MASC Expects Lower Claims This Year

Farmers have until November 30th to fill out their Harvested Production Reports for annual crops.

 

David Koroscil is Manager of Claims Services with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC).

 

"Early indications are it was a pretty good year overall," he said. "I won't say bumper crop by any means, but well above coverage for most producers. It looks like our claim load will be less than it has been in the last three or four years. Still some issues though. Canola, soybeans seeing some pockets where the yields were reduced and again I think it just related to whether or not those specific areas missed out on some timely rains at key points in the growing season."

 

Koroscil notes hail claims were also down this year.

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.