Hemp crop on the Hauraki Plains (New Zealand)

By Grant Paton
Source: sunlive.co.nz

This summer we decided to trial growing a hemp crop on some very flogged out maize ground.

This soil is marine clay and had been experiencing diminishing maize crop yields and returns during the last five years to the point where the land owner wasn’t prepared to risk (financially) another crop of green feed maize.

So after a few home brew rums we came up with a lease agreement and plan.

With a Reams soil test and a Lismore soil test results in hand we applied a 14 tonne per ha fertiliser mix of 10 tonne/ha of compost and 4 tonnes/ha of minerals, comprised of paramagnetic rock dust, soil force, gypsum, trace mineral microbial feeds and microbial inoculations (Bio-Vam, 10/25 and Combo-12).

After obtaining a growing license for hemp we proceeded to plant and learn.

We finally harvested the crop, dried the seed and have harvested 750kg/ha of seed. 

We plan to extract the oil from this seed and then market it, as it will be the first North Island grown hemp oil for sale in New Zealand which has been extracted by its grower.
Next year we plan to harvest the fibre and hurd from the plant (hurds are the leftover fragments of the stems and stalk once all the fibres have been removed). 

However, this year with the soil being in very poor condition, we have decided to put all this fibre back into the ground.

Hemp oil is one of the most beneficial oils for human health, having an ideal omega 6 to omega 3 ratio – even superior to olive oil and avocado oil.

Only hemp seed oil contains:
–     Omega6, Omega3 and GLA [gamma linolenic acid- 2.5-3 per cent of volume].
–    75-80 per cent poly-unsaturated fatty acids, which is the highest in the plant kingdom and unique among seed oils.
The Chinese grow more than 100 000ha of this a year; and a recent trial with military troops, going into adverse battle conditions, clearly showed the troops with hemp clothing and uniforms didn’t suffer the skin disease which the troops dressed in cotton did.

It appeared the hemp uniforms acted as a disease suppressant.

While the industry is very young in New Zealand it has huge potential in the health, building and clothing industries.

Hemp processor looks at Kentucky for possible plant

By Gregory A. Hall
Source: courier-journal.com


A truck drives past bales of dried hemp on the premises of company Hanffaser Uckermark eG in Prenzlau, eastern Germany on July 27, 2013. The company with its 13 employees produces insulating material and animal bedding out of hemp. / AFP/Getty Images

Canadian hemp processor Shaun Crew says his company, Hemp Oil Canada, is interested in opening a processing plant in Kentucky — but only if questions surrounding the legality of the plant are settled.

“If I’m going to invest money in this state and this industry here, I need to know that the DEA’s not going to come swooping in with Blackhawks and take out the farmer that we contracted with or take out the processing facility that we built,” Crew said.

Crew is also considering North Dakota for a new plant, but Kentucky would have advantages because of its central location and its prior history as a national leader in hemp production. The climate could allow two growing seasons a year, he noted.

“This isn’t going to be anything new to Kentucky,” said Crew, who recently visited the state and met with officials about a possible plant. “We’re reintroducing it, but we have to have level minds prevail here and common sense. We don’t need this wild card here right now.”

Last month, the debate over whether Kentucky farmers can begin growing hemp became even murkier when Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said the crop is still illegal and farmers who grow it could be prosecuted. Kentucky proponents of the crop, which is classified along with marijuana, say a recent U.S. Justice Department has opened the door to hemp growing by deciding not to prosecute federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized the drug.

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, who led the effort to pass a Kentucky law regulating hemp production if legal, has said he believes Kentucky farmers could have the plant in the ground as early as next year if next year’s legislature approves changes to the 2013 law.

Kentucky State Police officials argue the crop is still illegal, a position bolstered by Conway’s opinion, which said proponents still need a waiver from the federal government or a change in federal law to produce hemp.

Hemp leaves appear identical to marijuana, but hemp has only a tiny amount of THC, the intoxicating chemical in pot.

Brian Furnish, the chairman of the Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission, said he’s aware of at least one other out-of-state processor that has privately discussed building a processing plant in Kentucky for hemp and other crops. He said the company is not interested in going public yet. Furnish, of Cynthiana, said he’s been working on his farm and did not personally meet with Crew.

Crew said he’s been contacted by groups in several states across the United States seeking to attract his business “if and when” hemp is legalized in the United States. “Well, I’ve been hearing ‘if and when’ for 15 years. But in all truthfulness, it feels right now, with what’s been going on in Colorado and Washington state” to legalize marijuana.

Crew said a processing plant could be set up in a matter of months, likely using an existing building, next year.

A start-up facility would employ about 10 people, including administration, sales and production staff, Crew said. He said there would be a spinoff benefit in farming, seed cleaning and trucking.

He said he doesn’t have a specific Kentucky location in mind, but figures it would be in the Lexington or Louisville area.

“You want to put everything in proximity to the acres that are going to be grown and the seed cleaning where it’s going to be done,” he said.

Hemp back in business near Springfield

By Lance Maggart
Source: lamarledger.com

Ryan Loflin proudly examines his harvested hemp plants Sun. evening Oct. 6.Loflin and around 40 volunteers from across the U.S. completed the first commercial hemp harvest in the United States in decades over the weekend. (Lance Maggart)

You might not know it but history was just made this last weekend down near Springfield; not local history, or even state history but rather national history.

What Ryan Loflin and a small group of volunteers did last weekend on the Loflin farm just east of Springfield was illegal this time last year. Ryan is the owner and operator of Rocky Mountain Hemp, Inc. On Sat. Oct. 5 and Sun. Oct. 6 he and a group of around 40 volunteers from throughout the nation converged on the Loflin farms to harvest the very first commercial hemp crop in the United States in decade.

Volunteers drove from as far away as central Idaho and Los Angeles, some traveling 21 hours each way, to volunteer their time hand harvesting the previously illicit crop.

Hemp is a form of cannabis. It is very closely related to marijuana and was outlawed along with psychoactive marijuana. Hemp however is not psychoactive and cannot be used as a narcotic. Hemp is used for a large number of consumer, commercial and industrial products from oil, fuel, paper and rope to food and fiber for clothing.

Back in June Loflin planted 70 acres of hemp with 10 of those acres being in dryland. He just harvested his crop this weekend and he was absolutely ecstatic about the results. Loflin said his entire crop is already sold; to include every portion of his hemp plants. He has even sold the weed's root balls. Loflin said he plans to triple the size of his planted acres next year.

Loflin had nothing but praise for his unique crop. He said he uses significantly less water for the hemp plants, requiring as little as eight inches of water for the growing season but preferring 10 to 14 inches. He said he uses far less fertilizer on the hemp than his other crops and used no insecticides.

Linwoods Super Foods: Hemp, flaxseeds, almonds, goji berries

Source: ecochildsplay.com

Super food - a food that delivers a structural or functional health benefit. Nurture by nature.

I have become a super food junkie.  I especially love superfoods for breakfast. I sprinkle flaxseed meal, hemp hulls, and chia seeds on oatmeal or make my own cereal every day.

Linwoods makes it easy to add super foods to your favorite cereal, yogurt, granola, oatmeal, smoothie, and baked goods. We were sent the following Linwoods products to try:

Linwoods Shelled Hemp

9 g of protein per serving. 2.4 g of omega 3, 8.6 g of omega 6 & 1.7 g of omega 9 per serving. Excellent source of magnesium. Good source of iron. Nutritious super foods (super food – a food that delivers a structural or functional health benefit). Add 4 level tablespoonfuls daily (30 g/1 oz) to any meal or snack. Try adding to oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, hot or cold cereals, salad, smoothies, casseroles, stir-fry, soups & more. USDA organic. Rich, nutty texture nutritionally dense to support a balanced diet & active lifestyle. Gluten free. No added sugar. Nurture by nature. Our Hemp contains an ideal ratio of essential fatty adds Omega 3, 6, & 9, beneficial for sustainable good health and it is a complete protein, so a perfect food for a vegan diet.

Linwoods Ground Flaxseed, Almond, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts and Q10

Cold-ground to protect the essential fatty acids and all the nutritional goodness contained in the seeds and nuts. Ground seeds and nuts aid quick & easy absorption into the body, providing an immediate energy source and a range of health benefits. Health Benefits Include: Omega 3: A polyunsaturated fatty acid used by the body and may help to maintain a healthy heart and brain function; Dietary Fiber: Dietary fiber aids in digestion and helps maintain regularity and cholesterol levels that are already within normal range; Weight Management: Dietary fiber may help in maintaining a healthy body weight and may help maintain normal blood sugar levels; Iron: Supports oxygen transport and the reproduction of red blood cells; Magnesium: Supports healthy bones, muscles, and nerve function and energy metabolism; Vitamin B1: Maintains healthy body metabolism and heart function; Selenium: Supports the normal function of the immune system and may protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage.

Linwoods Ground Flaxseed and Goji Berries

Breakfast: Jump start your metabolism with a boost of energy, add to: oatmeal, hot or cold cereals, granola, muffins, yogurt, fruit, fruit or vegetable smoothies, eggs, pancakes & waffles. Lunch: For a delicious and nutritious lunch add to: salads, salad dressings, cottage cheese, soup, sandwiches, wraps. Evening: For a nutritious and tasty boost to your evening meal, add to: pasta, pizza, rice dishes, casseroles, stuffings, stir-fry, sauces, cous cous, baked potatoes. Suitable for a vegan diet. Dairy free. Yeast free. Produce of more than one country.

Linwoods Flax Organic

51% of the fat is omega 3. 7.2 g of omega 3 per serving. Good source of iron, 10% daily value per serving. 8 g of dietary fiber per serving. Low glycemic index (GI) for weight management. 8% RDI calcium per serving. Add 4 level tablespoonfuls daily (30 g/1 oz) to any meal or snack. Try adding to oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, hot or cold cereals, salad, smoothies, casseroles, stir-fry, soups & more. Nutritious super foods (super food – a food that delivers a structural or functional health benefit). USDA organic. This energy rich seed is nutritionally dense to support a balanced diet and active lifestyle.

I really like all of these superfood products!  This is just the way I have been eating lately with great results. I am maintaining proper weight for my body type, digesting well, and feeling great. It is when I divert from these foods and eat something like cheese and bread that I feel sluggish and not so well.

I am addicted to almonds.

Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.

Victory for Hemp

By Michael Taillard
Source: sfgate.com

As patients and patriots throughout United States struggle to free themselves of the archaic relics of the prohibition era, the dual battlefronts over the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana rage on, attracting the public eye while the ban on another highly valuable market is left out of the fray.  At a glance, it seems that industrial hemp would be an easy victory for the legalization movement, who often include its legalization as a part of their cause and who could use such a win to provide inertia in addressing their more challenging goals.  After all, hemp cannot make you high, and it cannot be easily confused for its psychoactive sibling.

California has just legalized industrial hemp, with the signing of Senate Bill 566 last month, and awaits word from the federal government, yet as recently as 2012, a congressman and Presidential candidate acknowledged to not even knowing what industrial hemp is (Source: SSDP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQB61AUdmJw).  This underlines the lack of exposure we have, as a nation, to this topic.  Over the years, 18 states in total have passed laws allowing the legalization of hemp production, with support from those on the left (e.g.: Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who introduced Senate Bill 954 to respect state laws on hemp) and on the far right (e.g.: Republicans Rand Paul an Mitch McConnell, who pushed for a legalization provision in the farm bill this year).  This appears to have completely snuck under the radars of both the media and the federal government, both of which have given the issue little attention.

Proponents of industrial hemp like to tout the versatility of the crop in producing a wide array of products ranging from plastics to concrete, but where does the real value in this industry currently exist?  Primarily in hemp fabric, food, and hygiene products, which have been driving the annual 15% growth rate in the consumption of industrial hemp within the US over the past 5 years.

Hemp Food and Hygiene Products Available in US Stores

While the US economy as a whole stagnates at a growth rate less than 3% annually since 2006 and is expected to maintain its slow recovery, the outlook for the industrial hemp market continues to indicate growth rates of around 15% into the next 3 years, outperforming most industries within the US.  The problem is that all this is based entirely on rates of increasing consumption, rather than production, because hemp is illegal to produce in the US.  Instead, we import all of it, primarily from China.  It’s important to note now that the US maintains a global comparative advantage in agricultural goods, which compose not only our largest export to China, but is a top export to many of our trade partners.  Having a comparative advantage means simply that we can produce agricultural goods more efficiently than most nations, which isn’t surprising given our massive amounts of arable land, industrial farming, and generous farm subsidies.  So while we many industries struggle to compete in a global economy, we take one in which we should be highly competitive, and freely give it away.

Although hemp is 10-20% more profitable than corn, making it very attractive for specialty farmers, the total size of the hemp market will likely never reach that of corn.  Current estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organizations place the global hemp market at about 200,000 acres, which is far short of the 84 million acres of corn in the US alone, but this largely due to global bans on its production for many decades.  This makes the market set to rebound as people rediscover a utility that once inspired George Washington to encourage us to “sow it everywhere”.  At an average yield of nearly 900lbs per acre according to the USDA, an ability to grown in a wide range of climates, and with every part of the plant usable for some purpose, it’s not hard to see why.

Despite this, searching the news yields little, and Congressional records, even less.  Industrial hemp was banned in the US with the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, lumped with its more popular counterpart.  As we’ve seen with state laws on medical and recreational marijuana, it takes broad public visibility to get Capitol Hill to cede federal primacy and let the states decide, but the comparatively small market size and lack of controversy-stirring intoxicating effects have given the hemp industry a kind of invisibility.  With support across the entire political spectrum and no compelling arguments against legalizing hemp, this invisibility seems to be the only thing preventing American farmers from turning our amber waves into green ones.

Hemp enters 'exciting new world' with help from Boulder, Broomfield players

By John Aguilar
Source: dailycamera.com

Industrial Hemp Regulatory Committee wraps up rule-making for nascent industry

Along with recreational marijuana, hemp has its own place in the historic pot legalization law passed by voters last November.

Amendment 64, which permits adults in Colorado to possess and use small amounts of marijuana, also allows farmers to plant industrial hemp. Earlier this year, state lawmakers authorized the formation of a nine-person advisory board -- heavy with local connections -- to come up with rules that the Colorado Department of Agriculture can use to regulate the nascent industry.

The group, known as the Industrial Hemp Regulatory Committee, includes Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett, Boulder seed farmer Ben Holmes and Broomfield agricultural cartographer Chad Pfitzer. They recently wrapped up their work hammering out rules for the hemp side of cannabis legalization. Those rules will open up for public comment in the coming weeks before being adopted by the state.

"What's terrific about this is a lot of credible people will tell you that there are industrial uses for this," Garnett said. "And you can farm it, it's going to help the economy, and it will create some jobs."

Hemp, the non-drug variety of the cannabis plant, has been used for myriad purposes going back decades. Its long and strong fibers can be turned into rope and fabric, its seeds can be crushed for oil and flour and put into all sorts of foods and beverages, while its oil is often used as a supplement in soaps, shampoos and moisturizers. But hemp got caught up in this country's prohibition on marijuana and remains illegal at the federal level to grow, despite the fact that hemp's THC content is nowhere near what someone would need to get high.

Garnett said the regulatory committee he served on looked at ways to make sure law enforcement could feel comfortable about hemp farming without being an undue burden on producers. That included setting limits on the amount of THC -- the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- in hemp and establishing a registry for farmers so that the plant can be tracked.

"We were looking for ways to see that there can be reasonable regulations that don't interfere with the farmers' ability to grow a cash crop but that they can't grow it to supply it to the black market," he said.

Holmes, a cannabis seed developer in Boulder, said he felt the group struck a good balance between farmers' concerns and those of law enforcement.

"I thought the law enforcement people did a really good job of putting things in perspective," he said.

Holmes, who runs Centennial Seed Distributors, said the meetings were calm and professional, with none of the theatrics associated with the state's marijuana task force assembled by Gov. John Hickenlooper earlier this year.

He said it will take a while to establish a robust hemp seed library in Colorado and that large-scale growing of the plant won't occur for a few years.

"The early growers will be novelty growers," he said. "But right now it's all about making seed. Right now the industry has no seed."

The hemp seed strains that he gets from Europe and Canada will kick things off until Holmes can produce about a kilogram of local seed for the next round of planting. He will repeat that process for the next couple of seasons.

"I'll keep planting until I get enough seed to go industrial," he said.

Holmes envisions a "culture of innovation" springing up in Colorado when it comes to the development of seed strains that lead to cutting-edge products, akin to the creative energy captured by entrepreneurs heading up Internet startups in Colorado in the late 1990s.

"Colorado is prime for this," Holmes said. "It's one of those crops that scales beautifully."

Veronica Carpio, who once owned a cannabis-themed tea shop in Lafayette and now makes wholesale coffee and iced tea from ground hemp seeds, said the legalization of hemp in Colorado represents and "exciting new world."

"This is a super important part of Amendment 64 -- I don't think people realized hemp is now legal in Colorado," she said. "There will be new job opportunities, new farming opportunities and new research and development into the health benefits of hemp."

Carpio said hemp provides a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber when added to food and drink, while at the same time not overwhelming the flavor of the food product.

"Some people say they don't taste anything -- some people say it's just a nutty flavor," Carpio said.

She has such faith in hemp as a food additive, she plans to start up a hemp mobile next summer that will serve up hemp pancakes, hemp bread, hemp potato chips, hemp nachos, hemp pulled pork and hemp chocolate.

"I can infuse anything with hemp seed oil or hemp seed protein powder," she said. "I do think Boulder County will embrace hemp."

Cannabis Journalist Doug Fine to Print New Book on Hemp Paper

by Oscar Pascual
Source: sfgate.com

Journalist and author Doug Fine is a busy man these days. When he isn’t hosting a TED Talk,appearing on television, or goat herding, he’s working on the follow-up to his critically received book, Too High to Fail:Cannabis and the New Green Economic Revolution.

Fine’s upcoming book is yet to be titled, but will focus on the future of the use of industrial hemp and will be published on actual hemp paper.

“My just-finished next book, about the almost unfathomably lucrative future of industrial hemp, comes out in March – on hemp paper,” Fine says. “I’ve waited two decades to make the tree-free leap. Now I finally have a legitimate answer when a sharp college student during a post-live event Q and A asks me how a sustainability journalist comes to be writing books printed on harvested forests.”

In the meantime, you can read more of Fine’s cannabis-based journalism here. (via StT.org)