Hendry County citrus trees stressed by drought and rising costs

HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — An ongoing drought is taking a toll on Florida's citrus industry, putting extra stress on trees already facing challenges from disease and economic pressures.

Gene McAvoy, a citrus consultant with more than 50 years of experience, said this is one of the worst situations he has seen. The trees in his grove all have greening, a disease that affects almost every orange tree in the state and makes them susceptible to stress.

"These trees all have greening. Almost every orange tree in the state of Florida does, and this disease renders them susceptible to any kind of stress," McAvoy said.

For McAvoy, this season is a perfect storm. A freeze on Feb. 1 burned off or froze the bloom on the trees at the time, and rising gas prices have increased transportation and fuel costs for tractors.

"We had a freeze February 1, and a lot of these trees were actually blooming at that time," McAvoy said. "All the bloom that was on the trees at that time was burnt off or frozen off."

The drought delivered the knockout blow. Fruit is falling to the ground because the trees can't hold it.

"It's kind of like a one two punch, and the tree doesn't have the ability to hold the fruit," McAvoy said. "Your costs are rising, and your profit is on the ground."

When the rain won't show up, farmers do. McAvoy uses mini sprinklers to keep his trees on life support, watering them three times a week.

"It wets a circle about three feet out from the tree, six-foot diameter, thereabouts, and we water three times a week," McAvoy said. "It keeps the tree alive. It keeps it productive. But again, it's not what rain, you know, if we had regular rains."

The irrigation system creates a visible difference in the soil. Dry soil sits just inches away from wet soil around the trees, showing how the wetted area extends around each tree.

"It doesn't substitute for Mother Nature," McAvoy said.

With statewide production down more than 90%, the challenges are mounting. But for McAvoy, quitting isn't an option.

"Agriculture has always faced hurdles," McAvoy said. "As they say, farming is not for sissies. This drought will go away and, you know, we'll come back stronger."

As extreme drought conditions continue, farmers will continue to irrigate their trees every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and simply pray for rain.