Harvest Notebook, Part III
Poor Organic Farming Practices Produce Poor Yields
By Jon Cloud

Cloud Mountain Inc. has 27 years of experience in producing crops organically. Our experience on our own farm started in 1972 and continues today. However, we have transcended our little corner of the world and carried our production techniques to many other Heat Unit areas and soil types. Cloud Mountain has found that not all the planting and production techniques we use in Southwestern Ontario can be successfully transported to all other areas of Canada. When we moved out of Southwestern Ontario to New Liskeard, the Ottawa Valley, The Red River and Pembina Valleys, Saskatchewan High Plains, and the Quebec South Shore, we learned to modify our techniques. Without years of experience in these growing regions the organic production of hemp would be mostly trial and error like reinventing the wheel. Thus, it is critical that you understand the soil types and nutrient loads of your farm fields.

The hemp acreage on each organic farm was to include some experimental field trials. The scientific method of plot testing yields - the method most commonly practised by University and government officials - is not very accurate for organic production. Plot testing is utilised by chemical farming and reflects the high level of chemical inputs. This method of yield analysis does not consider the differences in soil types and nutrient levels experienced in actual field conditions. Without revealing too many of the tricks we learned this year in producing hemp I will discuss one of the major lessons learned this year.

Each bioregion had parallel field experiments being carried out on similar soils with similar, if not identical, Heat Units and soil nutrient levels. Under the supervision of Cloud Mountain, farmers were acting as their own control and check for various planting techniques. In most cases, the real control was the fact that we had at least one farmer in each area with a history of previous year production. The experienced farmers were selected from among the many farmers requesting to grow hemp.

Cloud Mountain knew the ability of the experienced farmers based on previous year's involvement. The level of interest and responsibility for field production with other crops - soybeans, red kidney, spelt, corn and wheat - were reliable indicators of the farmer's ability. So in advance we knew the level of conscientiousness of each experienced farmer. The remaining farmers were farmers who had little prior history with Cloud Mountain. Thus, we would not know the level of attention paid to the production of crops. This second group would provide a good sample against checking the yield results. If the Cloud Mountain recommendations were not being followed we would immediately see the results in the fields.

The Ottawa Valley provided the greatest disparity from a yield standpoint. The farms were of equal fertility, as verified by soil tests, and variance of only 100 CHU. Thus, the growing conditions on each farm were very similar. The results were very apparent. There was a direct correlation between the attention and timeliness of farming practices and the yield.

Farmers choosing to farm organically by simply not doing work when it was recommended resulted in very poor yields. Farmers using good organic farming principles and timely farm practices produced excellent yields. One farm in the Ottawa Valley produced an excellent yield but could not locate a custom combine to harvest the field. This was primarily due to the misinformation spread by the press regarding combines catching on fire and burning up in the fields. The sensationalism has past and in fact only one farm had any trouble with fibre wrapping this year. Most of this problem is variety related. However, the later the harvest is delayed the more wrapping will increase. The seed harvest is simply a matter of timing.

The hemp fibre production was pure field experiments this year. Results indicate that seeding rate and cultivation are the most critical factors for high yield production. We had some terrible results and some fantastic results. Fibre production resulted in a dichotomy of yields.

There is little grey area regarding results in fibre production. If the farmer is not conscientious the results will be an embarrassing mess. In organic fibre production, poor farmers need not apply. Farming by neglect is not organic farming. Organic farming provides each farmer with an opportunity to be the best farmer he can. There are no short cuts in organic farming. So, if you had poor yields and weedy fields, don't blame the system of organic techniques. Get off your couch or out of the coffee shop and get your fieldwork done. Take the responsibility for your results. If your neighbour is doing a better job at producing hemp, then don't make up a bunch of excuses about why your production was low. Take the responsibility for your success or failures.

Jon Cloud is a frequent contributor to these pages. He can be reached at cloudmtn@interlog.com .

HEMP REPORT AND UP-DATE FOR NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
By Gordon Scheifele

1999 is coming to an end quickly. The generous help of the Thunder Bay Hemp Grower's Association facilitated the required funding from CanAdapt for ongoing agronomic research and pilot commercial production of hemp for grain in Thunder Bay and Dryden. The agronomic research was conducted at Verner, New Liskeard, Kapuskasing, Thunder Bay and Emo. Theft vandalism was sustained at Verner and New Liskeard. Excessive precipitation at Emo damaged the trials to considerable extent.

Birds and poor spring emergence at Thunder Bay affected several trials. In spite of these problems the research and commercial pilot project was a success. The data has been summarized, thanks to Karen Davies' excellent help, and the report in part is being written. The grain samples have just been shipped to Dr. Roman Przybylski, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, for quality analysis. The loan of the Komet single screw cold press from the Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario has been a big asset allowing us to extract oil from small grain samples to evaluate oil yields and temperature effects on oil extraction.

The 16 acres of commercial production in Dinorwic by Peter Brunner consisted of Fasamo, Fedora 19 and Felina 34. Due to very wet conditions in June the field was quite variable but still considered worth combining. Peter bought a conventional Gleaner combine with direct cutting head. The combine worked fine for harvesting. There was some wrapping on outside rotating parts. The grain was still high in moisture (28-34%). Peter improvised a drying system with fan blower but no heat. Unfortunately the week he needed warm dry air it was rainy and the grain heated and all spoiled.

The Thunder Bay Hemp Growers Assoc. seeded their 12 acre field at the end of May to 3 varieties: 1/2 acre to Fin 314, 5 acres to Fasamo and 6 acres to Fedora 19. The seed of Fasamo for commercial and research trials was poor germination and had weak vigour resulting in a thin stand and slow growth during the first month. As a result this variety was very weedy at both commercial sites. Fedora 19 and Felina 34 had good vigorous growth and desired stand resulting in good weed control. The Fin 314 at Thunder Bay was seeded at too light a rate and resulted in a very weedy thin stand. Growth for this very early and short grain variety was excellent considering the conditions. Final heights for Fin 314, Fasamo, Fedora 19 and Felina 34 were respectively: 30, 48, 66 and 72 inches. The flowering for the 4 varieties commenced respectively: 28, 50, 67 and 74 days after seeding. The harvested grain from the commercial fields was contracted with Cloutier Seeds, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Tissue samples for THC analysis were harvested at the appropriate times of variety maturity (inflorescence was 50% shedding pollen). The THC analysis were completed by Meatherall Consulting, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and results were reported to Health Canada. All THC results from northern Ontario in 1999 were very low .

Grain harvest at Thunder Bay started the last week of September using a New Holland 1400 combine with no modifications. Fin 314 and about 3 acres of Fasamo were harvested. Harvest grain moistures were 12% and 18% respectively for Fin 314 and Fasamo. Combine break down did not allow completion of harvesting the remaining Fasamo until the week prior to Thanksgiving in October. Harvest moistures at this time for Fasamo was 12% and 18% for Fedora 19. The Fedora 19 was harvested on the Thanksgiving weekend and grain moisture was 22-24%. Two days of rain prior to the Thanksgiving weekend did elevate the grain moistures by 4-6%. The total 13,538 pounds of freshly combined grain were successfully trucked on Thanksgiving day to Cloutier Seeds in Winnipeg for drying and cleaning. There was some heating taking place in the grain of Fedora 19 but not enough to cause damage. The total dockage on this grain was 6.5% resulting in 12,661 pounds of clean seed from 11 acres adjusted to 12% moisture equaled 10,500 pounds (954.5 pounds/acre). Fin 314 was not included in this shipment.

Recently I was able to visit Hemp Oil Canada and Cloutier Agra Seeds in Ste. Agathe Manitoba. I am impressed with their set-up and state-of-the-art equipment for processing hemp grain into many different products including roasted and toasted hemp seed. Both Hemp Oil Canada and Cloutier Agra Seeds are open to contracting with Northwestern Ontario farmers for hemp grain production this spring. There is a good potential for about 100 acres of contract production this spring.

It will be essential to have both grain drying and cleaning facilities in place by harvest time to insure that the grain can be delivered in top quality at 12% moisture and clean. Several leads exist for small batch dryers and cleaners.

Dr. Lada Malek, Lakehead University, Red Sky Metis Independent Nations, Alberta Research Council, Thunder Bay Hemp Grower's Association and the University of Guelph are in process of applying to Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for funding (Stage 1 Letter of Intent) for the following: 1) Product Opportunities Identification; 2) Gaps in Knowledge and/or Technological Obstacles to Commercialization; 3) Identify Technological Developments, Infrastructure Developments and Financial Inputs Required to Produce and Deliver the Crop Efficiently; 4) Land Availability and Farm Economics; 5) Project Management and Synthesis.

The 1999 reports will be mailed as they are completed. Some of you in Thunder Bay, Dryden/Kenora and Rainy River Districts may consider 10-15 acre contracts for grain production with Hemp Oil Canada and Cloutier Agra Seeds. If you are interested, it is time to begin on license application and ordering seed.

Gordon Scheifele works out of Thunder Bay as the Northwestern Ontario Research Coordinator for Kemptville College/University of Guelph.

Performance-Based Industrial Hemp Fibres Will Drive Industry Procurement in the 21st Century

By Peter A. Nelson, Agro-Tech Communications
(Second of Two Parts)

New Processes After Separation of Industrial Hemp Fibres

There has been plenty of information disseminated to date concerning various theories and working models of fibre processing for various end applications. Besides the aforementioned Hempline Inc. several other companies in North America are producing separated bast fibres. In Canada, Durafibre Inc. of Cargill Limited and Fibrex Ltd. have both experimented with processing industrial hemp fibre, although their primary products are flax fibre. Several companies and research groups working with bast fibres in the United States are separating kenaf and other fibres with varying degrees of success. Stover Equipment Company of Corpus Christi, Texas is devoting significant amounts of resources and knowledge gained in producing cotton equipment to developing processing equipment for bast fibres including industrial hemp. Other companies known to be working in this area are Kafus Industries based in Texas, Kenex Ltd. based in Ontario, and Kengro Corporation based in Mississippi.

Assuming the fibre is separated to the specifications of the end user / manufacturer, various processes can be applied to the fibre to further enhance desired characteristics. The listing of potential fibre treatments, mechanical processes and other fibre manipulation techniques is endless, but a few examples are given of potential modifications. Several universities, as well as private-sector research institutions are doing research that will easily be translated for industrial hemp fibre as necessary.

At University of California at Davis, researchers such as You-Lo Hsieh and Gang Sun are pioneering new fibre developments in the Textile Department. Researchers in Hsieh's laboratory have been involved in fibre research in two areas; strength of developing fibres and origins of non-dyeing fibres. With funding from Cotton Incorporated, a semi-automated high-speed Mantis single fibre instrument, one of the four in the U.S., has been acquired for single fibre strength measurements. Investigation of cotton fibres at ages ranging from the primary-to-secondary cell wall transition period to the completion of the secondary wall thickening (cellulose synthesis) has provided new insight about their strength and structural development. Process-based improvements to the fibre have included enzyme reactions, chemical treatments, fibre sizing and testing of blended materials. These discoveries will translate easily to industrial hemp, flax and other fibres.

Researchers at Kansas State University are exploring other manipulations of fibres to increase workability and custom applications in composites. This research can be translated into various applications with both the core and bast fibre portions of industrial hemp. A viable use for ag-based fibres is being explored by utilising wheat straw in the manufacture of regenerated cellulosic fibres and films. The object of work by Dr. Gita Ramaswamy at KSU, has been focused on the extraction, purification and identification of cellulose from straw using gas chromatographic (GC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrophotometric techniques. Dr. Ramaswamy has also investigated the behaviour of wheat straw cellulose in various solvent systems in order to determine if they form anisotropic liquid crystalline phases, characteristic of fibre-forming polymers and the development of high performance fibres with excellent mechanical and thermal properties using the purified wheat straw cellulose by wet spinning methods.

One of the other interesting research projects at KSU is under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Gatewood. Dr. Gatewood and others are exploring the use of wheat straw and other agricultural fibres in their potential application in the manufacture of low resin composites or agriboards. These are materials in which the lignocellulosic straw fibre or particles are mixed with suitable polymeric adhesive (3-4%) and hot-pressed or moulded into boards and products. Their research has shown that the variety and economic value of a "strawboard" type product can be significantly effected and enhanced through
a.) coloration, bleaching, partical delignification,
b.) controlling particle size, and
c.) improving resistance to moisture, heat, and biological (fungal and insect) attack.

These research projects, and many more, show a trend in both fibre purchasing and fibre development that points to advanced applications and performance-based industrial hemp fibre materials. There are other equally important research initiatives involving industrial hemp and other fibres, such as University of Southern Mississippi's School of Polymers and High Performance Materials under the direction of Dr. Shelby Thames and Bill Miller's Miller Consulting Group based in Jackson, Mississippi.

In conclusion, a close partnership between potential producers, industry purchasers and value-added and fibre quality researchers should occur. This will lead to better industry understanding of the full potential of industrial hemp fibres, as well as give the farmer / producer the opportunity to understand what processes and end markets a specific fibre can penetrate and be adapted to. The leadership of companies such as Crane & Co., Inc. and Interface Carpet Co. is applauded as an example of potential end uses for industrial hemp fibre and in their market building to create volume worthy of further research and development. Much discussion of industrial hemp has centred around the crop's history and uses created in and before the industrial revolution. It is time to view industrial hemp fibre as a technologically advanced building block for sustainable manufacturing systems in high value applications. Through participation from the farm to the lab to industry partners, this 21st century projection, will become a reality.

Peter Nelson is the president and founder of Agro-Tech Communications, a technology and network-based business located in Memphis, Tennessee. The company specialises in the dissemination of information concerning the industrial utilisation of agricultural fibres, new production techniques, alternative crops and marketing strategies to enhance the sales potential of agri-business and industrial clients.

From seed to finished product to marketing, Agro-Tech Communications can build a team to help your venture succeed. Agro-Tech Communications is also the developer and operator of the Ag Fibre Technology program at Agricenter International. Ag Fibre Technology products and services include an annual conference, biweekly Internet newsletter and CD-ROM. For more information, contact:
Agro-Tech Communications
7344 Raleigh Lagrange Rd., Cordova, TN 38018, USA
Ph: (901) 757-7777, Fax: (901) 937-7884, Email: fiber@netten.net
Web: http://www.agrotechfiber.com

© 1999 AHEM, ARTHUR HANKS. INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES REMAIN PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR (S). NOT TO BE DUPLICATED FOR FINANCIAL OR PERSONAL GAIN. CONTACT US ABOUT REPRODUCTION RIGHTS.

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