Contrasting wheat trends - Texas up, Kansas down

Oct 02, 2023

Wheat's the word and the USDA’s latest report is chock-full of interesting tidbits. Different states, different fates.

Chatting with Rich Nelson from Allendale gave some clarity. "USDA has bumped up the wheat production estimates," he mentioned. However, not all varieties saw this boost.

A total of 1.81 billion bushels this year, a solid 10% jump from 2022. Breaking it down, Oklahoma played it steady. With 4.5 million acres sown, they're looking at a familiar 6.8 million bushels, mirroring last year's numbers.

Kansas? A bit of a twist in their tale. Though they planted 11% more, they harvested less by 12%. They're bracing for about 201.25 million bushels, sliding down 17% from 2022.

Texas, the star of the show, is all about growth. With 21% more acres planted and 61% more harvested, they're on track to produce 77.7 million bushels. That's nearly twice the previous year.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

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.