HLB Cost Study

January 24th, 2012 by tamara

Dear Mutual Members and Friends:

I wanted to give you a heads up about a press release issued today by UF-IFAS on the economic impact of HLB. To view release click here http://news.ufl.edu/2012/01/24/greening-cost/

Florida Citrus Mutual asked IFAS to conduct the study so we could communicate the devastating effects of the disease to lawmakers, regulators and the media.

This will provide a key piece of information as we seek research appropriations from the state Legislature and the formation of the Citrus Research and Development Trust Fund. An economic loss of more than $3.6 billion and 6,600 is significant and will drive the point home that we need to beat this disease or the very future of our industry is at stake.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,

Mike

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Carbendazim Issue Update

January 17th, 2012 by tamara

Dear Florida Citrus Mutual Grower Member:

On January 9, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a letter to the Juice Products Association indicating a processor (since identified as the Coca-Cola Company) self reported finding a trace amount of the fungicide carbendazim in orange juice sold in the United States from Brazil. (see FDA letter attached)

The contamination was reported at trace levels under 80 parts per billion. The EPA conducted a preliminary risk assessment and concluded that consumption of Brazilian orange juice with carbendazim at that low level does not raise public health concerns.

As you know the media coverage of this issue has been substantial. Hundreds of local, state and national news outlets are covering the issue including CNN, LA Times, Fox News 13 Tampa and NPR. Much of the coverage was accurate. However, several inaccurate reports surfaced saying that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had “halted,” “blocked” and “stopped” Brazilian shipments when that simply was not the case. The FDA is holding imported orange juice at point of entry into the United States for purposes of testing and will refuse entry to any juice that tests positive for carbendazim. The lowest quantity that can be detected is 10 ppb, so product with contamination at levels greater than 10 ppb will be denied entry.

There have been no additional positive tests at this point. Brazil supplies the United States with about 15 percent of the orange juice consumed each year. This amount varies annually as it supplements the Florida crop. U.S. Customs regulations require country of origin labeling on orange juice. Thus, product containing juice sourced from Brazil will be identified on consumer juice labels. There has been some very limited market disruption associated with the event but the longer term impacts of this event are not known.

Through diligent media relations, the industry was able to get the Bloomberg news service to stop using the word “halt” and more accurately replace it with “detain and test.” In addition, Florida Citrus Mutual has briefed both state and federal lawmakers on the issue in order to directly cut through the misinformation. We are also distributing guest columns and letters to the editor to selected media outlets this week in order to try and clarify this situation.

Florida Citrus Mutual will continue to work with several agencies including the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the Florida Department of Citrus and the Florida Citrus Processors to manage this issue. The concern is that the news will become an “arsenic in apple juice” story where reports distorted the facts and ultimately affected sales.

Our message is clear: Florida citrus growers are proud to produce a safe, wholesome product enjoyed by millions of Americans every morning. Florida citrus, and production agriculture in general, is a tightly regulated industry and growers will continue to follow the rules set out by local, state and federal authorities. We have the utmost confidence in the Food and Drug Administration’s ability to make decisions that protect public health. We encourage consumers to keep drinking Florida orange juice and feel good about it.

We will continue to track this issue closely and will keep you informed of major changes. The FDA is updating the issue on its website at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/FruitsVegetablesJuices/ucm287783.htm

Regards,

Mike

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Huanglongbing Detected in Texas, Emergency Quarantine Declared

January 16th, 2012 by tamara

The USDA confirmed findings of Huanglongbing in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas late Friday afternoon. Texas Citrus Mutual (TCM) was notified at that time and has been in contact with the USDA since to address the outbreak.

“On the positive side of things, APHIS, TDA and some ofthe scientists at the Citrus Center are on top of the situation as best anyone can be,” reports TCM president, Ray Prewett.

The initial discovery ofHuanglongbing was made within 10 miles ofthe Westlaco Texas A & M Citrus Research Station in a commercial grove via tree inspection.

“In this case multiple tests ofthe sample revealed a clear positive; this was not a borderline situation,” stated Prewett.

Texas Citrus Mutual will remain in close contact with the USDA, APHIS, and the Texas Department ofAgriculture (TDA) to disseminate information to the public as it becomes available.

The Texas Department ofAgriculture has declared a temporary emergency quarantine within five miles ofthe initial find in San Juan, TX beginning January 13, 2012 and remaining in effect until January 20,2012. TDA will develop a revised quarantine action plan upon updated information at that time. Prewett assures that APHIS has developed an aggressive delimiting survey plan that will begin implementation on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.

Texas Citrus Mutual, TDA, the USDA, and APHIS are taking quick and necessary action to prevent additional spreading ofthe disease.

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

FLORIDA CITRUS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2012 INDUCTEES FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

January 12th, 2012 by tamara

LAKELAND, Fla. (January 12, 2012) – The Selection Committee for The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced three distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Hall during the 50th Anniversary Citrus Celebration Luncheon on Friday, March 2, 2012 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. In honor of the 50th Anniversary, a Golden Jubilee Gala will also be held the following evening highlighting the Florida citrus industry and recognizing all members of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, with several other events scheduled over the weekend to help celebrate the occasion.

Robert J. Barben, of Avon Park, Frank M. Hunt, II, of Lake Wales and Dr. W. Bernard Lester, of Lakeland, will be honored during the luncheon scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Hollis Wellness Center at Florida Southern College in Lakeland on Friday, March 2, 2012.

An Avon Park citrus and cattle producer, Barben is the President of Robert J. Barben, Inc. and was a founding member of both the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association and the Florida Agricultural Tax Council, which he also chaired. He served on the Florida Department of Citrus Marketing Advisory Council since its inception in 1969, chairing it for over 20 years during a lengthy legal battle that involved numerous trips to Tallahassee. A big research proponent of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), Barben has been active with the SHARE Council since 1973, serving on the executive board and as its chair, during which time he helped raise almost $2 million for a new building at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. He was a longtime board member for Florida Citrus Mutual, Adams Packing Company, and the Growers’ Administrative Committee, and has been on the board of Growers Fertilizer Company since 1953. He was a member and former chairman of the Florida Citrus Production Manager’s Association since the early ‘50s and served on the Highlands County Soil & Water Conservation District Board for over 30 years, chairing for over 20; served two terms as mayor of Avon Park; and was President of Florida Agricultural Services and Technology (FAST), Highlands Independent Bank Board of Directors and the Florida Hospital Foundation. Hall of Fame member Hugh English commented: “His wonderful public service and longtime dedication to the industry makes him truly worthy of the honor.”

A fifth-generation Floridian, Hunt is Chairman of the Board of Hunt Bros., Inc., an 83-year old citrus company which was founded by his father, Deeley Hunt, also in the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. He has played a key role in the development of the successful cooperative of Citrus World, Inc. – now known as Florida’s Natural, as well as in the fields of citrus processing, fresh fruit marketing, operating supplies and banking. He was a board member of Citrus World for over 50 years, serving as President and Chairman of the board from 1973 to 2003, during which time he led the shift from producing product to marketing it, resulting in the introduction of the Florida’s Natural brand. Under his quiet, resourceful leadership, the cooperative has grown to the largest citrus co-op in Florida, along the way also creating a supplies cooperative that is now known today as Highland Exchange Services Cooperative, or HESCO. In addition, he helped shape the future of the U.S. farm credit system as a member of the committee that formed what is now CoBank, and served on its board of directors during the pivotal formative years. He was President and on the board of both Seald Sweet Growers and HESCO, and on the board of the Florida Citrus Packers and Florida Fresh Citrus Shippers Assn., to name just a few. A Bull Gator and a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, he is the recipient of the prestigious John T. Lesley award from the Florida Citrus Packers and a member of the Cooperative Hall of Fame. “He was always doing his job and serving the industry, and was very much admired in many different arenas,” said Hall of Fame member Ben Hill Griffin, III.

Dr. Lester worked for the Florida Department of Citrus from 1967 to 1986, beginning as a research economist and working his way up to Executive Director in 1979. During his tenure, he dealt with challenges ranging from marketing some of the largest crops in Florida history to working through devastating freezes, trade and tariff challenges, increased imports, diseases, as well as sending orange juice adulterators to jail to maintain the quality of Florida juice products. He went on to join Alico, Inc., where he was on the board of directors for almost 20 years, and also served on the board of directors for Orange-Co, Inc., Gulf Citrus Growers Association, the Florida Land Council, and the Board of Trustees for Florida Gulf Coast University. A member of the Florida Blue Key since 1960, he received the Florida Citrus Processor’s Award for dedicated services, as well as awards from the Florida Department of Citrus, Florida Assn. of County Agents, American Business Women’s Assn., Boy Scouts of America, and a number of awards from Alpha Gamma Rho for his outstanding service and guidance. He has served in numerous capacities for a variety of educational and service organizations, including the IFAS Leadership Development Program, Hendry County Extension Advisory Committee, Southwest Florida Research and Education Foundation, South Florida Agricultural Council, Future Farmers of America, 4-H, Farm Bureau and Future Business Leaders of America, to name just a few. Hall of Fame member George Austin noted: “He knew how to make things work in less than favorable conditions and he always wanted what was best for the industry.”

The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame honors distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to the Florida citrus industry. The Citrus Hall of Fame display and Archive Center is located within the McKay Archive Building at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information on the Citrus Hall of Fame or the Golden Jubilee activities, visit the web site at www.FloridaCitrusHallofFame.com or contact Brenda Eubanks Burnette at (561) 351-4314.

Tickets to the luncheon, which is sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual and the Florida Department of Citrus, are $50 for general admission, $100 for reserved Patron Seating or $1,000 for a Sponsor Table, which includes preferred seating for 8, table signage, two tickets to the Gala and a listing in the program. The event will be followed by an OJ “Meet & Greet” with the inductees as they unveil their names on the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Tree, located in the McKay Archives Center. An historic Citrus Exhibit will be featured, along with Oral History Presentations of industry pioneers, a Citrus Label Show & Sale and tours of the Citrus Archives. Shuttles will provide transportation between the Hollis Wellness Center and the McKay Archives Center, where the main parking lot is located. Ticket prices for the Golden Jubilee Gala the following evening are the same, with table sponsors receiving two tickets to the luncheon.

###

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Post-Freeze Considerations

January 6th, 2012 by tamara

The following information was provided by the University of Florida/IFAS Extension.

If you experienced crop damage or losses following this week’s freezing weather, there are some things you should consider doing if you intend to make claims for crop insurance.

The first and formost is to document, document, document and communicate.

Keep detailed records of temperatures and duration, numbers of acreage and percent estimated loss. Take lots of pictures – as they say a picture tells a thousand words.

Communicate your loss to your insurance agent, local FSA office and others.

Most policies state that you (the insured) should notify your agent within 72 hours of discovery of crop damage. As a practical matter, you should always contact your agent immediately when you discover crop damage.

If you want to destroy the crop (perhaps to plant another crop or a cover crop), then an adjuster needs to come out first — before you do anything. If, on the other hand, you intend to continue to care for the crop and harvest what you can, there is less urgency for the adjuster to make the inspection immediately. Even so, an assessment of damage should be done as soon as practical.

Do not destroy any of your crop. Do not disk. Do not plow. Do not replant. Do nothing to destroy your crop until you have permission from a claims adjuster or an insurance company representative. Do not destroy evidence that is needed to support your claim without clear direction from the insurance company, preferably in writing.

Keep good records of past yields on a field by field or block by block basis – these may help set the basis for current losses. It may be necessary to keep production separate for each farming practice, type of crop and variety depending on the crop being harvested and crop insurance coverage in place.

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Weather Update 1/5/2012

January 5th, 2012 by tamara

Dear Mutual Members and Friends:

For the second night in a row, the industry got hit with cold weather. Although by no means catastrophic, we have received reports of slush ice and twig and leaf damage. Of course we will not know the full extent of the damage for the next several days however I do expect at least a moderate impact.

Last night it got a little colder than we originally expected particularly in low lying areas off the Ridge and in the Northern region where temperatures reached the mid to low 20s. The Gulf region also had reports in the 20s as well. Fortunately, the durations were not more than a couple hours in most cases. The River seems to have come through in the best shape with reports in the mid to low 30s.

On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning we had little to no frost however last night we had heavy frost and little wind which produced colder temps than forecast. Growers were able to run water and this helped raise temperatures and protect trees. Irrigation worked very well.

As we progress through the winter, please keep Florida Citrus Mutual’s Weather Watch in mind. Forecast information will be available on Mutual’s phone system so growers can call in and get the updates they need to plan for any cold event. Information will be made available as early as possible, so that growers will be able to start their freeze protection strategies in ad¬vance of approaching weather.

To access the Weather Watch system call 863.682.1111 at any time and ask for the weather update, or exten¬sion 805. If you call after hours simply dial 805 when the night service picks up.

After choosing extension 805 you will hear the current weather summary discussion for the entire state. You will then be asked to choose from three options:

• Press 1 to listen to a list of National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Zones. There is a number for each county and the list is lengthy. To access a map of the zones go to www.flcitrusmutual.com and look under industry issues – weather – then select the “Zone Map for Freeze Information Network” button on the bot¬tom right hand side of the screen.

• Press 2 to hear a detailed forecast by NWS Forecast Zone. You will be given a listing of the seven zone options.

• Press 3 to hear FCM field staff contact information

The Weather Watch is updated every Monday throughout the winter. The infor¬mation is refreshed more often during a cold event; usually each day by 8:00 am and again around 6:00 pm. If you need further assistance please call Rusty Wiygul at 352-266-2426.

Mutual will continue to keep you updated as this issue progresses.

Regards,

Mike Sparks

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Citrus Weather Updates Available Via Twitter

January 3rd, 2012 by tamara

LAKELAND, Fla. (January 3, 2012) With winter weather fast approaching, the media can now stay up to date with Florida citrus on Twitter.

When cold weather moves in, Florida Citrus Mutual will provide timely freeze information on the social networking site at www.twitter.com/FLCITRUSMUTUAL. Go sign up today.

“By utilizing Twitter we hope to more efficiently and effectively provide the press with the information they need to get out to their readers, viewers and listeners,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “We get an awful lot of media inquiries during freeze events and this is a great way to efficiently manage them.”

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Florida Citrus Commission Names Douglas Ackerman to Lead Citrus Industry

December 21st, 2011 by tamara

Bartow, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2011) – The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) selected Douglas R. Ackerman as the new Executive Director for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) following a four-month search for an individual with an advanced understanding of marketing who will bring a strong set of leadership skills and diversity of thought to the citrus industry.

“Douglas Ackerman understands the importance of citrus to our counties and state,” said Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Marty McKenna. “He has a tremendous amount of desire and determination to join the team.”

“The citrus industry requires leadership to get everyone together when we need to and I think he will connect well with growers.”

Ackerman, of Bartow, Fla., has 17 years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, and integrated marketing communications. Most recently, he served as Category Marketing Manager at Publix Super Markets for nearly seven years. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Tampa and a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

An Executive Search Committee comprised of six commissioners selected Ackerman after interviewing three candidates from a pool of 114 applicants. The FCC voted to hire Ackerman at their Dec. 21 meeting.

“I’m really looking forward to working with all the growers, processors and staff at the Florida Department of Citrus in helping to promote Florida citrus,” Ackerman stated.

Ackerman will begin his new position in January.

# # #

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

Additional Ranking Dates Set for Major Conservation Initiatives

December 6th, 2011 by tamara

Gainesville, FL., December 2, 2011 – Florida agricultural producers have extra chances this year to be approved for cost share funding for the Organic, On-Farm Energy and Seasonal High Tunnel initiatives this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced three ranking periods for Fiscal Year 2012 for these funding opportunities; in the past there was one per year. All three initiatives offer technical and financial assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

“Moving to multiple ranking dates for each initiative is going to make it easier for more producers to apply and help them get started with implementing the practices they need to benefit the natural resources on their operations,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS state conservationist for Florida. “We hope producers will visit their local USDA Service Center for more details on how NRCS can help them conserve Florida’s natural resources.”

NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year but there will be three ranking periods for the Organic, On-Farm Energy and Seasonal High Tunnel initiatives, all ending on February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012. At the end of a ranking period, NRCS ranks all submitted proposals for funding consideration. NRCS will notify all applicants of the results of the rankings and begin developing contracts with selected applicants.

Initiative Overviews
On-Farm Energy Initiative: NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) or farm energy audits that assess energy consumption on an operation. NRCS then uses audit data to develop energy conservation recommendations. Each AgEMP has a landscape component that assesses equipment and farming processes and a farm headquarters component that assesses power usage and efficiencies in livestock buildings, grain handling operations, and similar facilities to support the farm operation.

Organic Initiative: NRCS helps certified organic growers and producers working to achieve organic certification install conservation practices for organic production. New for fiscal year 2012, applicants will be evaluated continuously during the ranking periods. Applications meeting or exceeding a threshold score may be approved for an EQIP contract before the end of the ranking period. Applications rating below the threshold score will be deferred to the next period. A new threshold score will be established at the beginning of each ranking period. This new scoring process allows organic producers to implement conservation practices in a timelier manner.

Seasonal High Tunnel Pilot Initiative: NRCS helps producers plan and implement high tunnels‒ steel-framed, polyethylene-covered structures that extend growing seasons in an environmentally safe manner. High tunnel benefits include better plant and soil quality, fewer nutrients and pesticides in the environment, and better air quality due to fewer vehicles being needed to transport crops. More than 4,000 high tunnels have been planned and implemented nationwide through this initiative over the past two years.

Visit the NRCS National Web site for more information on how to apply for these initiatives. To find the nearest office go to your telephone directory under “U. S. Government, Department of Agriculture”, or http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »

NBC Airs Segment on Immigration’s Impact on Alabama Agriculture

November 17th, 2011 by tamara

NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams recently aired the following segment on how immigration has affected Alabama’s agriculture industry.

NBC Nightly News Segment on Immigration in Alabama

Posted in Daily Squeeze | No Comments »