CNS Canada — Anticipated legislative changes for marijuana production could spill over to hemp, according to the head of an industry group — but this year, Canada’s hemp producers are struggling to meet a surprise demand increase from Asia. “There’s lots of discussion with things changing in the marijuana arena; hemp also falls in that […] Read more
End of reefer madness could clear air for Canadian hemp
The enticing — and sometimes scary — world of alternative crops
Crops like fababeans and hemp don’t command huge acres, but have been successful alternatives for Alberta producers
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers are nothing if not optimistic — optimistic that Mother Nature will be kind; that prices will be good; and that today’s work will pay off a month, six months, or a year down the road. But for all their hopefulness, only some are willing to stray far from tried-and-true crops. “There is always some […] Read more
Field day for organic producers
Alberta Organic Producers Association field day on July 28
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Organic Producers Association is holding a field day on July 28 at the Daryl Cole Farm near Vegreville in conjunction with the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures research station. The research of interest to organic farmers includes hemp, flax, fababean, and artichoke. Cole is growing Red Fife and Einkorn heritage wheat. To attend, contact Kathy at […] Read more
Hemp industry scrambling to meet new Korean demand
CNS Canada — An explosion in demand for Canadian hemp out of South Korea is welcome news for the industry, but strict regulations may hamper just how much of that demand will be met this year. “The doors have blown off the market in Korea for hemp,” said Kim Shukla, executive director of the Canadian […] Read more
How-to book on hemp available
Reading Time: < 1 minute The national acreage of industrial hemp has grown about 25 per cent annually since 2009 and now Alberta Agriculture has released a handbook Industrial Hemp Enterprise on what’s involved in growing hemp. “If you’re new to hemp and interested in growing it, the publication walks you through the steps you need to know such as […] Read more
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to organic crop rotations
Three organic producers share their top tips for building a sustainable crop rotation — no matter what kind of operation you have
Reading Time: 4 minutes Organic crop rotations are “a real ball of wax to deal with,” says veteran organic grower Steven Snider. “There’s so many options out there. I think people would like for me to just tell them what to put in, and that would be nice and simple,” said Snider, who runs an organic grain operation near […] Read more
Interested in growing hemp?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canadian hemp acres are up 25 per cent in the last five years, with nearly a third of that grown in Alberta — about 24,500 acres in 2015. Last year’s bumper crop has reduced demand for conventional hemp acres this year but buyers are “exceedingly interested in contracting organic hemp acres,” said Lori-Jo Graham, a […] Read more
Red tape seen costing hemp growers market share
CNS Canada — Canadian hemp producers are missing out on a potential billion-dollar market opportunity due to government regulations, an industry group warns. Canadian hemp farmers are only permitted to use certain parts, the stalk and seeds, of the plants they grow. As a result, the growers are missing out in the market, said Kim […] Read more
Market demand for Canadian hemp exceeding supply
CNS Canada — As hemp users develop more uses for the plant and its seed, so too grow the demands on the crop. It’s a demand becoming tougher to fill, according to an industry expert, as the general public becomes increasingly interested in the plant. “You talk about canola being the miracle crop? Well, hemp […] Read more
Prairie hemp acres reaching plateau
CNS Canada — Hemp continues to draw interest as an alternative cropping option in Western Canada, but its slow pace in moving toward deregulation may be limiting the upside acreage potential. Early expectations are for planted area of about 100,000 acres this year, which would be slightly above what was seeded in 2014 and a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
