The new Act removes hemp from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, says Keith Jones, vice president of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance. As well, hemp grain and stalks have been exempted from the Cannabis Act altogether.

“So that simplifies things in a whole bunch of ways for us,” says Jones. Jones is general manager and chief financial officer of Rowland Farms. Rowland Farms grows between 4,000 and 6,000 acres of hemp each year.

Many of the regulations were really onerous for farmers, says Rowland. For example, farmers had to re-apply for a cultivation licence every year. Under the new legislation, cultivation licences will be good for five years, as long as the grower abides by the licence terms.

• Read more: Hemp growers eye new markets for 2018

While some requirements were just a nuisance, others had a cost. Hemp growers also had to hire a third party to collect random samples of the crop. Those samples were then tested for THC. Rowland says that hemp crops were only grown from certified seed of an approved variety, which didn’t produce more than trace levels of THC. The incoming legislation drops the requirement for third-party testing.

The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance lists several other changes, such as dropping the prohibition on growing hemp within a kilometre of school grounds and dropping the criminal record check requirement. Farmers will also be able to collect and sell the flowering heads, leaves and branches of the plant.

The new Cannabis Act modernizes the way industrial hemp is regulated, says Jones.

“Most of the changes were overdue, and the Cannabis Act was the impetus for going ahead and making the changes. We’re pleased to see them.”

Using the whole plant

Easing up on the regulations around growing hemp may also open new markets for farmers.

Industrial hemp only produces trace levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient that can get cannabis users high. But, as a cannabis plant, it likely produces other medicinal components.

Trichomes, which are microscopic hairs on the exterior of the plant’s flowers, produce medicinal components such as cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is produced in the body, but it’s often in short supply, says Natasha Perkins, director of business development at PrairieCann Growth, a medicinal cannabis company.

CBD is effective for treating seizures, inflammation, and pain, she says. But, she cautions, “it’s not a cure-all and you should consult with your doctor before switching your medicine.”

Still, many questions remain about how farmers would harvest the flowers and how those flowers would be valued and graded. Perkins says it would depend on why the processor was purchasing that flower.

“In our case, and probably most cases, it would be the potency of the CBD compound found within that crop.”

Farmers who want to see whether their flowers are worth harvesting would need to check with Health Canada first, says Perkins, to make sure they aren’t violating their cultivation licence. They could then contact the Sask Resource Council about testing for CBD.

“They’ve already set up a testing facility for cannabis, which would work just as well on hemp.”

Jones says Rowland Farms is tracking the hemp-derived CBD market, as well as the fibre market. But for now, the farm remains focused on hemp grain, which goes into products such as hemp hearts.

Rowland Farms has been growing hemp grain since 1998, and it’s an important core business for the farm. Most of their acreage is organic. The farm has long-term supply agreements with most customers instead of yearly contracts.

“But we don’t hemp grow on spec — we know where our crop is going to go,” he says.

Harvesting the whole plant may be easier said than done. Because Rowland Farms focuses on grain, by the time the combines hit the hemp fields, a lot of the flower and leaf material has dropped.

“Any that’s still there is discharged out the back of the combine with the rest of the straw as well,” says Jones.

The hemp industry is looking at several different harvest techniques to capture that material, but it’s not yet clear which will work best in Canada, says Jones. Significant research and development is needed, he says.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has funded three of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance’s high priority research projects, and the group will likely be looking for research questions and funding on this topic in the near future, Jones adds.

Perkins forecasts a glut in cannabis supply after legalization, at least at first. Getting value from hemp flowers won’t be as simple as just selling a crop, she says. Instead, farmers will need to partner with someone who will add value through their secondary processing.

It’s not just the flowers that may have more market potential. Jones says that that removing hemp from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act will make it easier to attract investment into the hemp fibre processing industry. Previous attempts to build fibre-processing plants failed to get enough investment.

For investors, relying on the supply of a material that fell under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was unpalatable, says Jones. There was always a risk that government could change legislation, damaging the industry.

Jones is hopeful that investors will invest in processing and kick-start a fibre industry in Canada now. He’d like to see Canadian hemp used for everything from clothing to car parts, an industry that Europe and China are already active in.

“Canada is already the global leader in hemp for food production, based on the great experience with hemp hearts, hemp oil and hemp protein.”

It took 20 years to reach 100,000 acres in hemp production, Jones says. He hopes the modern regulatory framework will be like removing a governor from an engine, allowing the industry to achieve the potential it’s had for a long time.

“I think it’s an exciting time for the hemp industry.”

The post Rules ease up for growing hemp appeared first on Grainews.

You’ve heard of a certain brand of coffee that’s good to the last drop. Well, may everything I include on this page be good reading to the last word. I’ve also written a few more songs this summer and proclaimed prostate health, wellness and awareness to fellow menfolk while singing my “Prostate Song” during booked personal appearances with Chris the Accordion Guy and am as always, the Singing Gardener with a tip of my welcome hat. I’m glad you’ve stopped by.

An email from Cortes Island

I looked it up on my map. Cortes Island is way out west among a cluster of islands of various sizes east of Campbell River on the east side of Vancouver Island and north of Powell River on the B.C. coastal mainland. I loved geography during grade school and haven’t lost my zeal to search for places on maps. In early September Stephanie Asbeck who lives on Cortes Island wrote the following:

Subject: apple maggot

Hi Ted, I really enjoyed reading your article on the apple maggot and I am going to try some of your formulas. I really like the pepper spray applied to the earth in the spring before they emerge from the earth. Do you think this could be applied at this time of year, in the fall, before they go back into the earth to hibernate for the winter? I really want to do something now, but don’t know if it is too late. I wonder where the fly is right now? Thanks so much for your time on this! — Stephanie

Ted says: What? I thought there’d be no apple fly maggots on Cortes Island. My answer to Stephanie — short and to the point is YES. You can apply pepper spray on soil around apple trees now and again in spring after blossom petals have fallen and apples are forming. Do it right out to the drip line. You may want to do a small test area elsewhere first then wait and check after 24 hours for any potential negative reaction or discolouration.

Apple maggot info

This is now a significant pest across the country. Since larvae are inside the apple they are somewhat protected against biological controls. Adult maggot flies are six mm long, (slightly less than one-quarter inch) shaped similar to a triangular kite, black with yellow legs and prominent zigzag yellow bands across the wings. Female adult maggot flies lay eggs that are not visible, creating minuscule dimples on surface of developing apples. Hatched maggots burrow into apple flesh and are white or cream colour. They pass the winter as pupae in the soil. Adult flies emerge the following spring when fruit is already relatively large and when outside nighttime temperatures have consistently remained above 5 C for 19 or 20 days. About 10 days to two weeks later, eggs are laid and the egg-laying cycle is repeated one year to the next. When fruit drops to the ground, maggots soon emerge to enter the soil and pupate where they spend the winter. Hence the need for regular cleanliness by retrieving all dropped summer and early-fall apples at least twice weekly and burying them really deep and away from the orchard, or feed them to livestock. Other options are sprinkle and turn piles of retrieved fallen fruit with hot powdered pepper and/or plasterer’s lime or bleach water.

Hot pepper spray recipe:

Stir 2 tablespoons hot cayenne pepper powder into 4 litres of water and then add 6 drops of Castile liquid soap available at health food stores. Some pepper residue will settle to the bottom of the jug. Pour prepared solution into a watering can with large holes stirring occasionally and sprinkle it over the designated area. Keep in mind that handling dried hot pepper powder can often bring on a bout of sneezing.

An alternative is to make your own concentrate by chopping 3 or 4 fresh hot cayenne peppers into small pieces (or whole dried hot peppers) and simmer in a litre of water on low heat (not the microwave) for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the stove element and allow the brew to steep a full 24 hours then strain and pour the concentrate into 4 litres of cold water and 6 drops of Castile soap in a watering can. A word of caution! Wear protective gloves and clothing; even eye goggles when working with fresh hot peppers to avoid burning skin from splashes. Results usually vary with homemade formulas ranging from weak, to strong or to just right. Further experimentations may or may not be necessary. In a way, each gardener/fruit grower is his or her own home scientist.

Hot peppers and microwaves don’t mix

Be aware of a person who placed hot peppers on a moistened towel to steam and soften them inside a microwave. It was set for one minute with disastrous results. Within seconds the smell of hot pepper filled the kitchen with an overpowering unintentional odour throughout. By the time said person got to the microwave, the entire kitchen had taken on a lingering hot pepper scent. With burning eyes and breath held, the individual opened all windows and doors to air out the house and then evacuated the premises until the air was tolerable again. It took over two hours to refresh and clear the house until the air was acceptable.

Baited traps

Besides pepper sprays applied to soil around apple trees during fall and spring as explained previous, you can attract and drown many adult maggot flies with baited traps hung on tree limbs in fruiting season. Save the following formula recipes and make one or both early next summer.

To 9 parts of warm water add 1 part of molasses and some packaged yeast cake granules, then allow the mix to work and bubble until it stops. Or, add 10 ml of household ammonia and a bit of powdered or liquid soap to each litre of water. Cut out a 1-inch square opening near the top of empty 1- or 2-litre plastic bottles and fill them with one of the prepared liquid baits to just below the opening with cap or lid left on. Hang four to six traps mostly on the sunny side per each apple tree about 1.5 metres high. Make fresh bait weekly or every 10 days. Some beneficial insects will also enter and drown in the trap but you’ll attract a lot of apple maggot flies as well in the process.

Stress affects digestive health

I, Ted, listen to my body and trust all my readers do likewise. Ginger tea is one of my stomach’s best friends, but not the only one. The recipe that follows is so uncomplicated and can help alleviate or ease up to 80 per cent of gut issues. Many foods can irritate and cause inflammation and that’s something a stressed digestive system definitely doesn’t need. I’m eager to share the following. Ginger tea has a warming effect on hands and feet with a toasty, comfy feeling all over, especially now with shorter days and nighttime autumn chills in the air. Try to drink a cupful at least once or twice daily for a while before deciding whether it’s of benefit to your digestive system.

Ginger digestion tea

Ingredients and directions are as follows for one or two daily servings. Larger batches can be made ahead of time and warmed later when desired.

• 1 tablespoonful grated, minced, or thinly sliced, fresh peeled ginger
• 2 cups distilled water
• 1 tablespoon unpasteurized honey (more or less)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Pour boiling water over prepared fresh ginger root in a teapot or extra-large mug. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Once steeped, add honey, lemon juice, stir and do your tummy a good turn.

The post Info on apple maggots and how to deter them appeared first on Grainews.

As a treat for baby chicks mix nettles, dandelion and purslane together. Chop up fine and mix into their feed. This will also give layers a boost if they must be kept inside all year round.

A really tasty way for humans to get their purslane boost is salads. Here’s one that we especially enjoy.

Chickpea and purslane salad

• 1 c. drained cooked or canned chickpeas
• 2 to 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, or as needed
• Salt
• 1-1/2 c. fresh leaf lettuce, torn into pieces
• 1-1/2 to 2 c. purslane with tender stems, cut into 1-inch lengths, or 3/4 c. purslane leaves
• 4 oz. feta cheese

In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, garlic and green onions. Add olive oil and lemon juice. Mix well, and season with salt to taste. Add leaf lettuce and purslane, and mix well. If desired season with additional oil, lemon juice and salt. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings.

Dandelion magnesium lotion

Dandelions also have a lot of uses. Every spring we enjoy watching the bees pollinating this early crop and we usually pick them for the goats. Dried leaves are helpful in the winter if one of our does is a bit slow bouncing back from kidding. We infuse the flowers into oil to make a pain-relieving salve for overworked muscles.

• 2 tbsp. dandelion-infused oil
• 3 tsp. emulsifying wax NF
• 2 tbsp. magnesium oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
• 15 drops vitamin E oil for preservative

Add the dandelion-infused oil and emulsifying wax to a heatproof jar. Magnesium oil is actually water based, so measure it out and place into another half-pint (250-ml) canning jar. Place both containers into a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches of water, then set the pan over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes till wax is melted. Remove from heat. Carefully pour the hot contents of the two containers into a heatproof mixing bowl or measuring pitcher. As they’re poured together, the two mixtures will begin to emulsify upon contact and turn a slightly milky-yellow colour. Using a fork or small whisk, stir the lotion briskly for 30 seconds, then set aside to cool for five minutes, stirring occasionally. To speed the cooling process, place mixing container in a bowl of ice water. Stir occasionally, for around 30 seconds at a time, as the lotion cools and thickens. Stir in the lavender essential oil, if using. If you’re adding a preservative to help your homemade lotion stay fresh for several months, do so now as well. If you don’t add a preservative, shelf life is only around one or two weeks, if stored in the refrigerator. To extend shelf life use a clean utensil to take a tiny bit out of the jar at a time and apply. Do not double dip.

Planting mint around buildings will deter rodents and there are wild varieties that we have cut in our hay for years. Hopefully we can transplant and encourage them in the yard. If not, there are a lot of tame varieties to try that we can also harvest for teas. Then there are nettles, plantains and wild sage growing around us. The possibilities are endless!

The post Using wild edibles on our farm appeared first on Grainews.

Growers will no longer have to pre-identify planting sites before obtaining a cultivation licence. Previously, growers had to identify which fields they would grow their hemp crops on when they filled out the hemp license application usually around December. Now they only need to report their field sites within 15 days of seeding which gives them more flexibility to make changes to their cropping plans.

• Read more: Hemp gives grower highest returns
• Read more: Growing demand means more hemp acres

One licence will now also cover all cultivation sites and activities, whereas in the past growers had to have multiple licenses for each location or activity. It should also reduce the need to obtain licence amendments if farmers are moving hemp from one bin to another.

A grower’s cultivation licence will now expire in March of the following year to allow the grower more time to store and sell hemp crops grown in the previous year. In the past, licences expired on December 31, and because there was often a long delay to get new license applications approved, growers storing their crop beyond January 1 could end up in violation of the regulations if their new licence was not yet approved.

There is no longer a minimum acreage requirement for industrial hemp cultivation, which was previously at least 10 acres. Although hemp growers must still undergo a criminal record check to obtain an industrial hemp cultivation licence, these will now be valid for one year from the date they are issued.

Finally, annual testing for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis — is no longer required for most approved hemp grain and fibre crops. THC testing is still in place for certified seed production, but the resulting grain crop will not need to go through the testing. The thinking behind this change is that certified seed varieties proven to be low in THC will continue to be low in THC for grain production. This will eliminate testing costs and paperwork for commercial growers.

The Canadian Trade Hemp Alliance says on its website that these changes ‘”better align regulation of industrial hemp with the demonstrated low public health and safety risks of the crop. The [Section 56 Class Exemption of the Industrial Hemp Regulations] is an interim measure to simplify the license application process as the Government moves forward with its commitment to legalize, strictly regulate, and restrict access to marijuana.”

Clarence Shwaluk, Director of Farm Operations for Fresh Hemp Foods in Winnipeg, Manitoba welcomes the changes to the regulations, which the industry has long lobbied for. “These changes help to lessen the burden for hemp growers and gives more legitimacy to the crop overall as far as being a cash crop that can be part of a regular rotation,” says Shwaluk.

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