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A Haven When Winter Weather Comes Knocking

Over a decade ago, we created the innovative Tree Defender IPC for one specific and singular purpose: to keep a pesky little bug off of our valuable citrus trees.

The bug in this case was, of course, the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny creature barely 3-4 millimeters in length; tiny enough to avoid eradication yet large enough to be the vector for transmitting the HLB bacteria that has nearly crippled a stalwart Florida industry.

As the years passed, and we continued to develop the Tree Defender to protect against this insect — including a patented net construction technology that more effectively protected new tree plants — it quickly became evident that providing industry-leading protection was just the tip of the iceberg with regards to what the Tree Defender can do and the positive benefits it consistently provides.

 

One of these benefits is particularly relevant this month as Florida gets its first real taste of winter with the noticeable change in temperatures.

Customers frequently ask whether the Tree Defender can provide beneficial cold weather protection. We are pleased to say that it does, particularly when combined with another method.

Low volume irrigation has been proven for years to be one of the most effective freeze protection methods for a myriad of crops, from strawberries to citrus.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average groundwater temperature in the Southeastern United States consistently ranges about 68 degrees. Applying this relatively warm water through low-volume irrigation helps on its own. However, through a process called the “latent heat of fusion,” additional heat energy is released during the ice-forming process, which creates a protective layer that can prevent the plant tissue from reaching damaging temperatures.

When growers add the Tree Defender IPC during freeze events, a frost can form on the exterior of the cover. This external layer surrounds the tree and creates somewhat of an igloo effect. The Tree Defender helps to hold in heat and significantly slows the temperature drop inside.

Proper use of this combination — low-water irrigation and the Tree Defender — can work synergistically and enhance cold-weather protection. This one-two punch is fast becoming an important tool for growers, especially in some of the colder growing regions such as Georgia and North Florida.

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A Way Forward

There is no silver bullet.

I’m pretty sure that this is the accepted sentiment by most Florida citrus growers and industry-watchers. There is not going to be some silver-bullet solution that magically appears and wipes away the HLB plague that has haunted the citrus industry for so long.

What is becoming apparent is that fighting HLB successfully will take a combination of successful products and practices that, when used together as a whole, will help us win the fight.

There has been some exciting data just released from the University of Florida that shines the spotlight on another important arrow we now have in our quiver to carry into the battle.

When calculating the value of juice oranges, it’s all about the brix — the term used for the dissolved sugars in the fruit. To put it as simply as possible, what “brix” really means is “dollars.”

Ever since we created the patented Tree Defender IPC, there has been the nagging question of what happens after the covers are removed. Are you right back to square one after the removal, or is there a continued benefit?

According to some recent results released through a continuing study by the University of Florida, the answer points toward a definite continued benefit. Dr. Fernando Alferez and his team have gathered the most recent data and have shown that for three consecutive seasons after IPC removal, the fruit quality is significantly better than the fruit quality from trees initially grown without the protection of Tree Defender IPCs. What does this mean? For the grower, it means more money returned on the initial investment.

A secondary conclusion of these results points to how the use of Tree Defender IPCs can help the industry as a whole mitigate the current poor juice quality from HLB-infected trees and the very young trees planted in their place.

These results are a huge step forward and, along with many of the other recent advancements in the ongoing fight against HLB, are creating a clearer path forward. So while there may be no silver bullet, there does appear to be a way forward, a way that leads toward profitability for the Florida citrus grower.

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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!

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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

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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.