for commercial use by growers. Those agencies include the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Rogers said the good news is a CRISPR tree is not a transgenic genetically modified plant, which means the regulatory process is easier to navigate. When a tree is proven to work in real-world grove conditions, it can be moved to growers more quickly. But Rogers added it will take time to identify the right tree. In addition, Wang discussed an observation he made during his research on letting some rootstock shoots grow up into the canopy of the tree. Some rootstocks have proven to be more tolerant to HLB. “Studies have shown that the root-die off from HLB is caused by carbohydrate starvation, because the plant is not moving the carbohydrates down to roots from the leaves,” Rogers explained. Wang observed that the rootstock shoots act as a means to move carbohydrates down to the roots. This could help sustain roots in HLB-infected trees. “I want to be clear this an observation and not a recommendation from UF/FAS,” Rogers said. “But it might spark some ideas with growers as it did today with the OJ Break audience. And that’s a fact that some of our rootstocks are very tolerant to HLB on their own.” Also discussed in the May episode of All In For Citrus is managing the growing problem with snails in citrus as well as survey results on grower attitudes toward trunk injection of oxytetracycline. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
Apr 21, 2025 · 38 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 80 April 2025
April is a busy month for citrus events. The Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute was held in Avon Park early in the month followed by a citrus field day at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SFWREC) in Immokalee. These events are the topic of the April episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, opens the podcast with a summary of the presentations given at the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute. Covered subjects are psyllid management, rootstock interactions with oxytetracycline (OTC), the development of a Bacillus thuringiensis citrus tree, optimizing the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and an update from the UF/IFAS Crop Transformation Center. Tripti Vashisth, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus horticulture, discusses in more detail her Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute presentation on the use of PGRs like gibberellic acid to improve tree health and yields. Vashisth has developed a program approach utilizing various types of PGRs during different parts of the season. Her results show yield and quality improvements in line with the use of OTC. She added that her PGR program would be a good option to apply during the label-required off year of OTC use. The PGRs are also a good complement to use with OTC. Sarah Strauss, UF/IFAS associate professor of soil microbiology, details the SFWREC citrus field day and the tour stop she hosted on the use of cover crops and compost to boost soil and tree health. Her research is studying how compost in conjunction with cover crops can benefit soil. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
Mar 21, 2025 · 38 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 79 March 2025
With spring comes a number of citrus events. One of those was the Florida Citrus Show held on March 13 in Fort Pierce. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, joins the March All In For Citrus podcast to discuss highlights of Florida Citrus Show. He also gives a sneak peek of the annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute planned for April 8 at South Florida State College in Avon Park. Rogers says the seminars were well attended at the Florida Citrus Show and covered a wide range of topics. One highlight was a grower panel, which he says was a good example of growers and researchers collaborating. “It was good to hear that the growers on the panel were committed to hanging in there and continuing to fight HLB,” says Rogers. “I really appreciated that they are sharing information and working closely with the researchers.” Chris Oswalt, citrus Extension agent for Polk and Hillsborough counties, also joins the podcast this month to give more details on the Citrus Institute. There’s a change in the program this year that he believes growers will appreciate. After lunch, rather than going back into a seminar setting with speakers, there will be researchers from the various UF/IFAS citrus labs available to answer specific questions from attendees. It will be a way that growers can build their own educational experience. The Citrus Institute will be providing continuing education units for growers. Also in the March podcast, UF/IFAS weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery discusses his research aimed at helping citrus growers manage weeds. He says this is a tough task given Florida’s climate and large weed-seed bank in the soil. One area he is studying is the growing tolerance weeds are developing to important herbicides like glyphosate. He also talks about the role cover crops could play in weed management.
Feb 20, 2025 · 48 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 78 February 2025
In the February episode of the All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers provides an update on activities at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. He said the beginning of the year is the time when current and future projects are evaluated. “The months of February and March are full of meetings with our faculty one-on-one where we go over the accomplishments of the past year,” Rogers said. “It allows us to see what’s going on more in-depth about the progress being made in research with each faculty member. There are areas where great progress is being made, but they might need more resources and support to make things happen.” He added that the emphasis is on keeping research moving forward, especially when it comes to HLB. It’s all hands on deck when it comes to HLB. Rogers said he has reviewed some very promising work in this year’s faculty evaluations. One project is looking at how the HLB bacterium moves from cell to cell in the tree. Molecules that allow the bacteria to move throughout the plant have been identified. By using techniques like CRISPR, scientists could develop a way to prevent those molecules from having the ability to pass along the HLB bacteria. Another study he mentioned is a project looking at the HLB tolerance of the Parson Brown orange. UF/IFAS is studying why the variety has this tolerance to the disease. This is useful information in developing future HLB-tolerant varieties. Also in this episode, UF/IFAS associate professor Davie Kadyampakeni shares the latest information on the work to update citrus nutrient recommendations for Florida’s best management practices program. And Ute Albrecht, UF/IFAS associate professor, discusses what has been learned to optimize trunk-injection applications of oxytetracycline.
Jan 29, 2025 · 26 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 77 January 2025
Recently, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reported research on the development of a new type of citrus tree that can fight off the HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). The genetically modified tree has only been tested in the lab and the greenhouse, but the research looks promising. The approach involves inserting a gene into a citrus tree that produces a protein that can kill young ACPs. That gene normally occurs in a soil-borne bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The use of Bt has long been used in row crops like cotton and corn to protect against certain pests. While the citrus Bt research is promising, the story was picked up by (non-agricultural) media and was portrayed as a “cure” for HLB that was right around the corner. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida, addressed this during the January 2025 All In For Citrus podcast. He wanted to set proper expectations about the Bt research and potential time frames. He noted, assuming that the research progressed well, it could be up to five to eight years before it could be available to growers. “This looks great in the greenhouse, but we really need to get it out into the field to see how it does in real-world conditions,” Rogers said. “That’s what the researchers are doing right now, getting more plants into the field. And we’ll probably need at least three years of field data to show how these plants perform in terms of ACP control, how much HLB is reduced in the trees and if there is any resistance developing. And how do the plants perform (agronomically)? “I say all this to be sure growers understand that this is not far enough along to be making business decisions on right now. But we want to be sure folks are aware the research is moving forward.” Also in the January episode of All In For Citrus, UF/IFAS researchers who spoke during the recent Citrus Nutrition Day provide a recap of the event. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
Dec 20, 2024 · 54 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 76 December 2024
There’s been much talk about the “tree of the future” in the Florida citrus industry. That’s a tree with the trifecta of HLB-resistance, great quality and strong yield. So far, that perfect combination has not been found. But the search is on. This was a topic of discussion during the December episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, joins the episode to give an update on the progress being made toward a tree that has the necessary HLB tolerance to be a viable candidate to help turn the industry around. Rogers discusses the conventional breeding efforts and work in gene editing and transgenics aimed at delivering a rootstock of variety tolerant or resistant to HLB. While progress is being made, he cautioned it is still some time yet before this research yields a tree that is commercially available to growers. But he added that getting new varieties to growers faster is understood, as evidenced by the way the research community is approaching the task. John Chater, UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticultural sciences, also joins the podcast to discuss his collaborations with growers to evaluate varieties and rootstocks that have exhibited better tolerance to HLB. He commented on results of the recent Florida Citrus State of the Industry Survey conducted by Citrus Industry. Also in the December podcast episode, Chris Oswalt, UF/IFAS citrus Extension agent, shares some tips to prepare for winter and the steps to take should freeze protection be necessary. His main take-home message is to have a plan and know exactly what you need to do when a freeze is forecast. Don’t want until to the day before to prepare. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
Nov 22, 2024 · 45 min
All In For Citrus, Episode 75 November 2024
In November, academia from around the world gathered in Jeju, Korea, for the 2024 International Citrus Congress. A contingent of researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) attended the event. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, was among the attendees. He discusses the trip in the November episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Rogers describes citrus growing on the island of Jeju. There’s about 54,000 acres of citrus grown there with annual production of about 15 million boxes. There is no confirmed presence of HLB on the island. HLB was a major topic of discussion during the event. Water availability was also a focus of the presentations. Many citrus production regions are facing water shortfalls. This is expected to get worse as the climate changes and more demand is put on water supplies. Brazil is one of those regions dealing with water availability. The country’s last crop was reduced by about 20% due to drought stress. Brazil also has seen a spike in HLB infection rates, which is forcing growers to plant new groves north of the current main growing regions. Mohammad Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticulture, also joined the podcast to provide an update on the cold-hardy citrus region. Production continues to expand in the area with some 7,000 to 8,000 acres of citrus. Also in the November episode, Flavia Zambon discusses a field day hosted at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce, Florida. The field day featured a tour of the experimental Millennium Block, which is evaluating HLB tolerance of various rootstock/scion combinations. The block is one of the largest trials for HLB tolerance in grapefruit.