**After a rough start to the growing season, USDA’s March forecast held Florida’s citrus crop unchanged, with a 2% uptick in specialty citrus production.

The all orange estimate is 45 million boxes, unchanged from the February forecast. If realized, this will be 35% less than last season’s production.

Florida Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam tells growingproduce.com Florida’s citrus growers are still recovering from Hurricane Irma’s unprecedented damage, which the forecast shows is still unfolding in many groves six months later.

Congress recently provided more than $2.3 billion in ag assistance.

**The National Agri-Marketing Association has named National Cattlemen’s Beef association CEO Kendal Frazier as the first Ag Association Leader of the Year.

According to agrimarketing.com, this award recognizes outstanding achievement and excellence among senior executives who’ve made significant contributions to the ag industry in their roles with association or commodity organizations.

Frazier will be honored during the 2018 Agri-Marketing Conference, next month in Kansas City.

Frazier's tenure with NCBA began in March 1985.

**Syngenta announced completion of the sale of a portfolio of Syngenta AG and Adama Agricultural Solutions crop protection products to Nufarm Limited.

The $490-million dollar transaction was first announced in October and has since been progressing through the required regulatory approvals.

Agrimarketing.com reports the transaction was carried out in accordance with the commitments given to the European Commission relating to ChemChina's acquisition of Syngenta, which was completed in May of last year.

 

More From 92.9 The Bull