Citrus Fighter

Newlin has been a key force in driving results-oriented research efforts to find solutions to greening. He realizes that quickly transferring innovation from the lab to the field is critical to the future of the state’s citrus industry.

While he is an active supporter of results-based research, Newlin isn’t one to wait on innovation — he employs it every day in the groves of Orange-Co where he serves as vice president of citrus operations. He was a key player in helping to get important insecticides labeled for low-volume applications to control psyllids. Newlin uses low-volume sprays at Orange-Co to target “hot spots” of greening or psyllid activity. It has been estimated that allowing low-volume sprays have saved growers in the range of $70 million in application/materials costs.

Newlin also has installed an insectary at Orange-Co to raise parasitic wasps that will be released to prey on the psyllid, which will hopefully help reduce incidence of greening. Guava also is being utilized at Orange-Co to help protect young citrus trees from the psyllid. Research indicates that guava has a repellent quality that helps in warding off the insect pest.

In the past year, Newlin has been a central player in establishing citrus health management areas (CHMAs). The drive to get growers in geographic areas to work together to control psyllids with coordinated sprays is one of the biggest stories of 2010. As chairman of the CHMA subcommittee of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, he has played a key role in getting local buy-in from growers.

“Jerry’s political and financial support through the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council helped fund the necessary trials, with assistance from IR-4, to obtain several 24C registrations for insecticides to be used in low-volume applications,” says Keith Griffith, Chemtura AgroSolutions. Chemtura sponsors the Citrus Achievement Award program. “These insecticides represent several different modes of action to help prevent resistance buildup in psyllid populations,” Griffith adds. “In addition, Jerry is involved in many other committees and groups pushing for rapid answers to the many questions surrounding greening, psyllid control, citrus black spot, citrus canker, and other problems confronting the Florida citrus industry. I consider Jerry Newlin as a stalwart patriot in the battle for our citrus industry to survive and continue to be a viable industry in Florida in the future.”