US Seeding Intentions Dependent On Weather Says Market Analyst

Apr 04, 2017

There is currently an oversupply of oilseeds in the marketplace, as confirmed by last Friday's USDA Prospective Plantings Report.

As of March 1st, US farmers said they intended to plant a record high 89.5 million acres of soybeans this year.

Estimated US corn acres for 2017 are down four per cent from last year, while wheat would be at its lowest total planted area since records began in 1919.

Dan Basse, president of Ag Resource Company in Chicago, explains how the markets are reacting to that news.

"Markets have been reacting positively on corn and wheat and negatively on soybeans as one would imagine," he said. "We're concerned about US weather. As we look at the planting season forthcoming here for corn, we've got too much rain in the forecast for the Midwest. It doesn't look like corn seeding is going to start anytime soon."

Source : Portageonline

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.