Author: Blog

Categories
Uncategorized

Bigger and Better Than Ever

It’s August, and that means it’s time for the Citrus Expo! As one of the sponsors of the event, everyone at Tree Defender is particularly excited this year. Why?

First, we are moving to a new booth location (#701) that is quite a bit larger than we’ve had in previous years. This 20 foot-by-20 foot spot will give us space to showcase the range of innovations we have been working on recently.

Speaking of new innovations, we’ll have our new trellis system set up so growers can get their first peek at it while we’re right there to answer questions. Our trellis system was specifically developed to bridge the best of both the CUPS and IPC worlds. It protects a tree not only as it reaches maturity but also several years past in order to consistently produce healthier, larger, tastier, disease-free citrus.

Based on our preliminary research, the trellis system appears to be stable in inclement weather and can utilize any IPC up to 12 feet. Here’s the kicker: It does this at a fraction of the cost of a CUPS structure!

We’re also conducting research to study the effects of placing these larger trellis structures on infected trees after the trees are treated with oxytetracycline trunk injections to offer extra protection and aid in recovery.

Second, the Expo will also allow us to feature our classic and patent-proven Tree Defender with a new and improved design. The new design keeps all of the benefits of the original Tree Defender but adds a few new tweaks to make it sturdier, more durable, and longer lasting.

For example, we have switched to a new PTFE Lifetime high-performance thread that is unaffected by UV sunlight and protects against nature’s harsh elements.

The Tree Defender IPC now also comes with a plastic connector on our vinyl spreader to prevent rust, and we’ve added two stainless steel grommets on opposite sides of the hem to secure the IPC.

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the feedback of growers, so you can imagine how excited we are to share our latest (and greatest) tools with everyone at the Expo.

Be sure to stop by and talk to us at Booth #701. See you there!

Categories
Uncategorized

No Trees, No Industry

It seems there has been a faint song of optimism about the Florida citrus industry these days. With some recent research breakthroughs and a steady chorus of “not if, but when,” it can be tempting to hold tight and wait for a proven HLB-resistant tree to save the day.

However, if you listen closely, there’s another chorus ringing just underneath — it’s faint, yet the message is vital and needs to be amplified. That chorus is “no trees, no industry.”

Simply put, despite the breakthroughs and the “just-around-the-corner” promises we have been relying on to save the Florida citrus we love, the loss of the industry’s infrastructure is far outpacing the rate of replanting efforts. Packinghouses are closing, and the hard-working people who work within the industry are moving on — including growers.

If not addressed, this could push the whole industry to the point of no return.

Every year we lose vital nurseries that produce young trees that build this foundation. And every year we lose growers at an alarming rate. Getting new trees in the ground should be the top priority of all who are involved in the industry. Newly-planted trees can help guarantee a healthy industry in the future. This can no longer be just one of many needs vying for attention. This is THE need.

Of course, this does not diminish the importance of other needs we have. But if more trees don’t go in the ground — and if more places that produce young trees ready to be planted disappear — there is a very real chance the industry will be gone before a solution is found.

Tree planting initiatives and assistance programs have not had the expected impact on turning the tide. Growers are appreciative of any resources that come, but a significant portion will go to waste if they aren’t revamped to be grower-friendly, effective, and geared to put trees in the ground.

One new approach recently launched in Brazil is a grower credit line program that could have a significant positive impact to their industry and create a flurry of new plantings. The program was designed to give small growers a new start and specifically designed to be advantageous to the grower. Each grower is eligible for a $300,000 credit line at 3% interest, a three-year grace period before starting payments, and a 96-month repayment period after that. Just imagine what could happen if we were to implement such a plan here in Florida geared toward replanting!

It’s time to stop kicking this can down the road. We must heed the chorus: “Plant now, plant for the future.”

Bio: Tommy Thayer is the co-owner of Tree Defender and owner of Southern Citrus Nurseries, which has been in business since the 1970s. Both companies are based in Dundee, Florida. As a native Floridian, he is a fifth-generation citrus grower who graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Resource Economics. For more information, visit thetreedefender.com

Categories
Uncategorized

Helping to Rewrite the Book

To paraphrase a quote from citrus grower James Shinn, the current HLB-ravaged environment is forcing us to “rewrite the book on growing citrus.” This month, Tree Defender introduces our latest chapter; a new weapon in the story of the war on greening.

For some high-end fresh fruit growers, CUPS has become a successful chapter in Florida’s ongoing fight with greening. While CUPS can help protect citrus groves from HLB infection, it does so with some notable drawbacks, the most significant of which is the initial investment in constructing and maintaining the structure. This cost means CUPS is not an option for juice and lower-tier fresh fruit growers. It is simply not economically viable.

More than 90 percent of Florida growers are juice and lower-tier fresh fruit growers, therefore a significant number of growers who are on the front lines of the HLB fight are literally left out in the elements.

To help close this gap, the forward-thinking team at Tree Defender is excited to introduce our brand new innovation: the Tree Defender trellis. This unique wire trellis design is specifically an attempt to bridge the best of both the CUPS and IPC worlds. This system can utilize any size IPC up to 12 feet, and preliminary research has shown the trellis is very stable in inclement weather.

We estimate that the total cost of the trellis system, using 10-foot IPCs, will be approximately 20 percent of the cost of a CUPS structure. While we know that this is still a significant investment — especially in these belt-tightening times. But when you hear talk of juice prices north of $3.50 per pound solid, it starts to make sense and gives growers who can’t afford CUPS another tool to use in the fight against greening.

We are currently researching the effects of placing these larger trellis IPCs on infected trees after trunk injections. The hope is that the extra protection of the Tree Defender technology will help the tree recover. Preliminary observations are promising. In addition, the benefits of this new growing system would be beneficial to more than citrus growers. We anticipate our new design and the research it welcomes will open doors for application to other crops, as well. Stay tuned to learn more because we expect to have field demonstrations available later this month.

We recognize that greening is changing the way Florida citrus is grown, and we’re excited to rewrite the story with a more promising ending.