Hello y’all,
I’m sorry it’s taken a while to get anything out but getting an idea of how hard Hurricane Helene has hit the Georgia citrus industry has been slow-going. From what I have seen so far, most people have experienced some fallen/leaning trees and some limb breakage. The amount of fruit drop has ranged anywhere from 0-40% depending on where in the hurricane’s path the groves were. We are still getting new information every day, so these estimates will likely change in the coming weeks as the damage becomes clearer.
The USDA has a very detailed Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Guide for Citrus Producers. I’m including a few highlights below of things to keep in mind during clean-up efforts.
Leaning Trees and Broken Limbs
Trees that are leaning can usually be pushed back to a fully upright position. This needs to be done as soon as possible. Removal of any broken limbs should be done for any damaged trees. Any fallen or pruned limbs should be removed from the grove as well.
Fruit Damage
Keep a close eye on your fruit in the coming weeks as a lot of the damaged fruit will start dropping. If feasible, try to remove any severely damaged fruit you see. This fruit will likely drop soon anyway and the damage to the fruit surface will make it more susceptible to disease. This fruit will likely drop soon and the damage to the fruit surface will make it more susceptible to disease. Likewise, removing any dropped fruit from underneath your trees either to the row middle or out of the field can help reduce the likelihood of disease. This fruit removal may only be feasible if you have a smaller operation and serves as a precaution more so than a necessity.
Irrigation
I know parts of South Georgia didn’t get a ton of rain during the hurricane, so flooding may not be an issue for everyone. Nonetheless, if you do see any standing water in your fields or the soil is over-saturated, hold off on reinstating irrigation until the excess water has drained. If your grove sustained extensive damage from the hurricane (either canopy damage from the high winds or root damage from partial- to full-uprooting), the trees will likely have some issues with water uptake until they get re-established. An easy fix is to spoon-feed the irrigation or to apply the irrigation more frequently but in smaller amounts. For example, if you normally irrigate once a week, break up the water application over 3-4 days. The key here is to keep putting out the same amount of water over the course of the week just in smaller applications.
Organic Citrus
For the organic growers, this is coming straight from the USDA Citrus Producer’s Guide mentioned above:
“If your farm is organic, it is important to consider how the hurricane impacts may affect your certification. Temporary variances from some organic practices are possible, so contact your certifier to determine whether your practices qualify. It is most important to report prohibited substances that may have infiltrated your farm during the hurricane”
Please check with your certifier for what will be allowed both as a result of the hurricane and during the recovery process.
Disease Management
Dr. Oliver has also posted an update on how to stay alert for disease development following the hurricane.
Questions or Concerns?
Please feel free to call me at 229-386-3432 or email at mary.sutton25@uga.edu if you have any questions or concerns. Also, please keep an eye out for a hurricane damage assessment survey in the coming weeks.