Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-03-18, Page 54Page 38 - Farm Progress '98 Canada's 5 years ahead of States • from page 37 panies from the Canadian prairies interested in grow- ing hemp there. Market in United States Although it's still ille- gal to grow hemp there, the U.S. presently enjoys a $15 -million per year hemp textile business, and it's growing, says Ur. "A market is there with excel- lent job creation here in Canada." As far as growing hemp, Ur says "we're five years ahead of the Americans (in primary production)." Capital spending deci- sions must be made this LLOYD COLLINS CONSTRUCTION BackHoe / HiHoe TrimDozer Septic Systems Gravel & Top Soil Farm Drainage (chain trenching method) Limited 'WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU IN THE COMING YEAR" 'Chad Mann 357-3015 Lou'is Sioetjes 529-7082 fAX357-3015 month by all the compa- nies investing in hemp production. "Missing this opportunity will cause them to lose one whole year of market develop- ment efforts, not to men- tion Finan. ial losses. One of the reasons this market is unique is that industrial hemp can't yet be grown in the U.S., but the fibre and seed products are in strong demand there. We must seize this export opportunity and capitalize on it," says Ur. Economic Potential "When our research realized the economic potential for southwestern Ontario, it made us pro- ceed with the idea to process for textile indus- try," said Kime. It's the bast fibre in hemp that makes it commercially significant. And there's more money to be made turning hemp fibre into textiles, like carpeting, than there is making it into paper or particleboard. f "Hemp is a replacement for glass fibre. It competes 1 with high end fibre." Hemp is an efficient plant since even the waste fibres For All Your Building Needs... •Farm •Home •Cottage HENDERSON ffornerare BUILDING CENTRE 782 Havelock Street Lucknow (519) 528-3118 Fax (519) 528-2814 can be used for paper making. "Everything coming off from the mill will have a market," says Kime. "There is no waste." Another whole area of hemp production is hemp seed which contains some unique fatty acids which can be used for cosmetic products and other things. "The prairies are looking at growing hemp for seed. You leave it on the land longer to harvest the seed." When you do that, says Kime, you can't produce textile grade fibre because it's left growing longer. "The fibre gets stiff and coarse in an attempt to hold the seed up." "The idea of growing textile fibre is new to Canada or southwestern Ontario. It takes a bit of time to understand. This (hemp) is the cotton crop of the north. The process- ing strategy is not that dif- ferent from cotton. But few people (in Canada) don't know anything about cotton." Growing Hemp The tirst step for farm- ers interested in growing hemp is obtaining a licence front Health Canada and then getting seed from an approved supplier. Hemp seed can be planted by using a wheat drill at seven -and -a - half inch spacing. "There's no modifications to be made. Just calibrate the drill to plant at the right rate," says Kime. At 400 plants per square metre, hemp is a very dense crop. No pesticides are needed. Hemp is the best smother crop for all kinds of weeds. It does well in loam -based soils with lots of organic material. It doesn't do well in heavy clay. For fibre, it's harvest- ed in early August. "Bailers have to have modifications on the pick- up head to prevent wrap- ping of stalk because it's a long fibre," says Kime. Farmers with bailers can pick up a kit. from John Deere for coarse stalk material that will work well for harvesting hemp. Depending on the end use of the plant, sickle bar mowers can also be used. Hemp grows to around A U c T 1 0 N ASSOCIATED McKENZIE'S Associated Auctioneers Ontario's Largest Public Auto Auction Every Tues. & Thurs. at 6:00 P.M. Special 13th Anniversary Auction March 26th at 6:00 P.M. 1881 Scanlan Street, London, Ontario N5W 6C3 3 Miles North of the 401 on Airport Road l Mile West on River Road 519-453-7182 * 1-800-265-1906 * Fax 519-451-2443 Email:auction@wwdc.com Web Site: www.auctionweb.com/associated AUCTIONEERS A U c T 1 0 N 10 feet tall in 70 to 80 days. It NVon't Do Some Things Although it's being pitched as a 'miracle crop' with no pesticides and good market opportunities, Kime said, it's a commod- ity crop competing with other fibres. "We've fig- ured out what it won't be. It won't he a replacement for trees. It won't be the plant that saves the world. It won't cause an increase in marijuana use." Will hemp Health Minister Allan Rock confirmed that rules are in place to allow commercial culti- vation of themarijuana- related plant for the 1998'growing season. "This new crop has a tremendous potential for creating new jobs in agriculture, industry, research and retail," Rock said. Industrial hemp can be used to make many products, such as paper, textiles, construction materials, food, rope, twine, plastics and fuel. It has been banned in Canada since 1938 because it is a member of the cannabis family and contains the sub- stance THC that gives pot smokers their high. However, the minimal amount of THC in industrial hemp makes it unsuitable for getting stoned. Health Canada will regulate the hemp indus- try, and those involved will have to have a per- mit. At least two compa- nies, Kennex Ltd. and Hempline Inc., have said they plan to build pro- cessing plants and con- tract farmers to grow hemp.