Central Florida Ag News, October 2022, By Phillip Rucks
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.
Central Florida Ag News, September 2022, By Phillip Rucks
As citrus greening continues to ravage the Florida citrus industry, many growers are looking for alternative crops to supplement their income. One crop growing traction among citrus growers is bamboo.
Central Florida Ag News, August 2022, By Phillip Rucks
Ever since the first case of citrus greening was detected in Florida in 2005, the citrus industry in the state has been struggling. Naturally, the search for solutions to the problems of greening is on, with various research labs and numerous growers all searching for an answer.
Central Florida Ag News, July 2022, By Phillip Rucks
Florida citrus growers have been struggling with dwindling yearly harvests and lower quality
due to HLB, so researchers have been on the hunt for orange-like citrus hybrids that could
offer both quality and HLB tolerance for both the juice and fresh fruit markets.
Central Florida Ag News, June 2022, By Phillip Rucks
Hamlin has long been Florida’s leading early season orange variety, but like many orange varieties in the Sunshine State, Hamlin is severely affected by HLB, with fruit drop being a major issue. Research using gibberellic acid to combat the effects of HLB has shown success with Valencia sweet oranges; the research results of September through January applications—which occur during Valencias’ floral induction and fruit growth periods—include a 30 percent average improvement in yield, a reduction in fruit drop, and an improved defense response by the citrus trees.
Central Florida Ag News, May 2022, By Phillip Rucks
Florida is well known for the diversity of its agricultural offerings and alternative crop opportunities for growers. Bamboo might just be the next alternative crop to be added to Florida’s ever-growing list of commercial crops. There are many reasons to consider growing bamboo in The Sunshine State.
Central Florida Ag News, April 2022, By Phillip Rucks
Rootstocks and varieties are important considerations in Florida citrus due to the many constraints growers must deal with, from diseases like phytophthora, citrus tristeza virus, and HLB, to issues like climate and soil types.
Central Florida Ag News, March 2022, By Phillip Rucks
When natural disasters impact Florida growers, it’s good to know that we have advocates working to help us get federal aid.
Central Florida Ag News, October 2021, By Phillip Rucks
Trifoliate orange and its hybrids have been widely utilized as rootstocks in citrus production.
Central Florida Ag News, September 2021, By Phillip Rucks
While many of us have been enjoying a little down time for the summer, the CRAFT staff, Technical Working Group (TWG), and Board of Directors have been hard at work collecting data from Cycle 1 projects, putting the finishing touches on Cycle II and developing the framework for Cycle III.
Central Florida Ag News, September 2021, By Phillip Rucks
Research has led to changes in the production practices of citrus since HLB was introduced to Florida. Nutrient rates, applications, irrigation timing and managing soil pH are all important to the best health of citrus trees, especially those that are HLB infected.
Central Florida Ag News, August 2021, By Phillip Rucks
A common symptom of Huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus trees is leaf chlorosis, where the leaves develop yellow blotches.
Central Florida Ag News, April 2021, By Phillip Rucks
A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm is owned and partly managed by the Florida Citrus Research Foundation (FCRF).
Central Florida Ag News, March 2021, By Phillip Rucks
Bamboo is a useful commercial crop grown around the world. There are 2 broad types of Bamboo growth habits that we consider. The running types can spread quickly and become invasive, while the clumping types spread slowly and are commonly used for timber bamboo.
Central Florida Ag News, February 2021, By Phillip Rucks
Beating citrus greening disease is on the front burner for all of those involved with citrus, and advancements in genome mapping will open up a whole range of opportunities for both beating the deadly disease in the future and keeping the citrus industry going in the interim.
Central Florida Ag News, October 2020, By Phillip Rucks
Kaolin clay, especially when dyed red, is great for enhancing tree growth and discouraging infestation by psyllids.
Central Florida Ag News, September 2020, By Phillip Rucks
While this year didn’t break any records, it was a decent harvest for Florida citrus growers.
Central Florida Ag News, August 2020, By Phillip Rucks
Renowned entomologist Dr. Lukasz Stelinski recently spoke to Florida Citrus Mutual about the impact of psyllids on the health of citrus trees.
Central Florida Ag News, August 2020, By Phillip Rucks
It may surprise you to learn that bamboo is poised to become a major component in America’s – and Florida’s – agricultural scene.
Central Florida Ag News, June 2020, By Phillip Rucks
Citrus growers have new licensed varieties more assessable with FAST TRACK, a program developed through the combined efforts of the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (FFSP), the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), and the New Varieties Development & Management Corp.
Central Florida Ag News, May 2020, By Phillip Rucks
Biochar holds a lot of promise for improving soil health in Florida’s citrus industry, especially when it comes to combating citrus greening.
Central Florida Ag News, March 2020, By Phillip Rucks
Florida citrus growers are doing everything in their power to stay solvent in the face of citrus greening.
Central Florida Ag News, February 2020, By Phillip Rucks
Citrus greening has certainly taken center stage when it comes to combating diseases in Florida’s citrus groves, but Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) is one disease that citrus growers cannot afford to overlook.
Central Florida Ag News, September 2019, By Phillip Rucks
A common problem that many citrus growers face annually is post-bloom fruit drop. This disease is caused by a fungus known as Colletotrichum Acutatum. The fungus survives between bloom periods as resistant structures on the buttons, leaves, and twigs. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, July 2019, By Phillip Rucks
While one part of the citrus research industry is looking for ways to develop HLB-resistant trees in order to maximize yield, another part is focused on the configuration of the groves themselves. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, June 2019, By Phillip Rucks
Creating a citrus-greening resistant plant has been at the forefront of agricultural research since the disease was first diagnosed in 2005. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, August 2019, By Phillip Rucks
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, is becoming a low-cost, essential tool for precision agriculture that can help citrus growers better manage their crop in new and revolutionary ways. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, May 2019, By Phillip Rucks
Creating a citrus-greening resistant plant has been at the forefront of agricultural research since the disease was first diagnosed in 2005. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, March 2019, By Phillip Rucks
As citrus season progresses, let’s take a moment to talk about windbreaks and their importance to citrus trees. The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service defines windbreaks as “plantings of single or multiple rows of trees and shrubs that are established for environmental purposes.” Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, June 2014, By Phillip Rucks
We’re in a war. Although our weapons are insecticides and nutritional sprays instead of rifles and grenades, the battle against the greening disease is real. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, May 2014, By Phillip Rucks
Citrus groves are becoming living laboratories, according to Dr. Jude Grosser, a University of Florida (UF) professor at Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, April 2014, By Phillip Rucks
The nursery industry sure has changed. Since I opened Phillip Rucks Citrus Nursery 17 years ago, citrus canker and greening disease have taken a tremendous toll on nursery businesses. Read more>>
Central Florida Ag News, March 2014, By Phillip Rucks
Citrus varieties more tolerant of citrus greening disease are head- ing for large- scale fi eld trials as early as March. University of Florida (UF) researchers have identifi ed 16 rootstalks showing a lower rate of infection and more tolerance to greening, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). Read more
TC Palm, August 2013
VERO BEACH — August is National Peach Month and you can enjoy delicious and juicy peaches grown right in our own county—if you can find them. Read more
The Ledger, June 2013
BONITA SPRINGS | Developing new citrus trees suited to Florida’s environment, especially ones tolerant to citrus greening, is a long road with many branches.
Bay News 9, Sept 26, 2012
Workers at the Rucks Citrus Nursery in Frostproof are turning out nursery trees at the rate of a million per year. But there simply aren’t enough nurseries like Rucks to keep up with the demand. More>>
Citrus Research Board, April 27, 2012
Phillip Rucks, a Florida-based commercial citrus grower, shares his experience growing citrus trees in protected culture.
Southeast Ag Net, February 4, 2012
Nurseryman Phil Rucks in these reports reflects on the current shortage of nursery trees available for Florida citrus growers to plant and looks at the future situation. More>>
Bloomburg Business Week, February 4, 2011
Phillip Rucks, who runs the biggest citrus nursery in the country in Frostproof, Fla., will ship his first round of Tango trees to growers in Florida’s fabled Indian River district this summer. More>>
The Ledger, February 3, 2012
HAINES CITY | The Florida citrus industry is stuck in neutral and could remain there through the end of the decade. More>>