The Great Debate

Anybody who knows anything about Florida citrus knows there has been considerable debate in the approach of how to live with HLB. There are those who argue the removal of HLB-infected trees is the only long-term approach for the industry to remain viable. Then, you have others who see the success of foliar nutrition programs in maintaining productivity of highly infected groves and are trying the practice on their farms. Many of these growers have stopped removing trees because the level of infection has passed the tipping point in their groves.

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This year’s Florida Grower Citrus Achievement Award winner Maury Boyd pioneered the foliar nutrition movement with his work in his own groves in Felda. The groves are virtually 100% infected, yet remain productive. Numerous other foliar nutrition programs have followed after Boyd’s success.

No doubt, foliar nutrition and its effects on the presence of HLB has been one of the most closely followed issues in Florida citrus in recent history. With all the dollars being directed at HLB research, some growers recently expressed concern that several foliar nutrition research projects had been tabled for consideration for funding. So much so that the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Research Management Committee held a public hearing on the topic at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred in late August.

Growers were well represented during the meeting with about 75 on hand to voice their opinion one way or the other. While this is an argument over ideas, the meeting was enlightening to attend because of the open and civil dialogue between both sides of the debate. Sometimes it is good to get everyone in the same room and clear the air. And, that’s what happened in Lake Alfred.

The good news for the pro-foliar nutrition folks was the Research Management Committee recommended that a multi-year field trial at one site be initiated to look at the effects of enhanced nutrition with and without insecticides in a young planting at a cost of less than $200,000. The committee also recommended further follow-up research to potentially develop and validate a practical assay for phloem health based on initial observations using light microscopy and the uptake of fluorescent dye by citrus leaves. This research objective will be amended to related project currently funded by the Foundation for a cost of less than $100,000.
While some might argue more dollars should be directed at foliar nutrition research, the CRDF committee should be given credit for reconsidering the projects above and doing so in an open public forum where all sides of the debate can state his or her case.

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Having been at the meeting, I believe it was good for those researchers on hand that have been staunchly in favor of tree removal to hear the growers’ plain spoken point of view — namely, “We can’t walk away from money.” Many see tree removal as just that, especially for smaller and mid-size growers. But, growers should be cautioned not to forget these scientists’ prediction that a viable citrus industry in this state can’t be maintained at 100% HLB infection. All the more reason growers and industry should remain aggressive in all forms of HLB research.

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