Insect Threat Decreasing

 

Early season insects are not posing much of a threat to farmers, as we're in a transition period right now.

 

That from Manitoba Agriculture Entomologist John Gavloski.

 

He noted growers have been seeing some grasshoppers around field edges.

 

"The other one, just to watch, is spider mites in soybeans. I don't expect things to be highly economical. There's often heavy edge effects with this insect, so I would be checking around the edges of the soybean field. They do better under hot dry conditions. So areas that have been getting some heavier rains recently, may be at less risk. Drier areas, you might want to check the edges of the soybean fields."

 

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.