Don’t Wait For The Other Fruit To Drop [Opinion]

Paul Rusnak_optimizedIt might be hard for some to believe, but optimism appears to be overflowing from the Florida citrus industry, especially when looking at it from a distance. Florida Grower has written and posted articles aplenty in recent months that contain positive quotes from association leaders, growers, and stakeholders about prospects that lay ahead. The lofty talk definitely stirs one’s dopamine levels to a sense of bravado.

Advertisement

But the closer you get to the surface, the angst — along with HLB — is easier to spot. According to a recent survey Florida Grower sent out to the state’s citrus growers, 62% of respondents report yields being down anywhere from marginally to significantly over the last few seasons. Only 12% said they had an increase, while the remainder said production was steady. The results from that survey question alone is enough to make an interested party push the eject button. But what about all that supposed optimism?

Proactivity = Progress

If there is one positive aspect to HLB, it’s that dealing with the disease has made committed growers much better at what they do. There really has been no other choice. It has forced all involved to re-evaluate production methods and plant health, plus refine crop protection and grove management plans from the bottom up.

In that same survey, when asked if growers had seen improvement in tree health due to their production management program, a whopping 76% said yes. So, all the effort being put forth is paying off in stronger specimens, which should mean a better chance to beat HLB. I suppose that’s why 70% of respondents are confident enough to have planted or reset trees in the last two years, with another 9% that haven’t, but still plan to. A-ha! There’s that “glass-half-full” mentality many of you seem to be drinking from.

Top Articles
25 Years of Project GREEEN’s Growth in Controlled Environment Agriculture

Digging In

Part of knowing there is still fruit to be had, despite the decade-long HLB-induced purgatory, comes from a deeper understanding of the disease. Thanks to continued research, recent focus is shifting downward — as in under the ground. Root health is coming into vogue as what could be a major piece of the puzzle to help battle-weary citrus growers. And that message is getting across. A vast majority (82%) of survey respondents answered root health is just as important as foliar nutrition for citrus trees. In addition, 13% backed root health as being more important than foliar.

So, it’s a no-brainer. Everyone is soil sampling their roots for phytophtora, right? Not so fast. Only 45% of survey takers said yes, while 12% said no, but plan to. There’s obviously still some wood to chop regarding this management method. That’s OK. We’ll be there with you every step of the way. Throughout 2015, Florida Grower plans to follow the citrus root health story and its ultimate impact on HLB. See page 10 to find out how the tale begins.

We’re all hoping the story has a happy ending. Guess that won’t be known until we dig a little deeper.

Are you in?

0