2026 Seminar Agenda

Thank You Seminar Sponsors!

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Seminar schedule times are subject to change.

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Registration at Trade Show Entrance

Don't wait in line, preregister today!

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Breakfast in Trade Show Hall

Scrambled eggs with potatoes, bacon, sausage, coffee and orange juice

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Trade Show Open

Visit exhibitor booths!

Keynote Address (8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)

Keynote Address

8:30 - Keynote Address

Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary INVITED

9:30 - Break/Trade Show

morning Session (10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.)

10:00 - Citrus Seminar: New Varieties and CRAFT Update

What’s New from CRAFT

Tamara Wood, CRAFT Foundation 

Panel: Selecting New Variety Options

John Chater, UF/IFAS
Matt Mattia, USDA
Moderator: Frank Giles

11:15 - Break/Visit Trade Show

10:00 - Specialty Crop Seminars

TBA

General Session (11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

11:45 - General Session

  • Playing the Long and Short Game: A Two-Tracked Approach Rooted in Science

    Scott Angle, UF/IFAS

  • USDA Disaster Relief and Farm Program Update

    Marcinda Kester, Florida’s Farm Service Agency Director

  • Bringing A Land Remembered to the TV

    Todd Wiseman Jr. TV series producer/director

  • 1:00 - Lunch/Trade Show

Afternoon Session (2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.)

2:00 - Citrus Seminar

  • Optimizing OTC Performance: From Research to the Grove

    Ute Albrecht, UF/IFAS
    Citrus Growers Larry Black and Jim Snively
    Moderator: Frank Giles

  • 3:15 - Break/Trade Show

2:00 - Specialty Crop Seminar

TBA

3:15 - Break/Trade Show

Afternoon Session (3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.)

3:45 - Citrus Seminar: Improving Tree Health

  • Combining Practical Tools to Improve Citrus Pest Management and Tree Health

    Lukasz Stelinksi, UF/IFAS

  • AI-enabled smart tree crop sprayers

    Yiannis Ampatzidis, UF/IFAS

  • The role of soil microbes in citrus soil health - and how you can support them

    Sarah Strauss, UF/IFAS

  • Use Biochar and Compost in Citrus

    Tripti Vashisth, UF/IFAS

  • 4:45 - Seminars End

3:45 - Specialty Crop Seminar

TBA

4:45 - Seminars End

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

8:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Registration at Trade Show Entrance

Don't wait in line, preregister today!

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. - Brunch in Trade Show Hall

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Trade Show Open

Visit exhibitor booths!

8:30 - Citrus Seminars: Fresh Fruit Update

  • Fresh Fruit Promotion Efforts from Florida Department of Citrus

    Tina Charpentier, Padilla Agency

  • Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS): Reflections on a Decade of Practice and Progress Ahead

    Arnold Schumann, UF/IFAS

  • CUPS Pest Management

    Lauren Diepenbrock, UF/IFAS

  • Fresh Fruit Post-Harvest Disease Management

    Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS

9:30 - Brunch and Visit Trade Show

10:30 - Citrus Seminar: Horticultural Tools to Improve Tree Health

  • Optimizing Citrus Irrigation and Nutrition

    Davie Kadyampakeni UF/IFAS

  • Exploiting synergies: IPCs, Brassinosteroids, and beyond

    Fernando Alferez, UF/IFAS

  • Freeze Preparedness and Recovery: Practical Management Strategies for Citrus Growers

    Muhammad Shahid, UF/IFAS

  • 11:30 - Visit Trade Show

  • 12:00 - Expo Ends

8:30 - Specialty Crop Seminars

  • TBA

  • 9:30 - Brunch and Visit Trade Show

  • 11:30 - Break and Visit Trade Show

  • 12:00 - Expo Ends