USDA Releases July WASDE Report

The USDA released its July WASDE report on Friday.

 

Dan Basse is president of AgResource Company in Chicago.

 

"The market has reacted somewhat negatively...the report didn't have any major surprises," said Basse. "Maybe a surprise in the report is that China soybean imports were left at 96 million metric tons, both in this crop year, which is just about over with, and the new crop year. USDA is not forecasting that China will take additional soybeans or oilseed crops in that time frame."

 

He gave an update on U.S. crops.

 

"So far, so good," said Basse. "We've got some stress down in the southern half of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio...They've seen some drought stress, we need some rain in those areas. We are looking at weather models that are divergent beyond the next seven days but we do have a chance for rain through Tuesday in almost all of those areas. I think it's a question of how much will fall and then do we get that hot, dry forecast later next week."

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.