Latest news with #TrevorMurphy
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Cork man sprayed liquid from syringe into garda's face during attempted rescue
A garda trying to save a man from self-harming or taking his own life forced his way into a bathroom but was sprayed in the face and eyes with brown/red liquid from a syringe and now the culprit has been jailed for 18 months. 'This was an assault using a syringe. The guard was only there to assist you and to stop you from taking your own life. Gardaí are entitled to go about their duties without risk of serious illness and assault,' Judge Helen Boyle said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. A prison sentence of two and a half years with the last 12 months suspended was imposed on Trevor Murphy, aged 37. The incident occurred on February 8, 2024, when gardaí responded to a report of a man threatening self-harm at an apartment at Millerd Square, Millerd St, Cork, where Trevor Murphy was residing at the time. On arrival Gardaí were admitted by family members who said he had locked himself into the bathroom. He had heroin and needles and was threatening suicide. He said he would assault gardaí if given an opportunity. Members of the garda armed support unit had to force their way into the bathroom where the accused said: 'What the fuck do ye want?' And he brandished a syringe and needle with a brown/red liquid, and sprayed the contents across the face and into the eyes of one of the guards as he violently resisted arrest. The officer was later blood-tested and was negative for HIV, Hep B and Hep C. Judge Helen Boyle said: 'Your drug use exacerbates your mental health difficulties. I am satisfied you have done your best to stay away from drugs and to mind your mental health since this. You have made great efforts to recover from alcohol and drug use.' The judge added that the signed plea spared witnesses and saved the state the time and expense of a trial. Imposing a total sentence of two and a half years, Judge Boyle suspended the final year of the sentence.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmers warn of rising food prices as extreme conditions threaten supply: 'It's been bone dry down here for the past two months'
Farmers in Florida are facing difficulties due to extreme weather events in the region. As a result, they're warning consumers that they could see higher food prices soon. According to Blue Book, recent weather in Florida has growers in the region concerned about their crops. Currently, temperatures are moving into the 90s, and there has been little rain in recent months, as well as none forecast in the near future. Growers are preoccupied with the 2025 hurricane season, which early forecasts predict will see above-average activity. As a result of these conditions and potentially volatile months ahead, crops in the region — including beans, bell peppers, and squash — could feel the squeeze, causing food prices to rise. Those growing citrus aren't faring much better, either. Fox Weather reported that last year's hurricane season caused a drop in citrus crops. Meanwhile, 82% of the state is currently in a drought, while 16% is in extreme drought, significantly affecting crops. Citrus growers also have to contend with a disease known as citrus greening, which can kill off citrus trees. Citrus grower Trevor Murphy told Fox Weather, "It's been bone dry down here for the past two months. We've received one inch of rain, and that was over a month ago." As global temperatures continue to rise, more extreme weather, such as droughts and hurricanes, will decrease crop yields and affect consumers. Fewer yields mean fewer food items at the grocery store, which also means that what food is on the shelves will increase in price. Plus, if farmers lose money on crops or have to up their investment to grow the crops needed, prices will increase even more. Growers in Florida may even begin to cease operations, much like Alico Inc., which decided to shut down citrus growing operations at the beginning of 2025. Fewer growers result in fewer jobs and less produce; less produce affects not only the availability of fruits and vegetables on the shelves but also products made with this produce. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. There's the damage droughts and hurricanes can cause to the environment to consider, too, such as worse soil to grow in, less water for crops, and fields of ruined crops with which to contend. Citrus growers in the state might see help in the near future, as the state Senate has put forth a proposal that would set aside $200 million for the cost of new citrus trees, testing varieties of disease-resistant citrus, and improving grove management. As for other crop growers, scientists have been hard at work exploring ways to make crops more climate-resilient, how to grow crops with less water, and more. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida citrus production drops as growers battle weather, disease to survive
SEBRING, Fla. – A combination of weather and disease has posed significant challenges for Florida farmers. Trevor Murphy, a third-generation citrus grower, noted that his farm had the lowest crop in about a century. "Last year, we had Hurricane Milton that came through, so we dropped from 18 million boxes to roughly 11 million boxes this year," Murphy told FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen. In addition to hurricanes, drought has plagued Florida, where 82% of the state is in drought with 16% in extreme drought. "It's been bone dry down here for the past two months," he said. "We've received 1 inch of rain, and that was over a month ago. So we're hoping and waiting for some rain." Florida Citrus Growers Brace For Smallest Production In 95 Years Following Hurricanes, Disease However, the weather is not the only factor farmers like Murphy have to contend with. One factor in particular has caused the number of boxes harvested to plummet from about 133 million in earlier years. Murphy said that the main culprit is a disease known as citrus greening. One of the most serious diseases in the world, it can cause infected citrus trees to die within a few years, according to the USDA. The disease is carried by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid, which Florida farmers have been battling for about 20 years, Murphy said. Because of the insect and the deadly disease it carries, citrus farmers have had to innovate the ways they care for their trees. "We're farming a lot smarter and harder than we used to," Murphy said. How To Watch Fox Weather Some of the methods farmers adopted is spoonfeeding micronutrients and fertilizers to the trees, along with timing their sprays differently and watering their trees with smaller, but more frequent, doses of article source: Florida citrus production drops as growers battle weather, disease to survive
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida's citrus industry, once thriving, is now in decline
MIAMI (NewsNation) — Florida's citrus industry is facing a crisis with a trifecta of challenges threatening its survival: Frequent hurricanes, rapid population growth and citrus greening disease. According to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, In 2021, the citrus industry contributed nearly $7 billion to the state's economy and was responsible for more than 30,000 jobs. However, in recent years, citrus has suffered. These issues have caused a 90% decline in orange production over the past two decades. Citrus groves in Florida, which covered more than 832,00 acres at the turn of the century, populated scarcely 275,000 acres last year. US importing more eggs as bird flu continues to spread According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Florida Citrus Mutual, production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos are all down from last year. The Sunshine State, once the leading citrus producer, is now number 2 behind California. Hurricanes have played a major role in this decline. 'Since 2017, we've had Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton come through the citrus belt,' said Trevor Murphy, a citrus grower. 'On top of that, we also had some freezes, the first time that we've had in probably 10-plus years. The trees are already in a weakened state because of the greening.' Since 2020, more than half a dozen storms have made landfall. Many, including Hurricanes Ian and Milton, went right over Central and South Florida, where citrus groves are located. AI to be used in Taco Bell, Pizza Hut restaurants The University of Florida estimates that Hurricane Milton alone caused between $23 and $55 million in damage to the industry. Greening disease, caused by a bacteria spread by a tiny insect, has further devastated the industry. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure, and the disease has resulted in a 90% reduction in Florida's citrus production since 2006. Growers have resorted to measures such as wrapping trees in mesh bags to try to protect them. Scientists at the University of Florida are working to breed some varieties of trees that, when they are infected, can still produce fruit. While it will still be a few years until the trees that can survive the disease are ready to be planted, it is offering hope to growers. Beyond the farming challenges, citrus is used to make candy, jams and jellies, and orange juice. Consumers are drinking less orange juice, and citrus growers are folding up their operations in the state. Tropicana, which used to be the leading supplier of orange juice in the market, is struggling to stay afloat. Is there a car loan bubble and is it about to burst? Additionally, as more people flock to Florida and growers are selling land to developers, the demand for housing has led to the conversion of citrus groves into residential developments. Polk County, Florida's top citrus producer, is also the fastest-growing county in the state. In 2023, it saw the largest population increase of any county in the U.S., with new homes being built on land that was once dedicated to citrus farming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citrus growers in Florida face decline due to greening disease
FLORIDA (WMBB) – Trevor Murphy's family has been growing Florida citrus for decades. 'I'm a third-generation citrus grower. My grandfather started in the 50's. My father and my uncles are still involved in it,' Murphy said. As he drives his dad's 20-acre grove in Lake Wales he points out the cookie-cutter homes encroaching on the orange trees from all sides. 'It seems like every new time I drive through, there's another grove that's been abandoned,' Murphy added. Lake Wales is in Polk County. There are more acres of citrus here than any other county in Florida. But in 2023, more people moved to Polk County than any other county in the United States. Landowners can make more money selling to developers than growing citrus. And farmers are also constantly battling nature. 'So since 2017, we've had Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton come through the citrus belt. And then on top of that, we also had some freezes, the first time that we've had in probably 10-plus years. The trees are already in a weakened state because of the greening,' Murphy said. 'Well citrus greening is a devastating bacterial disease that affects citrus and just a few of its relatives. Since the disease came to florida, the industry has declined significantly. Since 2006 alone, it's been reduced by about 90%. So this has been absolutely devastating,' UF entomology professor Lukasz Stelinski said. Troy University fraternity raises $140K for veterans 'Just in my time, we went from roughly 150 million boxes in the state of florida to this year, we might be lucky to pick 10 million boxes,' Stelinski said. The result of these catastrophes has been a 90% decline in orange production the past two decades. In 2000, Florida's citrus groves covered more than 832,000 acres. Last year there were just 275,000 acres. California has eclipsed Florida as the nation's leading citrus producer. Even so, the citrus industry employs 33,000 full-time and part-time workers with an economic impact of $6.8 billion in Florida alone. There are juice processors, grove caretakers, fertilizer sellers, packing houses, nurseries, and candy manufacturers. Tom Davidson's parents founded David of Dundee citrus candy and jelly factory in Lake Wales in 1966. He says the drop in citrus production has impacted the flavor of jellies they produce and their prices. 'The size of the fruit has been affected. You know, obviously we had giant honeybells, navels, grapefruit — I mean these were massive. Don't see that, you know, as much either,' Davidson said. All are sticking it out, hoping to survive long enough to see science solve the greening this might be a possible solution. Researchers have been working for eight years on a genetically modified tree that can kill the tiny insects responsible for citrus greening. The process involves inserting a gene into a citrus tree that produces a protein that can kill baby Asian citrus psyllids by making holes in their guts. 'This tree contains the genetic instructions for a pesticidal protein that is produced within the tree and kills psyllids, which are the vectors of the pathogen that causes citrus greening,' Davidson said. But it could be at least three years before bug-resistant trees can be planted. In the meantime, florida growers will look to other technologies, like planting trees inside protective screens, covering young trees with white bags to keep out the bugs, injecting trees with antibiotics, and getting the most use out of trees that have become resistant to greening. 'We're really hoping that scientists can get this figured out, so we can get back to what we do. I mean, we were citrus farmers for forever, and we're hoping we can do that and keep it going.' Citrus greening was first discovered in South China in 1943. It reached Florida in 2005, and within three years had spread to the majority of citrus farms. It has threatened the entire U.S. citrus industry. As of 2009, 33 countries had reported infections in their citrus crops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
