Florida's Citrus Crop Falls Sharply. Hurricane Ian Is To Blame

Jul 13, 2023

By Valerie Crowder

Hurricane Ian dealt a major blow to Florida's struggling citrus industry, according to the latest crop estimate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hurricane Ian dealt a major blow to Florida's struggling citrus industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday released its crop production estimate for the 2022-2023 growing season, which runs from October through June.

Citrus production in Florida fell by more than 60% since the previous season’s harvest.

Here are the numbers of citrus boxes produced in the Sunshine State during the 2022-2023 season:

15.9 million boxes of oranges
1.8 million boxes of grapefruit
480,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos

In September, Hurricane Ian crossed over 375,000 acres of citrus groves across the state last year. The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the damages cost growers about $675 million.

Before the storm, growers had been struggling for years because of a disease called citrus greening.

State lawmakers allocated $65 million this year to help revive the state’s citrus production. Most of the money will fund research and the replanting of citrus trees.

Source : usf.edu

Video: Do Cold Temps Impact Emerging Corn & Soybeans? | Pioneer Agronomy

A cold snap swept across west central Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, bringing frost, fog, and temperatures dipping into the 20s—raising urgent questions about early crop damage.

Pioneer Agronomist Eric Rice breaks down what those overnight temperatures could mean for emerged corn and soybeans, how to assess frost injury, and why patience is key before making any replant decisions. Learn the critical differences between corn and soybean growing points, what cosmetic vs. serious damage looks like, and how last week’s high winds may also be influencing what you’re seeing in the field.

Watch for:

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• Why waiting 4–5 days before assessing stand loss matters

• When to contact your local Pioneer agronomist or sales representative