Florida's citrus sector encounters hurdles as weather patterns and disease impact yields. Trevor Murphy, a third-generation citrus producer, reported a downturn in his farm's output, marking the lowest in nearly a century. "Last year, we had Hurricane Milton that came through, so we dropped from 18 million boxes to roughly 11 million boxes this year," Murphy stated to FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen.
The state is experiencing drought conditions, with 82% of Florida in drought and 16% in extreme drought. Murphy noted, "It's been bone dry down here for the past two months. We've received 1 inch of rain, and that was over a month ago. So we're hoping and waiting for some rain."
Beyond climatic factors, citrus greening disease poses a threat to production, reducing yields from about 133 million boxes in previous years. The disease, spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, has been a challenge for Florida growers for two decades. The USDA identifies citrus greening as a serious disease that can cause tree death within a few years.
Murphy highlighted the innovations in tree care necessitated by these challenges: "We're farming a lot smarter and harder than we used to." Techniques include spoonfeeding micronutrients and fertilizers, adjusting spray schedules, and implementing more frequent, smaller waterings.
Source: Fox Weather
