Scouting: How, When and What Jamie D. Yates University of Florida, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Center Lake Alfred Jamie D. Yates University of Florida, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Center Lake Alfred

Scouting in Scouting is no longer an option, but essential to managing greening How successful do you want to become? –Aim to stay viable and productive in the citrus industry Scouting is no longer an option, but essential to managing greening How successful do you want to become? –Aim to stay viable and productive in the citrus industry

Train Your Scouts Become familiar with the symptoms –Trainings available from UF-IFAS upon request –Online interactive training Become familiar with the symptoms –Trainings available from UF-IFAS upon request –Online interactive training Visit another grower with greening infected trees Follow an experienced scouting crew Essential to communicate with scouts (both English and Spanish) Everyone learns differently! Visit another grower with greening infected trees Follow an experienced scouting crew Essential to communicate with scouts (both English and Spanish) Everyone learns differently!

Make a Plan-Choose your methods Walking –Closer inspection of trees – Easy in young to mid-sized trees ATVs –Faster than walking, but does not allow close inspection and difficult in tall trees Elevated platforms –Best view of upper canopy –Must have scouts on both upper and lower platform –Reliable drivers are essential Walking –Closer inspection of trees – Easy in young to mid-sized trees ATVs –Faster than walking, but does not allow close inspection and difficult in tall trees Elevated platforms –Best view of upper canopy –Must have scouts on both upper and lower platform –Reliable drivers are essential

Make a Plan-Survey path Steve Futch. Ph.D.

Make a Plan-Design a flagging system Suggested Practices –Flag individual symptomatic branches –Write scout’s name and date on flagging tape –Flag each end of the row with number of flagged trees noted –Hedging can remove flagging material and create re- inspection/removal issues –GPS can also be used, but should be used in conjunction with flagging tape Use a colored flagging tape specifically for greening Suggested Practices –Flag individual symptomatic branches –Write scout’s name and date on flagging tape –Flag each end of the row with number of flagged trees noted –Hedging can remove flagging material and create re- inspection/removal issues –GPS can also be used, but should be used in conjunction with flagging tape Use a colored flagging tape specifically for greening

Scout on Time Minimum four times a year Symptoms are most difficult to see during the spring and summer flush Remember safety first! Minimum four times a year Symptoms are most difficult to see during the spring and summer flush Remember safety first!

Scout on Time Plan your scouting program around your regular grove care practices –Don’t mow, hedge or apply chemicals in the same block with scouts –Prepare grove to improve efficiency of scouting, i.e. remove excessive weeds Maintain proper grove maintenance Scouting after a chemical application may be more difficult, be aware of REI of recently applied pesticides Be flexible in Florida weather conditions including lightning and windy weather Plan your scouting program around your regular grove care practices –Don’t mow, hedge or apply chemicals in the same block with scouts –Prepare grove to improve efficiency of scouting, i.e. remove excessive weeds Maintain proper grove maintenance Scouting after a chemical application may be more difficult, be aware of REI of recently applied pesticides Be flexible in Florida weather conditions including lightning and windy weather

Focus Remember your focus! Symptoms –Blotchy mottle –Yellow veins –Vein corking –Green islands –Off-season bloom –Lopsided fruit –Off-colored fruit Remember your focus! Symptoms –Blotchy mottle –Yellow veins –Vein corking –Green islands –Off-season bloom –Lopsided fruit –Off-colored fruit

Pen Test Determine if symptoms are the same on both halves of the upper or lower leaf surface Draw two circles on opposite halves of the leaf Is the pattern the same in both circles? Determine if symptoms are the same on both halves of the upper or lower leaf surface Draw two circles on opposite halves of the leaf Is the pattern the same in both circles?

Scouting Resources Revised laminated sheets Training DVD Revised Greening Field ID Pocket Guides NEW! Online Interactive Training NEW! Greening brochure NEW! Scouting for Citrus Greening brochure NEW! Scouting for Citrus Greening (EDIS) Revised laminated sheets Training DVD Revised Greening Field ID Pocket Guides NEW! Online Interactive Training NEW! Greening brochure NEW! Scouting for Citrus Greening brochure NEW! Scouting for Citrus Greening (EDIS)

Questions?