USDA Crop Production Report Indicates Record Yields

 

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production report indicates that the 2016 area harvested for corn is forecast at 86.6 million acres, unchanged from August but up 7 percent from last year. The September 1 corn objective yield data indicate the third highest number of ears on record for the combined 10 objective yield states. At 15.1 billion bushels, 2016 corn production is forecast to be the highest production on record for the United States. Grain sorghum production is forecast at 488 million bushels, up 3 percent from last month but down 18 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 6.46 million acres, unchanged from August 1 but down 18 percent from 2015. Based on September 1 conditions, yield is forecast at a 75.7 bushels per acre, up 2.2 bushels from last month but down 0.3 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record for the United States.

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.