Headlines

Scott Urges Quick Action On Agriculture Aid – 4/12/2018
Gov. Rick Scott is asking U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to move quickly to get disaster-relief funding into the hands of Florida citrus growers, as it may be another three months before farmers can start to apply for the money. [Read More]

National scientific panel: Citrus greening research could improve – 4/11/2018
LAKE ALFRED — Citrus growers in Florida and other states, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all recognize the bacterial disease citrus greening represents an existential threat, but they’re not yet playing on the same team. [Read More]

Here's why latest citrus forecast is good news for Florida growers – 4/10/2018
TALLAHASSEE - For the second time in a week, Florida citrus growers got what could be considered good news for the struggling industry. [Read More]

Irma Agriculture Aid Slated To Start In Summer – 4/9/2018
A program to distribute federal disaster aid to Florida farmers hit by Hurricane Irma will be set up within the next 100 days, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Friday. [Read More]

Citrus growers still waiting for aid – 4/9/2018
Six months after Hurricane Irma strafed the state and two months after President Donald Trump approved a disaster-relief package, Florida’s citrus growers and other farmers now know they will have to wait until July to apply for assistance. [Read More]

Citrus Greening Threatens One Of Florida's Largest Industries – 3/29/2018
Vero Beach’s Riverfront Packing Company is in the heart of the Indian River District—a 200-mile-long swath of land from Daytona Beach to West Palm Beach that Riverfront’s president and CEO Dan Richey calls “the ultimate grapefruit land in the world.” [Read More]

Judge Orders State to Pay ASAP in Citrus Canker Lawsuit – 3/28/2018
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge is ordering the state agricultural department to immediately pay residents their share from a class-action lawsuit filed after the state removed their citrus trees. [Read More]

Citrus research group hires interim COO – 3/23/2018
LAKE ALFRED – The Citrus Research and Development Foundation Inc. board of directors has hired John Arthington as the temporary chief operating officer while it conducts a search for a successor to Harold Browning. [Read More]

FCM Applauds Congress for Passing Hurricane Irma Relief Package – 2/9/2018
BARTOW, FL (February 9, 2018) – Florida’s largest citrus grower organization thanks members of the U.S. House and Senate for approving a Florida agriculture disaster package early Friday that will send billions in relief to growers hit hard by Hurricane Irma. [Read More]

U.S. Sen. Nelson calls for funding to save Florida citrus industry – 2/6/2018
In an effort to save Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry and speed-up work on Herbert Hoover Dike, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida on Tuesday called on Senate leaders to include additional disaster assistance for Florida in a government spending bill the chamber is expected to take up this week. [Read More]

State House eyes tax help for agriculture industry – 1/31/2018
TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s Hurricane Irma-battered agriculture industry, growing anxious as it awaits federal disaster relief, could land some help from the state House as part of a tax-cut package. The House Ways & Means Committee, which is putting together a package, reviewed three measures Wednesday intended to help the industry, which sustained an estimated $2.5 billion in damages from the deadly September hurricane. [Read More]

New Tax Plan Could Help Citrus Growers Replant – 1/31/2018
Larry Black's family has grown oranges at the Peace River Packing Company for five generations. [Read More]

Citrus officials cleared to use bactericides another year – 1/26/2018
WINTER HAVEN – Florida citrus officials greeted the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to extend use of three bactericides positively, although their effectiveness in moderating the effects of citrus greening remain unproven. [Read More]

USDA gives grants to fight citrus greening – 1/18/2018
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced grants to help fight citrus greening disease. [Read More]

Citrus agency shifts money as industry seeks aid – 1/18/2018
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Citrus adjusted its budget Wednesday for the second time this growing season, as leaders of the storm-battered industry hold out hope the U.S. Senate will approve a disaster-relief package. [Read More]

Statement by Commissioner Adam Putnam on Updated Citrus Crop Forecast, Need for Federal Assistance – 1/15/2018
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2017-2018 season: [Read More]

New tax law gives area citrus growers help – 1/15/2018
While Florida citrus still has the fight of its life in trying to overcome the fatal citrus greening bacteria, growers got more ammunition for the battle from the federal income tax reform Congress passed last month. [Read More]

Buchanan Welcomes US Tax Support For Citrus Fruit Farmers – 1/4/2018
The US Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included provisions to provide tax support to citrus fruit farmers struggling as a result of recent crop disease and hurricanes. [Read More]

U.S. cold weather spares citrus – 1/4/2018
U.S. citrus groves have apparently come through a patch of cold weather in December and early January without significant damage to fruit on the trees. [Read More]

Citrus growers prepared but not concerned as temperatures drop on Treasure Coast – 1/3/2018
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Provision to aid beleaguered citrus grower included in tax overhaul – 1/3/2018
A provision of the recently signed federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows citrus growers to deduct 100 percent of the cost of replacing damaged trees in the first year. [Read More]

Research Results Show Citrus Greening-Tolerant Trees in Reach – 12/18/2017
Based off a special block of grafted orange trees showcased during the recent 100th anniversary of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), there might be new hope the Florida citrus industry can withstand the citrus greening crisis. [Read More]

Citrus industry squeezed if Congress doesn't help – 12/13/2017
TALLAHASSEE (NSF) - No “plan B” is available if Congress does not add citrus funding to the latest disaster relief package, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Wednesday. [Read More]

Florida citrus, still hurting from Irma, drops again in USDA forecast – 12/13/2017
Hurricane Irma continues to take its toll on Florida's orange crop. [Read More]

Commentary: Florida growers need help from Congress – 12/11/2017
Florida felt the full brunt of Hurricane Irma when it struck the state in September. It was the most destructive hurricane to hit Florida in decades. [Read More]

Florida Citrus Growers Seek Congress’s Help in New Farm Bill – 12/8/2017
Florida citrus growers say they will seek improved risk management tools and crop insurance in the next farm bill, after growers were hit by Hurricane Irma in August and September, threatening to devastate the nation’s largest citrus-producing state. [Read More]

Farmers face challenges and not just from Hurricane Irma – 11/30/2017
The agriculture industry is one of the biggest drivers of our economy, but it's also facing challenges and we're not just talking impacts from Hurricane Irma. [Read More]

Florida citrus growers pushing Washington hard for disaster-relief money – 11/30/2017
WINTER HAVEN – The time for talking has passed, and the time for action has arrived. [Read More]

Lake Alfred Citrus Research Center officials discuss past, future – 11/29/2017
Top University of Florida officials who came for Wednesday’s Citrus Research and Education 100th Anniversary Celebration spoke as much about the next 100 years of Florida citrus as they did about the past century. [Read More]

Citrus growers turn to Congress for help after administration request leaves them out – 11/29/2017
WASHINGTON — A top U.S. Agriculture official told a congressional panel Wednesday his agency is willing to explore ways of improving crop insurance options for Florida’s battered citrus industry but that may be of little comfort to growers mulling whether to stay in business following Hurricane Irma’s destruction in September. [Read More]

Florida's citrus industry is still suffering from Hurricane Irma – 11/27/2017
When Hurricane Irma made landfall in Southwest Florida on Sept. 10, the state’s citrus groves were hit especially hard. And they were already vulnerable, after more than a decade of struggle against a devastating crop disease. Hurricane Irma’s severe winds, rain and flooding left extensive damage in the groves, which growers say will take years to recover. [Read More]

Editorial: Congress should help Florida agriculture recover from Irma – 11/24/2017
Florida agriculture took a beating in September from Hurricane Irma, which caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses across the citrus, sugar, cattle and dairy industries. [Read More]

Column: Citrus industry hurt by Irma needs federal disaster help – 11/22/2017
Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, is a day citrus growers will not soon forget. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the southern part of the peninsula near Marco Island and made its way up through the heart of the Florida citrus industry. [Read More]

Gov. Rick Scott’s budget proposal includes $22M for citrus, greening research – 11/14/2017
WINTER HAVEN – Research efforts into the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening got a $2 million raise. [Read More]

Florida’s Natural Growers diversifying business, re-emphasizing existing products like Donald Duck – 11/13/2017
HAINES CITY – Donald Duck is back. Not that the Disney cartoon character ever went away, but the orange juice brand carrying his name has long been a minor part of business at Lake Wales-based Citrus World Inc., the parent company of the Florida’s Natural Growers brand. [Read More]

Editorial: Combee a good choice for top ag slot – 11/7/2017
It seems that despite all their differences Barack Obama and Donald Trump share one thing in common as presidents: when they look for leadership to help guide Florida’s agriculture industry, they look to Polk County. [Read More]

Genetic engineering ‘fastest method’ to save Florida citrus industry from greening disease – 11/7/2017
Huanglongbing (HLB) [also known as citrus greening disease] threatens the survival of the Florida citrus industry. Both conventional cultivars and genetically engineered cultivars that can grow in the presence of HLB have been developed at the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred. [Read More]

Personnel note: Neil Combee tapped for USDA job – 11/5/2017
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has appointed state Rep. Neil Combee as Florida State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the department announced in a news release Friday night. [Read More]

Editorial: Give citrus industry hurricane relief – 11/1/2017
Congress squeezed out Florida’s citrus industry. Again. [Read More]