Madison NORML

Source: Agri-View click here
Pubdate: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Author: Joan Sanstadt, News Editor
Mailing Address: Agri-View P.O. Box 8457 Madison, WI 53708-8457
Web Site: www.agriview.com
Section: Capitol News

INDUSTRIAL HEMP WAS TOPIC AT CAPITOL HEARING LAST WEEK

It wasn't anything really new - although to some the idea of growing industrial hemp might seem pretty far-fetched.

But anyone who remembers WWII probably remembers that the U.S. government asked farmers to grow hemp as a replacement for the hemp crop that was lost when the Philippines fell. Rope and binder twine were major uses for hemp.

Yet many remember the '60s - and they equate industrial hemp with the marijuana plant. In fact, that's the view of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that has placed industrial hemp in the same category of drugs as heroin.

Back somewhere in the mid-'90s the NFO's Ron Statz arranged a meeting with some Waupun-area farmers who remembered when the crop was being grown in Wisconsin back in the 1930s and '40s. They spoke of how labor-intensive the harvest was and because of its weight many small hemp mills were scattered across the countryside. In fact we visited one just outside of Waupun that is still standing today. I'm told there are several others.

What led to the demise of industrial hemp was not the DEA, but the development of man-made fibers.

Because the plant is a sturdy one and can grow, using few chemicals, under less than ideal conditions more than a handful of farmers have inquired about growing it.

Today the need for that crop might be greater than most realize - that's because of its fibers. With bioenergy products very much in the forefront, particularly cellulosic ethanol, it isn't hard to imagine industrial hemp may have found its niche once again.

Last week, The Assembly Rural Economic Development Committee, chaired by Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz), held a hearing on Assembly Bill 146. Again, the author of that bill is Rep. Gene Hahn (R-Cambria). This time the hearing was not before the Assembly Agriculture Committee as it had been in the past - this time around it was assigned to the committee that focuses on Rural Economic Development.

This time the measure simply asks the committee to review literature related to industrial hemp, to evaluate its economics opportunities for the state that could result from its production and use. Those findings, to be determined by a study committee, would report to the legislature.

The committee would be comprised of two members appointed by the governor, two by the president of the senate, two by the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate agriculture committee, the chair of the assembly agriculture committee, the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) or designee, the secretary of commerce or designee, and the president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation or designee.

Co-chairs of the committee would be named by the president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. The committee would have a year in which to make its findings.

Industrial uses that the committee would be asked to study include its use as: an alternative fuel and motor oil; uses of omega-3 rich industrial hemp seed and industrial hemp oil in snack foods, body care products and food supplements; uses of its fibers as raw materials for construction and paper products and for fabric; and uses of industrial hemp in the manufacture of recyclable car parts.

In his testimony, Hahn noted "over 14 states have passed legislation on industrial hemp and as one of the leading agricultural states it is time Wisconsin takes a look at the viability of growing this crop."

Under federal law the production of industrial hemp is prohibited and this requires the U.S. to import the product from other nations. Federal officials have raised concerns over industrial hemp because it has physical similarities to marijuana.

Hahn said that despite the similarities of the two plants, they do not have the same mind-altering effects on the body. Industrial hemp has between 0.05 percent to 1 percent of the THC, which is the psychoactive substance in marijuana.

"Wisconsin's farmers and businesses are being put at an economic disadvantage, while over 30 different countries, including Canada, England, France, Spain, Germany, Australia and China, are allowed to grow the crop.

At the hearing, not a single person testified in opposition to the bill. People either registered in favor of AB 146 or spoke in support.

More testimony

Its use in biodiesel was the focus of the testimony presented by Matthew Atwood, project manager for Biodiesel Systems, LLC in Madison.

Atwood said he'd done "extensive research on industrial hemp as a potential source for bio-renewable energy. Biodiesel Systems is prepared to commit considerable resources toward industrial hemp, engaging in research and the development of renewable energy projects that would utilize hemp as a feedstock."

The value of the hemp plant, Atwood said, was "due in part to its rapid growth, density per acre and ease of cultivation.

"Furthermore," Atwood said, "utilization of industrial hemp for fuels is a net carbon-neutral act, showing great potential with the emerging carbon dioxide and Renewable Energy Credit markets for producers of the crop to financially benefit from the sale of carbon credits."

Erwin A. "Bud" Sholts, Oregon, retired from the DATCP after 37 years working on rural development issues. "For 20 years the cry was for new crops. Fifteen years ago the UW saw the corn-soybean rotation as not sustainable and nine years ago the University of Minnesota said the same thing," Sholts said.

Sholts, who continues to serve as chair of the North American Industrial Hemp Council (NAIHC), said industrial hemp would have a positive impact on rural development because its weight makes it too expensive to haul any great distances. Ideally, it would be grown within an 80-mile radius of a processing plant.

A considerable amount of research has already been done on its use as building materials, car parts, fuel, etc.

"In 1994, when I met Dr. Ray Berard of Interface Manufacturing, he indicated his company would be extremely interested in using industrial hemp to make carpet. At that time Interface was the largest carpet manufacturer in the country," Sholts said, adding, "we think the rural development aspect of industrial hemp will be very important."

Rep. Al Ott (R-Forest Junction), chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and member of the committee on Rural Economic Development, called attention to the problems Canada had when it first began growing the crop. There were no limits on acreage and more was grown before it could be utilized.

Sholts said it was important that the crop, once it became legalized, to be grown under contract. He also said other uses, not now known, would be found for the fiber. "The market is going to decide what will work and what it will be used for. But this committee can decide whether or not the crop has an opportunity in the world of industry," Sholts concluded.

A Marshall area farmer, Robert Derr, testified in favor of the bill, as did his son, Jamie Derr, Sun Prairie, with Great Lakes Fuels.

Rich Ray, owner of Hempen Goods, Williamson Street, Madison, invited members of the committee to take "a taste test." He passed out sample bags of snacks made from hemp seeds/oil. Committee members declared the treats "tasteful."