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Jim RosicaMay 10, 2017

Another bag of mixed news for Florida’s signature crops: Orange production actually increased while grapefruit production has declined. That’s according to the latest forecast released Wednesday from the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS. “The May report projects the state’s orange crop to increase to 68 million boxes for the 2016-17 season,” said a press […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2017

The bad news in citrus: “Grapefruit production declined.” The good news: “Florida orange production remained steady.” That’s the upshot of the latest forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, according to the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “The April report projects the state’s orange crop to stay at 67 million boxes […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

The forecast for Florida orange production has dropped again, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, down a whopping three million boxes. The March report, released Thursday, projects a reduction in the state’s orange crop to 67 million boxes. “Two million of that comes from the early and mid-season varieties, which are now fully harvested,” […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 9, 2017

Florida’s grapefruit crop held steady at nine million boxes, but its orange crop went down slightly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s February forecast. Thursday’s report projects a one million box reduction in the state’s orange crop to 70 million boxes. That’s after last month’s forecast also predicted a decrease. “Today’s forecast reflects a true utilization of […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 6, 2017

Congressman Vern Buchanan announced Monday federal money for citrus greening has been awarded to researchers working to find a cure for the devastating disease. In the most recent round of funding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $13.6 million to citrus greening research projects. The funding was made possible by a USDA program the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2017

The latest estimates show “a slight decrease” in Florida orange production to 71 million boxes for the 2016-17 season, according to the Florida Department of Citrus. The department on Thursday shared the results of the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast, the first in 2017. The state’s citrus industry has been hurt by the citrus greening epidemic. The so-far incurable disease […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2016

Florida’s production of orange crop will hold steady at 72 million boxes for the 2016-17 season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Friday. The “all orange” forecast, equal to 3.24 million tons, is “unchanged from last month but down 12 percent from last season’s final utilization,” the department’s latest forecast says. Moreover, the Florida frozen concentrated orange juice […]

Jim RosicaOctober 12, 2016

The federal government is forecasting a 14 percent decrease in Florida orange production next year and a drop in grapefruit of 11.5 percent. The National Agriculture Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its report Wednesday. In another sign of the citrus greening epidemic facing the industry, the service foresees yields of only 70 million boxes of […]

Associated PressMay 16, 2016

The mosquitoes that can spread Zika are already buzzing among us. The U.S. government could use some help figuring out exactly where. No experience is necessary for what the U.S. Department of Agriculture envisions as a nationwide experiment in citizen-science. Teenagers already have proven themselves up to the task in tryouts involving a small number […]

Jim RosicaMay 10, 2016

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam isn’t yet sanguine about the future of Florida citrus. He reacted Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest crop forecast for 2015-16. The feds now expect 81.1 million boxes of oranges, up from 76 million boxes last month, according to Putnam. A so-far incurable disease called citrus greening is attacking fruit, causing it to turn green and […]

Tag: U. S. Department of Agriculture

Reversal of fortune: Citrus forecast says oranges up, grapefruit down

Citrus forecast generally holds steady, USDA says

Orange, grapefruit crop forecasts take another hit

More bad news as Florida orange crop drops again

Vern Buchanan says citrus greening aid finally bearing fruit

Citrus crop production trending down again ‘slightly’

USDA says Florida orange crop projected to hold steady

Citrus production forecast remains in freefall

Citizen-scientists: Uncle Sam wants you to fight Zika!

Adam Putnam still cautious on citrus outlook