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Farm Progress 'tib' -Page 25
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Reditape may have to be cut for alternative crops
by David Scott
Huron County fanners looking for
a change may want to consider
some alternatives to traditional
crops grown in this area. But they
may have to wait for some
government red tape to be cleared
in a few instances.
Industrial Hemp
Just to make sure there's no mis-
taken identity, industrial hemp is
not the same thing as marijuana.
The two are from the same plant
species but they have different uses
and physical characteristics. Accor-
ding to Agri -Food Canada, hemp
generally refers to the
fiber -producing strain of Cannabis.
Marijuana usually refers to a mix-
ture of leaves and flowers that is
used for the drug, tetrahydrocan-
nabinol (THC).
A THC level of 0.3 per cent is
specified in some studies as the
difference between narcotic and
non-narcotic strains of Cannabis,
although narcotic strains generally
average about three to five per cent
THC.
Many of the traditional hemp
formerly grown in North America
contained very low amounts of
THC, according to Agri -Food
Canada.
Increased worldwide demand for
products developed from hemp
fibre, hurls and seed has resulted in
a renewed cultivation of hemp in
Europe. Many other countries,
including Canada, are considering
growing hemp.
The future growth of this diverse
plant hinges on Bill C-7 being
passed in the House of Commons.
"Some doubt the bill would be
passed in time to plant anything this
year, "said Bill Baxter, of Guelph
OMAFRA's Rural Business Consul-
tant.
There is some priority to Bill C-7,
sponsored by Health Canada, said
Baxter.
Even if the bill is passed, the
establishment of a hemp industry
will take considerable time and
money.
"Industries don't just grow all of
the sudden. Hemp needs a proces-
sing and marketing infrastructure. If
you don't have a market, why
would you grow it?" asks Baxter.
According to Agri -Food Canada,
hemp has had a long and successful
life as a worldwide fibre crop. Prior
to the end of World War II, hemp
made a significant contribution to
the economic and social fabric of
society.
In competition with cotton, jute
and other fibre crops, it was used
extensively for ropes, twines, tough
thread, textiles, paper, building
Paul Steckle, M.P.
Huron -Bruce Constituency Office
30 Victoria Street North
Goderich, Ontario N7A 2R6
1-800-465-1726
(519) 524-6938 - FAX (519) 524-9374
OFFICE HOURS: (MON.-FRI.) 8:30 AM -4:00 PM
Dear Friends:
As we reflect on the impact of our recent budget, one thing is certain ...
change, fiscal changes and structural changes. On the fiscal side, it is just
as important to farmers and others in our sector, as it is to all Canadians
that we win the battle against the deficit.
Structural changes in trade agreements, economic support stabilization,
marketing, and research all impact on the future of Agriculture. In consul-
tation with all sectors of Agriculture in Huron -Bruce, I am left with the
feeling that given the protection of our agreed tariff rates and the further
reduction of subsidies world wide, our farmers will be well positioned to
compete in the 21st century.
This is what securing our future is all about.
Paul Steckle, M.P. Huron -Bruce
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materials, cellulose plastics and
resins as well as food and oil from
the seeds.
In 1937, the United States
government imposed a heavy tax on
hemp producers under the
Marihuana Tax Act. Canada
prohibited hemp production in 1938
under the Opium and Narcotics
Control Act. During World War I1,
the Canadian and U.S. governments
lifted the restrictions on hemp
production to provide materials for
the war effort, including clothing.
Even though hemp can offer a
multitude of by-products it is
unknown whether the crop would
be profitable for Canadian fanners
to grow.
"We really have no idea what the
pricing structure would be for hemp
and if it would be profitable. A lot
of bridges have to be built," said
OMAFRA's Rural Business Consul-
tant.
A builder's supply company from
Oregon will pay $60-75 Canadian
per tonne for chopped hemp stalk.
This is on par with the price of
wood chips presently being used by
fibreboard manufacturers, according
to Agri -Food Canada.
Research and development is
ongoing worldwide to develop
mobile processors to crush, hammer
and sift the hemp for use in the
pulp and paper and fibreboard in-
dustry. A lapse of nearly 60 years
in the development of hemp harves-
ting equipment in North America
requires some innovative ideas,
according to Agri -Food Canada.
Attempts at using sickle mowers,
haybines and round balers have
been used with some success
depending on the end use of the
hemp stalk. For the pulp and paper
and fibreboard industry, this would
be fine.
But harvesting hemp for the cor-
dage and textile industries requires
the fibre to be undamaged. A ret -
ting process would be required
instead of using haybines and
balers.
Canada Cordage, of Kitchener, is
the only company in North America
that processes natural fibre crops.
At $800 per tonne for raw bast
fibre, hemp would compete with
imported jute which is processed
into yarn, rope and electrical
cable -filler.
Alternative to Wood Paper
Before 1883, about 75-90 per cent
of the world's paper was manufac-
tured from hemp bast fibre, accor-
ding to Agri -Food Canada. In 1962,
92 per cent of the virgin fibre used
to manufacture paper came from
wood, the remaining eight per cent
was from annual crops or other
residues. As world paper con-
sumption increases by about four
per cent annually, interest in hemp
as a potential raw material for paper
production has been revived since
hemp can produce more paper per
hectare than 20 -year-old trees,
according to Agri -Food Canada.
Another market for hemp fibre is
industrial fabrication which includes
the manufacturing of lumber,
plywood, particleboard or composite
construction material.
No Herbicides Needed
Unless plant densities are very
low (10 to 30 plants per square
metre) the hemp crop will suppress
weeds, and herbicides are not re-
quired, according to Agri -Food
Canada. When planted on fertile
soils, hemp is the best smother crop
for all kinds of weeds.
Tillsonburg area farmer Joe
Strobel planted 10 acres of hemp
last year. He was granted
government permission and funded
by private research, said Baxter.
The exact location of the crop was
kept secret to prevent possible theft
or damage.
If Bill C-7 makes it through the
House of Commons, many other
farmers can join Strobel in growing
industrial hemp and hopefully
•see Stevia, page 28
•'e a
519-524-2131
-- 268 Bayfield Rd., Goderich ---