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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 2017)
8 CapitalPress.com March 10, 2017 Oregon grower sees opportunity in hemp By GAIL OBERST For the Capital Press SALEM — More than 100 farmers in Oregon are expected to grow or process one of the Northwest’s newest cash crops next year, and it’s not marijuana. About 1,300 acres of indus- trial hemp are planned this year, according to Lindsay B. Eng, director of Oregon Department of Agriculture’s hemp certifica- tion program. Thirteen growers signed up for licenses in 2015, the program’s first year. Hemp is a variety of Can- nabis sativa, but shares none of the psychotropic character- istics of Oregon’s newly legal- ized marijuana. Hemp has long been used as animal bedding, fiber for clothing, and oils for foods, remedies and lotions. It Weed Management for Soybeans, Milo & Other Row Crops Eliminates Pigweed, Johnsongrass, Smut Grass, Thistles, Ragweed, Love Grass & Any Other Noxious Weeds! FARMER TESTED “I was extremely impressed... Results were far better than I expected on my 1,800 acre farm in the Ozarks using the 30’ flex model. This weed control system saved me LOTS of money on chemicals with NO damage to my legume-based pastures and hayfields.” - SW Missouri Farmer “I have a 60 acre farm and use the GrassWorks Weed Wiper TM in my hayfields to manage johnsongrass. Not only did I have excellent kill of the johnsongrass, I really liked the fact that I had no drip or no drifting issues. My kill results were very good, the unit works very good and I’d highly recommend this weed management system.” - Mike, Hay and Pasture, KY We’ve had excellent results from the GrassWorks Weed Wiper TM . We use the Pull-Type unit with our ATV. It’s saved us a lot of chemical.” - Richard, Hay Farmer FARMER APPROVED GrassWorks Weed Wiper The Rotating Weed Wiper That Works!! “The Fast, Efficient and Economical Way” won’t get you high, but even so, hemp has long been lumped with marijuana, requiring com- plicated federal approval and li- censing to grow it. Hemp grow- ers have lobbied to distance the crop from marijuana. Jerry Norton of Salem, now in his third year as a hemp seed grower and processor, said the new industry has gotten a recent boost from hemp oil’s rise in popularity. He recently attended a cannabis conference where hemp was the new star. “CBD is all they talked about. For health benefits, it’s the flavor of the month,” said Norton. CBD is cannibidiol, the main ingredient in hemp oil. Claims that hemp oil can improve mood, sleep, appe- tite, hormone regulation and immune response and relieve pain have prompted producers to include it in products ranging from soap to craft beer, avail- able at your corner grocery store. Demand is rising but U.S. growers are still scarce. Norton is among those who hope to change that. Industrial hemp does have trace amounts of THC, tetra- hydrocannabinol, the substance that produces the “high” in marijuana. But industrial hemp plants for public consumption Courtesy of Jerry Norton At a farm in the mid-Willamette Valley, Jerry Norton, far right, is growing hemp with help from supporters. From left are Courtney Moran, a Salem attorney; Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass; and his chief of staff, Michelle Binker. by law must contain .3 percent or less THC. Marijuana’s THC content can range from 6 per- cent to 25 percent THC. The surge in demand for hemp products is a boon for growers, Norton said. With one of the few plant and seed pro- cessing cooperatives in the area, his Salem company, American Hemp Seed Genetics, is reach- ing out to attract more growers. Norton and his company have grown more than 100 acres of hemp for seed, scattered around the mid-Willamette Valley. The crop is fast-growing and lucrative, Norton said. In 90 days, hemp grows to 6 or 7 feet in the Willamette Valley’s clay soils. Almost any crop that needs a rotation can be rotated with hemp, Eng said. But although the crop prom- ises to be lucrative, challeng- es remain for this newcomer. Money is foremost. Equipment specific to hemp harvesting, seed research, licenses and certification is expensive and hard to find, Norton said. Eng suggested that current grass seed and grain farmers may have a leg up if they own combines and related equip- ment. 100% Natural Organic Fertilizer 4-3-2 Environmentally Friendly High Performance - Low Impact Gradual & Steady Release of Micronutrients Convenient pellet or granule form for even broadcasting Perfect for turf, vegetable or flower gardens, shrubs & trees 50# pellets or 40# granules - $12.00 CALL FOR PALLET OR BULK PRICING DISCOUNTS D. Stutzman Farms Organic Materials Review Institute™ S17-7/#4 P.O. Box 307 • Canby, OR 97013 888-877-7665 S17-4/#7
