Manitoba Crop Report

Manitoba Agriculture says overall harvest is 13% complete.

 

Oilseed Specialist Dane Froese says that number is behind normal.

 

"We should expect this though, given that crops did go in a little later and we had some moisture issues and quite a number of crops were reseeded, so that does push maturity a little bit later. However, we're not in a dangerous position at this time given that weather has been cooperating and we've had a warm dry finish to much of the growing season for our early crops, so that is allowing them to come off reasonably quickly and generally with good quality and lower moisture."

 

Late-season dryness together with high heat has prompted premature ripening in some soybean and corn fields where soil moisture was low.

 

Reported wheat yields to date have been average to slightly below average, given stresses faced by all crops this spring. Oats and barley yields are average to above average.

 

Greenfeed cereal silage and straw baling is continuing.

 

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.