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Also called “swamp fever,” Equine Infectious Anemia is a viral disease that causes a range of clinical signs from no apparent illness to extremely severe, including collapse and death. Positive cases tend to be diagnosed when movement requires a Coggins test to be performed.  Clinical signs of EIA are non-specific to the disease itself and […]

If you’ve heard the buzz and have been curious about the patented Tree Defender Individual Protective Covers for your citrus trees, we have some exciting news in this month’s column! We have received formal approval from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) that Tree Defender IPCs are now eligible for a cost share up to

Hurricane Ian caused a lot of flooding in Florida citrus groves, and this created ideal conditions for phytophthora, which caused diseases like foot, crown and root rot, and fruit brown rot. Phytophthora is caused by two fungus-like organisms, Phytophthora nicotianae and P. palmivora.  The spores of these organisms are attracted to roots, and the root damage caused by flooding gives these

The New Varieties Development and Management Corporation, or NVDMC, is working to help ensure that Florida Citrus growers stay competitive in the produce market by providing timely, affordable access to newly developed varieties. As new citrus varieties are developed, such as at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, they must go

Many Florida citrus growers face a balancing act of maximizing the growth of their crop while minimizing water consumption and reducing excessive nutrient/fertilizer runoff into the state’s waterways. This balancing act is made more challenging by the state’s Best Management Practices (BMP) Program, through which growers voluntarily abide by state-set guidelines for nutrient management in

Once upon a time, farmers would network by gathering at the feed mill to discuss the weather or agricultural trends. Socializing face-to-face was how information was passed along. But the world has changed, and now digital communication is taking to the forefront with new tools such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and blogs.  So why should

The rainy weather we are currently receiving in Florida is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, so it’s time to be on guard for some nasty viruses these insects can spread to both horses and humans. These viruses are spread through the mosquito’s bite. The most common viruses found in Florida include West Nile Virus

Most of Polk County was blessed and missed the worst of Hurricane Ian. Sadly, our neighbors to the south are going to be rebuilding for many years. It is a horrible scene, but such a blessing to see so much cooperation from across the nation. This is America at its best, neighbors helping neighbors. We

A team of UF/IFAS researchers has identified a second citrus canker gene that could potentially lead to citrus cultivars that are resistant to the disease and other pathogens, as well. Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that reduces the vitality of citrus trees and renders the fruit unmarketable. Once considered eradicated in Florida, citrus canker

It was not-so-sweet news for Florida citrus growers in August when the U.S. Senate blocked a Sen. Marco Rubio-sponsored bill that would have lowered the Brix level of not-from-concentrate orange juice. Rubio said that bill — introduced as the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act (S. 4394) — had broad bipartisan support in the U.S.