La RIVIERE, Man. – Throngs of people watch a harvesting machine sweep through a field of hemp plants reaching two to three metres tall.
A compact swath spills from the harvester as it makes a few quick passes up and down the field. The machine then draws to a halt under the guidance of its driver, Jeffrey Oldengarm of Holland.
Cameras in hand, the spectators move in to take a closer look at the machine. They have just witnessed a unique event – the harvesting of Canada’s first industrial hemp crop in 60 years. It’s another milestone in the bid to test hemp’s potential for the Canadian Prairies.
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The harvesting demonstration was part of an industrial hemp pageant organized by Consolidated Growers and Processors, a group of North American and European investors.
Eighteen experts in the production, harvesting and processing of industrial hemp converged on Manitoba for the event, held Aug. 14-15. Many of those experts were from European countries where the crop is already grown commercially.
There was little hype about hemp at the pageant. Organizers made it clear that much needs to be learned about the crop. Things such as weed control, plant varieties and harvesting techniques are being studied.
“I’m not making any major claims about hemp’s potential yet,” said Doug Campbell, general manager of CGP Canada, headquartered in Winnipeg. “What we want to see is if hemp fits and where it fits.”
About 1,900 acres were planted to hemp across the Prairies this year. Manitoba has 1,400 acres of the crop.
Hemp is grown for its fibre and seeds. Hemp-based products range from beer, cola and cosmetics through to paper pulp, horse bedding, particle board and insulation.
Consolidated Growers and Processors contracted farmers to grow the crop this year. The company hopes to plant 25,000 acres of hemp on the Prairies in 1999. “That way we can find out where this stuff thrives and where it doesn’t,” Campbell said. “The earlier we find that out, the better, for everyone’s sake.”
Small amounts of sclerotinia appeared in some of Manitoba’s hemp fields this year, said Bruce Foebe, a new crops agronomist with Manitoba Agriculture. Traces of pest insects, such as corn borers, were also found. The corn borer burrows into the hemp stalks and eats the pulp.
Hemp fields in Manitoba averaged 15 to 20 acres in size, Foebe said. The largest crop, 80 acres, was grown near Dauphin, Man.
“We know we can grow it,” Foebe said. “We just have to find out how to grow it better. There’s a lot of potential, but there are still a lot of unknowns.”
During the hemp harvest near La Riviere, Albert Dunn talked about how hemp has taken root in Holland. Dunn, a hemp grower, is also managing director of HempFlax, a Dutch developer of hemp processing equipment.
Hemp fibres harvested in Holland are sold to the paper industry, said Dunn. The fibres get milled into material for things such as cigarette papers and bank notes. HempFlax converts the cores of hemp stalks into horse bedding.
“I think this crop has a chance all over the world,” Dunn predicted. “Hemp will become a normal crop.”
Growing industrial hemp in Canada was outlawed in 1938 because it’s a member of the cannabis family of plants, which includes marijuana. However, the average percentage of THC, the high-inducing drug, in marijuana is 10 times that of hemp.
In March, Ottawa announced it would license Canadian farmers to grow hemp this year. U.S. farmers are still forbidden to grow the crop, giving Canada a chance to get a head start.
Arnold Wiebe contracted with Consolidated Growers and Processors to grow 27 acres of the crop. The harvesting demonstration was done on his field Aug. 14.
Wiebe grows wheat, flax and canola on his farm along with the occasional crop of peas. If hemp proves it has promise for Manitoba, he would consider making it part of his crop rotation.
“I hope it helps to give farmers an alternative,” he said.
“They definitely need a little shot in the arm, psychologically if nothing else.”
