Ag News: Florida Citrus Forecast and U.S. & Mexico Ag Secretaries

**The USDA’s forecast for the upcoming citrus crop shows an increase in Specialty Citrus production and decreases in Florida Orange and Grapefruit production.

The forecast shows Florida Oranges at 47 million boxes, down 11% from last season, Florida Grapefruit at 3.8 million boxes, down 8%, and Specialty Citrus at 900,000 boxes, UP 2%.

Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried says the forecast is a testament to the resilience of Florida’s citrus growers, and our state’s dedication to our citrus industry in the face of ongoing challenges.

**Bilateral meetings were held last week in Iowa between Ag Secretary’s from the U.S. and Mexico.

Tom Vilsack and Victor Villalobos focused on agricultural trade, saying “We reaffirm the importance of our two nations’ exceptional agricultural trading relationship.”

According to the USDA, the discussions highlighted the importance of continuing to work together to advance rural prosperity and to fulfill a shared responsibility to protect agricultural systems and producers.

**A recent study found corn and corn gluten meal are the top two most used plant-based ingredients in pet food products.

Corn is the dominant plant-based carbohydrate, and corn gluten meal is the dominant plant-based protein.

Thanks to pet food, the corn industry moved 1.9 million tons of product, valued at $438 million.

Farmers and processors sell $6.9 billion worth of products to pet food manufacturers every year.