The All In For Citrus Podcast

AllInForCitrus
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The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Southeast AgNet are partnering to provide the latest news on citrus-related research in a monthly podcast. The podcast, “All in for Citrus,” will feature short interviews with scientists working to find solutions to citrus greening and other devastating citrus diseases.

  1. May 22

    All In For Citrus, Episode 93 May 2026

    After significant drought in many parts of Florida, some much-needed rainfall began in May as the rainy season approaches. That seasonal transition, from a grove management perspective, is the focus of the May episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, reminds growers that spring is a critical time of year to manage the fruit set occurring in groves for next season’s crop. He emphasizes the importance of proper irrigation and fertigation during mid-May as drought conditions persist, noting that grower decisions now will determine fruit set and yields for the rest of the year. Without adequate fertilizer applications during this window, fruit will not size up properly, and fruit retention will be reduced. Frequent irrigation during the dry period is critical to help trees meet the demands of the fruit set period and avoid stress. Sandra Guzmán, UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, offers a timely discussion on a software platform she and her team have developed called IrrigMonitor. The system helps growers determine optimal watering times to avoid both over-irrigation and under-irrigation during drought or rainy periods. The software works with tools like soil moisture sensors and weather stations that growers already have on their farms. Guzmán said IrrigMonitor is a decision support platform designed to help growers determine whether trees need water based on combined data from soil moisture, weather forecasts and irrigation schedules. She describes the tool as a "weather app for irrigation" that provides real-time guidance for irrigation decisions. For growers interested in learning more about IrrigMonitor, Guzmán can be contacted at sandra.guzmangut@ufl.edu. Also in the May podcast, Fernando Alferez, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus horticulture, shares new data from his research on the use of individual protective covers (IPCs) and brassinosteroids to protect and rejuvenate trees impacted by HLB. He also discusses new research data on citrus canker management. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.

    43 min

  2. Apr 20

    All In For Citrus, Episode 92 April 2026

    In April, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute in Avon Park. The event is the subject of discussion in the April All In For Citrus podcast episode. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), says the Institute is among the big three citrus events each year. The others are the Florida Citrus Show held in March and the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo scheduled for Aug. 12–13 in Fort Myers. The morning session of the Institute included timely presentations from UF/IFAS citrus researchers. After lunch, a meet-and-greet format gave growers the opportunity to converse with scientists one-on-one. Rogers discusses a presentation by Ute Albrecht, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant physiology, which laid out data from her ongoing research on trunk-injection of oxytetracycline. Her trials over three years show steady improvement in yields, and fruit-quality improvements are beginning to show up. Rogers also emphasizes the importance of the presentation given by Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension commercial crop production and food systems agent for Lake and Orange counties. His talk outlined new pesticide regulations related to the Endangered Species Act. Growers need to understand what these rules mean and how they impact herbicides and insecticides. Fungicide regulations are coming soon. The podcast also includes an interview with Smith on the scene at the Institute. He discusses pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs) in detail. PULAs are part of the new rules for pesticide application. Smith says this is no longer a regulation coming soon; it is a regulation that is in place. Also included in the podcast are interviews with UF/IFAS entomologist Lukasz Stelinski and UF/IFAS weed scientist Ramdas Kanissery, conducted at the Institute.

    33 min

  3. Mar 25

    All In For Citrus, Episode 91 March 2026

    The March All In For Citrus podcast previews a couple of events coming in April and May that growers will want to mark on their calendars. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), discusses the Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute scheduled for April 14 at South Florida State College in Avon Park. A presentation that will be given by Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension commercial crop production and food systems agent for Lake and Orange counties, will focus on new pesticide regulations related to the Endangered Species Act. These regulations will apply to any pesticide applications, especially those in pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs). Rogers says this is a big change that comes with a lot of information, so Smith’s presentation is one growers and applicators will not want to miss. Rogers also previews a workshop being held at CREC on May 19. It will take a deeper dive into these new regulations and PULAs. Both events will be available for pre-registration at the CREC website. Rogers also takes a moment to congratulate CREC citrus breeders Fred Gmitter and Jude Grosser, who will be honored with a special CREC Professorship Award in April. The award has only been given to a handful of CREC scientists in the center’s more than 100-year history. Gmitter and Grosser discuss the award and some of their more recent rootstock and variety selections. They say they are proud to be honored together, because they’ve worked as a team for many years at CREC. After the freeze this year, citrus trees were rebounding and flushing nicely in March. Tripti Vashisth, CREC assistant director, joins the podcast to discuss demands this is putting on trees in terms of irrigation and fertilization needs. Irrigation is especially important as many areas in Florida continue to be suffering from significant drought. The All In For Citrus podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.

    44 min

  4. Feb 20

    All In For Citrus, Episode 90 February 2026

    Florida experienced one of the most damaging freezes in more than a decade this winter. The February episode of the All In For Citrus podcast addresses the impacts the freeze had on citrus. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, notes that it will take some time for the full scale of damage to be sorted out. He adds the intensity of damage varied from location to location, but early reports are that some groves took on significant damage. Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension commercial crop production and food systems agent for Lake and Orange counties, shares what he is observing in terms of damage. He noted there is significant damage in the counties he serves. Smith also talks about the potential disaster relief programs that might be forthcoming and how growers can prepare to be in a good position to receive funds. A key element of this is documenting all damage that has occurred on the farm. That damage could include lost fruit, injured or dead trees, or broken equipment like irrigation pipes. Take many photos to document the damage, Smith advises. While not directly related to the freeze, Smith also discusses the recently announced Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program. This U.S. Department of Agriculture bridge payment program is making a total of $1 billion available to specialty crop growers. The deadline to apply is March 13. Muhammad Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, details agronomic measures growers can take to rehabilitate freeze-damaged trees. He says a key is patience to give trees time to adjust before taking actions like fertilization and pruning. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.

    45 min

  5. Jan 22

    All In For Citrus, Episode 89 January 2026

    In the latest All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, discussed a statewide citrus workshop hosted at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in January. The event provided a day full of educational presentations covering a wide range of topics. Rogers noted several of the talks explained how HLB impacts citrus trees internally and how certain therapies help counteract those effects. Ute Albrecht, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant physiology, also joined the podcast to discuss her research on the use of oxytetracycline (OTC). Albrecht reported the yield results from a fairly large trial in a commercial Hamlin grove that has had three applications of OTC. The trial results reinforce the thinking that OTC has a cumulative effect over the course of several years as root systems get reestablished and tree health returns. The third-year yield data show significant yield increases in OTC-treated trees compared to controls. Davie Kadyampakeni, UF/IFAS associate professor of citrus water and nutrient management, summarized the take-home messages from his presentation at the workshop, which focused on optimizing citrus nutrition. A key point was to ensure nutrition is always available to citrus trees and in amounts that the trees can actually take up due to reduced root systems from HLB. This is even true with slow-release fertilizers. He recommended split applications throughout the year to ensure there is some overlap as one dose of slow-release fertilizer plays out. Kadyampakeni also gave a brief update on the status of new recommendations from UF/IFAS for citrus nutrition. He said there has been a slight delay in releasing the update but expects it will be coming soon.

    44 min

  6. 12/19/2025

    All In For Citrus, Episode 88 December 2025

    As 2025 winds down, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), took time to recognize Chris Oswalt during the December All In For Citrus podcast. Oswalt is retiring from his post as a citrus Extension agent, which he’s held for nearly 30 years. He served Polk and Hillsborough counties. “I quickly got connected with Chris when I first came to CREC in 2004,” Rogers said. “He was a big help to me, especially earlier in my career. He has helped get many new faculty pointed in the right direction when they come on board. He is down to earth and grounded in reality, and growers trust him because of that. We wish him well in retirement.” Rogers also took the occasion to remind growers to engage with the citrus agents in Florida because they can be a valuable resource. Find your citrus agent here. “If you’ve not had an agent out to your operation, invite them to come out,” Rogers said. “Get them involved and visiting you in the field. It will help the agents develop their programs and serve you better.” One of the citrus agents, Edwin Gutierrez, also joins the podcast to discuss ways to prepare groves for winter and potential freeze events. He covers DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee counties. Some of his key points include making sure trees are as healthy as possible going into winter because a healthy tree will withstand a freeze better. He also advises growers to check their irrigation systems regularly to ensure they are operating properly. Irrigation is the main line of defense to protect trees during a freeze. Muhammad Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, addresses winter preparations for the cold-hardy region. Freezes are far more regular occurrences in that area. Shahid discusses his research with silicon, which appears to boost citrus trees’ resistance to freezes. He also tells how a new mandarin variety, nicknamed Greenie, may have found a home in the cold-hardy region.   The podcast is partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.

    47 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    All In For Citrus, Episode 87 November 2025

    The November All In For Citrus podcast takes a trip around the globe. Faculty from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) join the show to describe citrus production in regions outside of the United States. Michael Rogers, director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, gives an update on citrus in the Caribbean and how UF/IFAS scientists collaborate with colleagues in those countries to advance citrus production knowledge. The podcast also provides updates on citrus production in South America, Brazil, the Indian subcontinent, Israel, Africa and the Mediterranean. One of the key takeaway messages from the episode is that sharing knowledge with other production regions benefits all citrus growers globally. UF/IFAS scientists say that, in most cases, U.S. citrus producers can gain beneficial knowledge by following what is happening in other parts of the world. Flavia Zambon, UF/IFAS assistant professor, gives an update on citrus in her home country of Brazil. The world’s largest citrus producer has begun to feel the bite of HLB more acutely in recent years. In addition, an ongoing drought in Brazil is challenging citrus production. Tripti Vashisth, UF/IFAS associate professor, discusses citrus production on the Indian subcontinent. Interestingly, growers in that part of the world have been dealing with HLB for more than 100 years but have remained relatively productive. Vashisth said that is due in part to the region’s better soils and production practices. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.

    46 min

  8. 10/22/2025

    All In For Citrus, Episode 86 October 2025

    The October All In For Citrus podcast features citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Over the past decade, the practice has grown in popularity due to its ability to exclude the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Roughly 1,500 acres of citrus are grown under screen in Florida with more acreage under development.   Lauren Diepenbrock, associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), addresses pest management in CUPS. While CUPS successfully keeps out the psyllid, other pests are small enough to breach the mesh netting. Those pests include chilli thrips, lebbeck mealybug and mites. Diepenbrock discusses her research on how these pests enter, survive and multiply in CUPS and the latest knowledge on managing the pests. She also provides information on strategies like introducing beneficial insects in the structures to manage the pests. Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS associate professor of plant pathology at the CREC, joins the discussion to talk about disease management in CUPS. She says greasy spot and citrus canker have been the most problematic diseases in the system. Jerry Mixon, a CUPS grower in Central Florida, shares why he tried the CUPS approach and what his experience has been like so far. Mixon says he was impressed with the yields and very high-quality fruit CUPS can produce. He also had experience building similar structures (to exclude birds) when he and his family grew blueberries. Mixon mostly grows grapefruit in his CUPS but is evaluating other varieties in collaboration with UF/IFAS. He has also worked with Diepenbrock and Dewdney on pest and disease trials in his structures.

    57 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Southeast AgNet are partnering to provide the latest news on citrus-related research in a monthly podcast. The podcast, “All in for Citrus,” will feature short interviews with scientists working to find solutions to citrus greening and other devastating citrus diseases.

Information

  • Creator
    AllInForCitrus
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The All In For Citrus Podcast

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