Growing Hemp in Minnesota

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to pass along a great website I found on the matter. It
is the North American Industrial Hemp Council at "naihc.org". It is of
course, still illegal even in Minnesota (but I plan on getting some govt.
approved test crops going) but the future demand may force an admin-
istrative change. We need it.
Regards,
James in Houston

For several years, I taught public school art classes and used it with no high eyebrows. I explained to the students the the first settlers used hemp covers on their Conestoga wagons and that several historical flags are still together because of its fine structure (perhaps even "Ol' Glory" is made of hemp). I do know that Levi Strauss has used it.
Just wonder how I got away with teaching it if it is so contraversial. The jewelry has made a HUGE resurgence and is not cheap to buy - my students did a better job than most necklaces sold in "head shops". A 16" necklace can be made in less than an hour and sell for up to $20.

All of you out there questioning the usefulness of hemp in todays world realy need to spend a little time further investigating the issue. Its use in building materials (structural beams,dimentional lumber, plywood, insulation etc..) and in paper alone, could save millions of acers of forests.
Hemp seed has more nutritional value than any other single food source on the planet. Containing all of the essetial Omega 3 and amino acids the body needs to survive. As well it contains even more protien than soy beans.
Biomas as a renueable energy source, seed oil for biodiesel, fiber for clothing, rope,fiberglass replacement etc.. etc... etc...

Save the American farmer. A crop with natural pest resistance, that actualy helps to rebuild the soil. Can be grown in any state in most any soil type. In southern states could be double croped in a single season. And the fact that both the seed and plant fibers are used a double income is generated.

Just to rehash lets see who the legalization of industrial hemp stands to affect negatively.
The forestry industry, the synthetic textile people, and the oil companies.
Gee, if Im adding all this up correctly, the answer is Big Corporate money into fat govenment pockets.
The American Way the rich get richer and the American farmer gets it in the rear.

Just My Two Cents,
Keith

KRH, you write, "A crop with natural pest resistance, that actualy helps to rebuild the soil."

If your so inclined, please provide backup for what you're saying. I believe that sentence is incorrect.

thank you kindly, Jimmy

One of the main reasons behind the non lawful status for industrial hemp production is way back in the 1930's a fella named Henry Ford came up with an idea for a new car..... called the Hemp mobile.... it was made from some steel for the frame, but just about everything cosmetic was produced from hemp, it was to use hemp seed oil for crankcase oil and gear lube, it would have run on biomass fuels, it was truely a "homesteaders" dream machine.... however if produced it would have cut down on comsumption of dino fuels, used less steel and aluminum, and folks would be less dependant upon the rest of the government machine....... so it was scraped and to keep it so hemp production was made crop non grata.

There are better history accounts than my short synopsis but that is it kinda in a hempshell.

William

__________________
Upon the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who when on the dawn of victory paused to rest, and there resting died.
- John Dretschmer

One crop that's helped our farm cash flow is hay, sold weekly through the winter.

It helps the soil, too

Sorry, couldn't resist.

ann

__________________
"In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity."

I have no problem backing up my statement. There are numerous souces on the web. One mentioned in a previous post http://naihc.org/ sould be able to provide the requested info. KRH

From an agricultural perspective yours is the voice of reason here. Fiber crops are mostly third world crops these days. Marijuana as a fiber/oil etc. crop is being WAY oversold for ulterior motives. On a crop scale m.j. is quite susceptible to fungal diseases, lepidoptera, nematodes, and some bacterial wilts. As a weed, it also likes fertilzer.

Of course, from a freedom perspective, I despise the "drug wars", especially for marijuana which is rather innocuous.

there is a small collage in western NC called Montreat that is working with hemp as well as other organic crops, it is a good place to get imfo.

Hi,

Here's a funny - and it's true!

Girl was hauling a bale of alfalfa in the trunk of her car coming from Auburn, Al to somewhere in Georgia. Soon as she crossed the GA. line, she got pulled over and arrested for hauling a bale of pot...

Tooo funny as the local newpapers were all over the story, the cop had to apologize and they had to release her car and give her back her hay....Wonder how the cop explained to his Superiors that he didn't know the difference between alfalfa hay and pot..

Sidepasser

__________________
Be yourself - no one can tell you that you're doing it wrong!

here's some basic cultivation information from hempline.com:

"The cultivation of Hemp for fibre.

Hemp is a bast fibre crop that is grown from seed each year. The seed is planted in the early spring once the soil is warm. Hemp requires a well prepared seed bed high fertility, good drainage and soil with good amounts of organic matter. Hemp typically does not require herbicides, pesticides or fungicides when planted early at a high plant population.

Hemp grows quickly and can reach heights of up to 10 to 12 ft. in 70 to 80 days. For fibre the crop is cut down in August and is allowed to lie in the field to cure through what is called the retting process. Retting involves allowing moisture and heat to activate microorganisms that dissolve the naturally occurring glues in the stalk that hold the fibres together. The crop is turned so the retting process takes place evenly. The stalks are baled once the retting process is complete and stored in dry covered storage on the farms. The bales of hemp stalks are delivered to the processing facility on a year round basis.

For further information on the cultivation of hemp see the OMAFRA website at:

http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/hort/hemp.html"