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They want the plant to be legalized for cultivation before another state has the opportunity to corner the potential national market on cross-breeding and processing.
Jeff Gain, a Hardin farmer and member of the Omni Venture Group, said the group formed about three years ago.
"It was an effort to find ways that farmers could produce a crop that they could earn more money on by finding a new market or adding value through processing," he said. "We've looked into meat, soybeans, corn and other specialty grains. We want to find something different with unique opportunities." Gain said the group is experimenting with a crop called kenaf, which is a fiber crop that looks much like industrial hemp.
"Kenaf is good, but hemp is the best fiber you can grow. It's stronger, longer and more durable than kenaf," he said. "It's a crop that is easy to grow in this part of the country because of the soil and climate we have here." Gain said farmers now receive subsidies or financial support from the government on corn and soybean prices, which works only so well. Virden farmer Kendall Cole, who also belongs to the Omni Venture Group, said government subsidies aren't the best method for supporting the small, family farmer.
"Most farmers don't want to rely on government assistance," Cole said. "We appreciate what the government has done for us, but it's not the best way to run a business." Cole said he's interested in investing in the processing of the fiber-rich plant.
"That way, we could maintain a larger share of the profit from the crop because we'd be adding value through the processing," he said. "We don't have any interest in marijuana. In fact, the psychotropic element in marijuana is nearly non-existent in industrial hemp." All parts of the hemp plant are said to useful. It can be used to produce everything from fuel to soap. The oil from hemp seeds has the highest percentage of essential fatty acids and the lowest percentage of saturated fats, supporters say.
Kevin Semlow, associate director of state legislation with the Illinois Farm Bureau, said the state agency has supported the industrial hemp movement in Illinois in recent years.
"We'd like to find out if the crop would enhance on-farm income – to actually look at the potential for the crop," Semlow said. "Research has been done on the current demand of the product, and we want to complete the education process. There are questions that we have no answers to." Semlow said the Illinois Farm Bureau is interested in objective research into the profitability of the crop, how many people would benefit from the industry and what the growing properties in Illinois would be.
"We were very enthusiastic about state Sen. Evelyn Bowles' bills because that research would have answered our questions," he said.
Two related bills of Bowles, an Edwardsville Democrat, were passed by the Illinois General Assembly but vetoed by Gov. George Ryan. They were intended to authorize the University of Illinois to conduct research into the growing properties and market value of the crop. Semlow said although it would ultimately be up to the Illinois Farm Bureau Board, the group would likely support any legislation that Bowles sponsored in the future dealing with research on industrial hemp, which she said she may do again in December before her planned retirement.
Gain said one of the most beneficial properties of industrial hemp is the revitalization of nutrient-depleted soil used in crop rotation.
"Hemp creates a deep level of compost in fields, which rebuilds the soil and helps fight soil-born insects, such as soybean cystnematodes. It makes sense to grow different crops to combat the insect problem, rather than using pesticides," Gain said.
Gain said he spoke to former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey several times and was usually disappointed with the outcome.
"McCaffrey told me that the only reason he was against industrial hemp was because it sent the wrong message to kids. The Drug Enforcement Administration told me it wasn't an enforcement problem but also the wrong message for kids," Gain said. "Congress passed a law in 1937 defining industrial hemp as plants with less than one percent of THC. It also said it's perfectly legal to grow industrial hemp, but the DEA ignored that, and it's all considered a Schedule 1 narcotic." He added that it's very frustrating because millions of dollars of processed industrial hemp is imported from Europe, China and Canada each year, when it could all have been grown in the United States. He also said the hemp industry would likely boom overnight, especially in the automotive and contracting industries.
"Detroit is trying to lighten up these car bodies and maintain the integrity of the structures, so they are using hemp fibers in dashboards, side panels and fenders," Gain said. "The problem right now is that everyone in other industries are halfway scared of it because of the association with the drug marijuana." Gain said the American farming industry could get a significant boost if police and government could learn the difference between tall, thin industrial hemp plants and short, squatty marijuana plants.
On Tuesday: The DEA, a professor at the University of Illinois and corporate institutions join the debate.
https://www.globalhemp.com/News/2002/June/images/steve_koehler.jpg
Steve Koehler holds a sample of primary hemp fiber in front of a bail of unprocessed industrial hemp on loan from Canada on his farm in Godfrey.
Photo: Margie M. Barnes
Copyright © 2002, The Telegraph. All rights reserved.
Jeff Gain, a Hardin farmer and member of the Omni Venture Group, said the group formed about three years ago.
"It was an effort to find ways that farmers could produce a crop that they could earn more money on by finding a new market or adding value through processing," he said. "We've looked into meat, soybeans, corn and other specialty grains. We want to find something different with unique opportunities." Gain said the group is experimenting with a crop called kenaf, which is a fiber crop that looks much like industrial hemp.
"Kenaf is good, but hemp is the best fiber you can grow. It's stronger, longer and more durable than kenaf," he said. "It's a crop that is easy to grow in this part of the country because of the soil and climate we have here." Gain said farmers now receive subsidies or financial support from the government on corn and soybean prices, which works only so well. Virden farmer Kendall Cole, who also belongs to the Omni Venture Group, said government subsidies aren't the best method for supporting the small, family farmer.
"Most farmers don't want to rely on government assistance," Cole said. "We appreciate what the government has done for us, but it's not the best way to run a business." Cole said he's interested in investing in the processing of the fiber-rich plant.
"That way, we could maintain a larger share of the profit from the crop because we'd be adding value through the processing," he said. "We don't have any interest in marijuana. In fact, the psychotropic element in marijuana is nearly non-existent in industrial hemp." All parts of the hemp plant are said to useful. It can be used to produce everything from fuel to soap. The oil from hemp seeds has the highest percentage of essential fatty acids and the lowest percentage of saturated fats, supporters say.
Kevin Semlow, associate director of state legislation with the Illinois Farm Bureau, said the state agency has supported the industrial hemp movement in Illinois in recent years.
"We'd like to find out if the crop would enhance on-farm income – to actually look at the potential for the crop," Semlow said. "Research has been done on the current demand of the product, and we want to complete the education process. There are questions that we have no answers to." Semlow said the Illinois Farm Bureau is interested in objective research into the profitability of the crop, how many people would benefit from the industry and what the growing properties in Illinois would be.
"We were very enthusiastic about state Sen. Evelyn Bowles' bills because that research would have answered our questions," he said.
Two related bills of Bowles, an Edwardsville Democrat, were passed by the Illinois General Assembly but vetoed by Gov. George Ryan. They were intended to authorize the University of Illinois to conduct research into the growing properties and market value of the crop. Semlow said although it would ultimately be up to the Illinois Farm Bureau Board, the group would likely support any legislation that Bowles sponsored in the future dealing with research on industrial hemp, which she said she may do again in December before her planned retirement.
Gain said one of the most beneficial properties of industrial hemp is the revitalization of nutrient-depleted soil used in crop rotation.
"Hemp creates a deep level of compost in fields, which rebuilds the soil and helps fight soil-born insects, such as soybean cystnematodes. It makes sense to grow different crops to combat the insect problem, rather than using pesticides," Gain said.
Gain said he spoke to former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey several times and was usually disappointed with the outcome.
"McCaffrey told me that the only reason he was against industrial hemp was because it sent the wrong message to kids. The Drug Enforcement Administration told me it wasn't an enforcement problem but also the wrong message for kids," Gain said. "Congress passed a law in 1937 defining industrial hemp as plants with less than one percent of THC. It also said it's perfectly legal to grow industrial hemp, but the DEA ignored that, and it's all considered a Schedule 1 narcotic." He added that it's very frustrating because millions of dollars of processed industrial hemp is imported from Europe, China and Canada each year, when it could all have been grown in the United States. He also said the hemp industry would likely boom overnight, especially in the automotive and contracting industries.
"Detroit is trying to lighten up these car bodies and maintain the integrity of the structures, so they are using hemp fibers in dashboards, side panels and fenders," Gain said. "The problem right now is that everyone in other industries are halfway scared of it because of the association with the drug marijuana." Gain said the American farming industry could get a significant boost if police and government could learn the difference between tall, thin industrial hemp plants and short, squatty marijuana plants.
On Tuesday: The DEA, a professor at the University of Illinois and corporate institutions join the debate.
https://www.globalhemp.com/News/2002/June/images/steve_koehler.jpg
Steve Koehler holds a sample of primary hemp fiber in front of a bail of unprocessed industrial hemp on loan from Canada on his farm in Godfrey.
Photo: Margie M. Barnes
Copyright © 2002, The Telegraph. All rights reserved.
