Florida's Orange Crop Lowest in 24 Years - Largely Due to Greening

[jcaldeira]

"Growers and scientists suspect that many of Florida's 69 million citrus trees are infected, with some estimates as high as 75 percent." 
USDA is coordinating an emergency response:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/citrus-greening-disease-usda_n_4431741.html

[nullzero]

Was driving around Central FL recently, its pretty bad... Grove after grove of trees that look like they are on their last leg. The citrus indeed looks very sickly across FL.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

it's a good year for those who know how to properly maintain their trees $$$! I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

[GROWITFROMSEED]

Wow. Maybe I am being a bit alarmist. But this seems like it could be on the verge of a national emergency.

[jcaldeira]

it's a good year for those who know how to properly maintain their trees $$$! I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

How does properly maintaining trees prevent greening disease?

[jcaldeira]

Wow. Maybe I am being a bit alarmist. But this seems like it could be on the verge of a national emergency.

National emergency, indeed.   We'll need to learn how to mix vodka with inferior substitutes.  The cocktail industry will never be the same.

[Cookie Monster]

yikes. poop on that. no more 8 for a buck citrus deals I guess. pretty soon cooky manster is going to haz to survive the winter on canastel, star froot and frozen mangoes...

[luc]

I read somewhere that interplanting with guava really helps , don't quote me on that....

[bangkok]

Yes it's terrible, my tree's also got it. But the good news is that now all registers will be opened to stop that greening disease. The best experts can become hero's if they can find a solution.

And if you americans find a solution then us asians can copy that so the greening disease might be gone soon.

8 oranges for a buck? In Europe it's more like 1 big navel for a euro. Or 2 common oranges for a euro.

[luc]

Just in case ( we also have HLB in Mexico ) i removed most of my Citrus .

[GROWITFROMSEED]

Wow. Maybe I am being a bit alarmist. But this seems like it could be on the verge of a national emergency.

National emergency, indeed.   We'll need to learn how to mix vodka with inferior substitutes.  The cocktail industry will never be the same.

Lol. I am thinking about a $9 billion industry being crippled. The economy would definitely feel it.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

it's a good year for those who know how to properly maintain their trees $$$! I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

How does properly maintaining trees prevent greening disease?

I never said it prevents greening, but the disease can still be managed and a grove will remain profitable, productive, and produce quality fruit.

there u go chief.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4101.msg56576#msg56576

[Central Floridave]

Its a bummer about citrus greening. 

I have about 300 tangerines to eat off my trees this winter.  I've been eating a 2 or three a day and every time I'm wondering if this will be the last winter of eating fresh citrus?!?

[Mark in Texas]

I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

They must be from Texas.   

[mangomanic12]

Arizona has great Citrus also. I have a friend who's trees are loaded with sweet delicious fruit each and every year

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

They must be from Texas.   

Pee Wees Big Adventure Deep In The Heart of Texas

[phantomcrab]

Yes, it is bad. I've seen some of the central FL groves that are decimated.
Last weekend on NPR I heard an interview with a citrus greening researcher who said some HLB resistant trees have been identified in Florida, India, China and other locations where greening is widespread. They are being biochemically evaluated and genetically tested to identify the source(s) of this resistance. Hopefully these trees can be used as stock for future planting/breeding. When asked how serious greening is, he said something like 'if citrus canker is like a having a cold then greening is like having cancer'.

[jcaldeira]

it's a good year for those who know how to properly maintain their trees $$$! I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

How does properly maintaining trees prevent greening disease?

I never said it prevents greening, but the disease can still be managed and a grove will remain profitable, productive, and produce quality fruit.

there u go chief.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4101.msg56576#msg56576

Thanks for the article, but if it were really that easy almost all of the groves would be doing it. 

Over the long-term, I think building resistance into the planting stock (GMO?) is the way to go. 

[Mark in Texas]

Arizona has great Citrus also. I have a friend who's trees are loaded with sweet delicious fruit each and every year

Never had any Arizona citrus.  I'm gonna get a lot of flack from the FL and CA growers, but I'm sorry, I don't care for their fruit, not compared to Texas fruit.  I don't know what it is but Texas grown fruit is richer with more juice....just chocked full of  flavor.....and color.  The Rio Red grapefruit is sweet and RED, the blood oranges are rich and blood red, my Orlando tangelo tasted as good as any tropical fruit, etc.   

Good one Asaffron,  Pee Wee was too funny.     Gonna "one up ya", another local hero with the Texas Americana crowd - by Ray Wiley Hubbard.  "The trouble with irony is sometimes no one gets it."

Screw you, We're from Texas

Texas is really protective of their citrus industry including being subject to fines and penalties.

5. Avoid Fines and Penalties. If you knowingly purchase citrus in violation of quarantine regulations and requirements, the penalties could range from $1,100 to $60,000 per violation. If you suspect citrus is being moved improperly, report your concerns to the USDA’s State Plant Health Director's office; you can find contact information online at www.aphis.usda.gov/StateOffices.

http://www.saveourcitrus.org/index.php/texas

[FlyingFoxFruits]

no one said it was easy...mr Boyd worked hard to keep his groves prodictive.

it's lack of education and lack of money that allows greening to devastate our groves.

it makes me sick to think of people who are so willing to start manipulating a species genetic design.

it's a good year for those who know how to properly maintain their trees $$$! I'm still eating some of the finest citrus fruits in our nation!

How does properly maintaining trees prevent greening disease?

I never said it prevents greening, but the disease can still be managed and a grove will remain profitable, productive, and produce quality fruit.

there u go chief.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4101.msg56576#msg56576

Thanks for the article, but if it were really that easy almost all of the groves would be doing it. 

Over the long-term, I think building resistance into the planting stock (GMO?) is the way to go.

[jcaldeira]

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4101.msg56576#msg56576

Thanks for the article, but if it were really that easy almost all of the groves would be doing it. 

Over the long-term, I think building resistance into the planting stock (GMO?) is the way to go.

no one said it was easy...mr Boyd worked hard to keep his groves prodictive.

it's lack of education and lack of money that allows greening to devastate our groves.

it makes me sick to think of people who are so willing to start manipulating a species genetic design.

Start manipulating a species genetic design?  Mankind has been doing that for as long as agriculture has existed.  The process of selecting plants (and animals) with 'good' genetic qualities has greatly changed their genetic design, overwhelmingly for the good of mankind.  The fruit, vegetable and animal products we eat today are a far cry from their old wild types. 

Development of resistant stock worked well in Hawaii managing the Papaya Ringspot Virus:     http://www.hawaiipapaya.com/rainbow.htm  It's preferable to an endless required regimen of chemicals in the orchard. 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

right, mankind has been creating genetically modified plants for centuries.

so why didn't they just make round up ready corn, and HLB resistant rootstocks years ago?

why has Hawaii's big island banned new GM crops and biotech companies from operating? after all they're not up to anything new?

[jcaldeira]

right, mankind has been creating genetically modified plants for centuries.

so why didn't they just make round up ready corn, and HLB resistant rootstocks years ago?

why has Hawaii's big island banned new GM crops and biotech companies from operating? after all they're not up to anything new?

The answer to your first question is obvious. 

On your second question, let's first note that Hawaii's papaya industry is exempted from the law.     They also continue benefit from GMO technologies in their supermarkets and hospitals.  Nice law for some politicians.

While some concerns are legitimate, I speculate that many people are afraid of new technologies that they do not understand and that have the potential for misuse.   The industrial revolution did not have smooth sailing either, as some people destroyed modern factory equipment and steam engines because it upset the status quo.

[Central Floridave]

Here Today!   

My Dancy Tangerine is loaded and the fruit perfectly ripe.   We are suppose to get another cold front Sunday night and that will help sweeten them up even more into the Christmas break. 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

no John,
you have it bass awkwards as usual...

Hawaii is still suffering because they can't grow papayas without paying corporations for selling them patented plants...which basically contaminate the genes of the natural plants that still exist...and does who knows what else to the flora and fauna of the island and it's inhabitants.

they need to figure out another crop to grow, or another variety of resistant carica that works, or another method for growing them...they dont need to vandalize the natural worlds genetic design.

(you seem like the type of guy who would upgrade his design, with a google chip in his brain.)