FARMERS WON'T GIVE UP HEMP FIGHT

Joe Federowich admits to being a little battle worn after years of leading efforts to get a hemp fibre processing industry established in Manitoba.

It’s been an uphill struggle since the late 1990s, but don’t expect Federowich to wave the white flag any time soon. He seems willing to take the odd scar if it means bringing a new industry that he thinks will benefit farmers and rural communities.

“I honestly believe that once enough people see what we’re doing, they’ll come on-side,” said Federowich, a producer at Ashville, Manitoba, who chairs Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers.

Federowich is among those who want to build a hemp processing plant at Dauphin, Manitoba. The project would cost about $15 million.

The province is willing to put up $3 million, he said. The challenge now is prying $3 million out of Ottawa. With the combined government funding in hand, a local fund-raising campaign could start and Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers could work on getting a bank loan.

Federowich hopes the federal government will put its money where its mouth is. He sees hemp fibre processing as a good fit with government appeals for farmers to diversify and add value to their crops. The project also would bring economic development to rural Manitoba.

“It just gets a little frustrating,” said Federowich. His original hopes for a hemp processing plant were dashed with the collapse three years ago of Consolidated Growers and Processors, a company driving the expansion of the hemp industry in Manitoba.

“Now we’re refighting the same battle and we’re starting to get a little battle worn.”

The hemp processing venture would make non-woven matting for things like hanging wire baskets for flowers. House insulation is another potential market.

Keith Watson, a Manitoba Agriculture agronomist, said the processing plant would be a pilot project unique to North America. The manufacturing equipment needed for the venture has already been found in Britain.

“The equipment’s out there. It’s just a case of getting the money together to be able to do it.”

It became legal in 1998 for Canadian producers to grow hemp. The crop is grown for its grain and fibre.

The hemp grain produced in Manitoba is finding a reliable market when grown under contract, Watson said. Two companies in the province are buying increasing volumes of the seed, mainly to crush for the oils.

To meet growing demand for the seed, it’s expected that up to 6,000 acres of hemp will need to be planted in Manitoba this year, said Watson.

However, the fibre grown since 1998 has gone mainly into stockpiles to await the day when a processing plant gets built. Hemp fibre is known for its durability but will slowly deteriorate when left stacked in bales.

“The hope is the plant will come on-line soon enough that the fibre in those round bales will be usable,” said Watson. “It looks like so far it will be.”

Progress continues on the agronomy of growing hemp on the Prairies. Producers are especially interested in fertility and variety selection.


Friday, March 7, 2003
Farmers won’t give up hemp fight
Ian Bell, The Western Producer
Provided by: www.globalhemp.com