Wet Conditions are Hurting South Florida Vegetable Producers

Dec 21, 2020

By Pam Knox

A recent article in Vegetable and Specialty Crop News pointed out that recent rain of up to 3 inches in southern Florida have caused the muck soils there to hold water like a sponge. The effects on plants include stand loss and increased diseases on lettuce and beans. Fortunately, the weather for the next week looks pretty dry, which will help fields to lose some water. You can read more at https://vscnews.com/florida-increased-rainfall-producers/.

Damaged due to terrential rains in South bFlorida

Torrential rains in south Florida’s Redlands growing region severely damaged winter yellow squash, zucchini and green beans, as well as this field of corn grown by Alger Farms.

Source : uga.edu

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.