Page 7 - CFAN_Aug2014

CITRUS GROWERS PLANTING DENSER TO BOOST YIELDS
by PHILLIP RUCKS
Every cit- rus tree is like a factory producing a product. So, as
initial investment. Yet, it’s becoming important to offset losses from Huan- glongbing (HLB) in year six or seven.
Years ago folks planted 70 or 100 trees an acre. Now growers may pack in 200 to 350 trees an acre. When a tree dies, foliage from the surround- ing trees quickly fill in the gaps. You don’t need to go back and replant. It represents a different mindset, to be sure. But we need to adapt to survive.
PEACHES
•Licensed grower of low chill peaches on Flordaguard and MP-29 rootstocks
•Low chill varieties ideal for central and south Florida climates
•Licensed for new released varieties
•Now contracting for 2015
The good news is, nurseries are also doing a better job of producing higher yielding trees. That helps to boost your grove’s productivity too. Nurseries may use micro-cuttings instead of seeds, meaning the new plants will have more uniform charac- teristics. That’s especially important to ensure the varieties are more tolerant of greening.
We’re working with newer vari-
EUCALYPTUSWINDBREAKS
•Hardy versatile tree that can grow nearly 40 ft in three years
•Provides crop protection from wind and disease
•Reduces soil loss, nutrition loss, agriculture chemical drift and irrigation loss
•Now contracting for 2015
eties from the University of Florida that are more greening tolerant, and a greater variety is available. You should choose a rootstock with over- all disease tolerance that is compatible with your production needs. Invest in quality trees from registered variety clones with yield data, and support the research effort through the Citrus Research Development Foundation in Lake Alfred.
PONGAMIA
•Produce oilseed bearing nuts used for bioenergy and animal feed
•Drought resistant and saline tolerant “drop-in” crop
•No known major production related diseases or pests
•Grows on under productive land
the citrus industry battles the dreaded greening disease, growers are doing what they can to boost production and stay profitable. They are planting more trees per acre.
Planting denser means a greater
CITRUS
•New greening-tolerant root stocks now available
•Largest screened commercial citrus nursery in US
•DNA tested true-to-type citrus varieties and rootstocks available.
•Now contracting for 2015-2016
PHILLIP RUCKS CITRUS NURSERY, INC. Phillip Rucks, Owner
8636351948 • rucksnursery@aol.com P.O. Box 1318 Frostproof, FL 33843 • www.ruckscitrusnursery.com
www.floridagrownspecialties.com
Since 1988 Farm Credit of Central Florida’s Board of Directors have declared patronage refunds, or profit-sharing exceeding $145 Million!
This significantly lowers our Member/Borrower’s effective interest rate. Call today to see how you can get the
Farm Credit Advantage!
863.682.4117
FarmCreditCFL.com
Farm Credit Puts Its Profits in Your Pockets!
Loans for land, homes & country living