Ag News: Syngenta Buys Valagro and Haze/Smoke Slow Raisin Drying

**Syngenta announces the acquisition of Valagro, a leading Biologicals company, by its business unit Syngenta Crop Protection.

The investment positions Syngenta Crop Protection as one of the key global companies poised to shape the rapidly growing Biologicals market, which could double in size over the next five years.

Valagro will continue to operate as an independent brand within the Syngenta Crop Protection business.

**Hazy skies caused by wildfire smoke has slowed progress of the California raisin crop.

Farmers say it’s been taking up to two weeks longer than usual to dry grapes into raisins in San Joaquin Valley vineyards.

The smoke won’t affect the quality of the raisins, but the delay in drying could reduce the size of the crop by leaving the raisins more vulnerable to insects or to damage from an early rain.

**In comments filed last week with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, R-CALF USA was the only national cattle industry trade association to strenuously oppose the agency’s proposal to mandate that America’s cattle farmers and ranchers use radio frequency identification ear-tags, after January 1, 2023, to ship adult cattle across state lines.

R-CALF USA requested that APHIS withdraw its proposal on

the grounds it unlawfully amends substantive federal law granting America’s cattle farmers and ranchers the option of using various forms of animal identification to lawfully achieve disease traceability.