Michigan's ag community reacts to Trump victory

Nov 09, 2016

Farms.com was on the ground asking Michigan farmers their thoughts on the election

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the United States is on the minds of everyone this morning, farmers included.

Especially in Michigan, a state considered up for grabs by both parties that Trump eventually won with 47.6 per cent of the vote; Barack Obama won Michigan in 2012 with 54 per cent of the vote, according to the New York Times.

Farms.com editorial director Paul Nolan and machinery contributor Rachel Gingell were on the ground in Michigan Wednesday to ask local farmers their thoughts on election outcome.

"Trump has made some very big promises," Rex Lansing, a custom applicator, told Gingell. "He told us he's going to make America great again. So now we are expecting him to follow through on that."

Trump's victory in rural areas of the U.S doesn't come as a complete shock, as a poll before the election suggested farmers were overwhelmingly backing the Republican candidate.

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.