Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, while visiting Perry County on Aug. 17, said the state could decide as soon as November on whether to expand industrial hemp planting.
"We'll look at (expanding) the acreage," Redding said.
Redding spent a good part of his day touring Perry County. He inspected the first harvest of legal industrial hemp in the state, and later spoke to visitors at the Perry County Fair.
A Gettysburg farmer, Redding viewed the hemp fields -- bursting with seeds -- at Perry County Land & Cattle in Juniata Twp.
Bill and Martha Roberts, who own the beef business, planted the hemp as part of a pilot project through the state Department of Agriculture. They're looking at whether hemp seed is a viable way to improve their cattle's weight, and whether it's more nutritious.
The pilot programs also will determine the best ways to grow the plant, and the variety of ways to use hemp fiber, seeds and oils. The Roberts and 14 other pilot projects are researching everything from biofuels to food, and fibers for clothing.
"We're all intrigued, because no one standing here has grown this before," Redding said, inspecting the five acres of bright green hemp plants at the Roberts' farm.
The first year is a learning curve and the next steps, going into fall, will be gathering feedback from farmers and others in the pilot projects: What worked, what didn't, Redding said. Because the pilots are three-year permits, each participant has a chance to recommend changes.
Then the agriculture department will reconsider the acreage cap, as well as the scope of projects, Redding said. The pilot originally was supposed to be 30 projects, but the state received only 16 applicants, with one dropping out. So there is an opportunity for other projects to be added if the department thinks they're warranted, he said.
The Roberts, their staff and consultants began harvesting the plants last week using a combine not usually used for hemp. That presented some difficulties, but everyone had the same assessment: This is a learning process because the last time hemp was grown legally in the United States was 80 years ago.
The institutional knowledge of this sector of agriculture was lost and now farmers are learning from their counterparts in places like Canada, as well as by trial and error.
"This is history happening right here," said state Rep. Mark Keller, who's from the Landisburg area.
Hemp farming will be slow for some time, but it hasn't discouraged farmers or officials hoping the new crop will be beneficial.
"I'm very pleased," said Bill Roberts. "We learned a lot, got a good amount of seed, and we're opening a door for agriculture in Pennsylvania."
His hope is the state Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf will expand hemp farming beyond pilot programs so it's just one more crop in the fields.
Keller said the legislative process to get hemp this far was one of the most interesting aspects for him. He believes the plant will be beneficial on a number of levels, including using hemp seedcake -- a by-product of crushing the seeds for their oils -- as cattle feed.
"I'm going to be following this the whole way through," Keller said. "I'm proud to say the first hemp harvest was in Perry County."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: County's first hemp crop is harvested | PennLive.com
Author: Jim T. Ryan
Contact: Contact Page - The PA Media Group
Photo Credit: Lauren Kershner
Website: Central PA Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - PennLive.com
"We'll look at (expanding) the acreage," Redding said.
Redding spent a good part of his day touring Perry County. He inspected the first harvest of legal industrial hemp in the state, and later spoke to visitors at the Perry County Fair.
A Gettysburg farmer, Redding viewed the hemp fields -- bursting with seeds -- at Perry County Land & Cattle in Juniata Twp.
Bill and Martha Roberts, who own the beef business, planted the hemp as part of a pilot project through the state Department of Agriculture. They're looking at whether hemp seed is a viable way to improve their cattle's weight, and whether it's more nutritious.
The pilot programs also will determine the best ways to grow the plant, and the variety of ways to use hemp fiber, seeds and oils. The Roberts and 14 other pilot projects are researching everything from biofuels to food, and fibers for clothing.
"We're all intrigued, because no one standing here has grown this before," Redding said, inspecting the five acres of bright green hemp plants at the Roberts' farm.
The first year is a learning curve and the next steps, going into fall, will be gathering feedback from farmers and others in the pilot projects: What worked, what didn't, Redding said. Because the pilots are three-year permits, each participant has a chance to recommend changes.
Then the agriculture department will reconsider the acreage cap, as well as the scope of projects, Redding said. The pilot originally was supposed to be 30 projects, but the state received only 16 applicants, with one dropping out. So there is an opportunity for other projects to be added if the department thinks they're warranted, he said.
The Roberts, their staff and consultants began harvesting the plants last week using a combine not usually used for hemp. That presented some difficulties, but everyone had the same assessment: This is a learning process because the last time hemp was grown legally in the United States was 80 years ago.
The institutional knowledge of this sector of agriculture was lost and now farmers are learning from their counterparts in places like Canada, as well as by trial and error.
"This is history happening right here," said state Rep. Mark Keller, who's from the Landisburg area.
Hemp farming will be slow for some time, but it hasn't discouraged farmers or officials hoping the new crop will be beneficial.
"I'm very pleased," said Bill Roberts. "We learned a lot, got a good amount of seed, and we're opening a door for agriculture in Pennsylvania."
His hope is the state Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf will expand hemp farming beyond pilot programs so it's just one more crop in the fields.
Keller said the legislative process to get hemp this far was one of the most interesting aspects for him. He believes the plant will be beneficial on a number of levels, including using hemp seedcake -- a by-product of crushing the seeds for their oils -- as cattle feed.
"I'm going to be following this the whole way through," Keller said. "I'm proud to say the first hemp harvest was in Perry County."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: County's first hemp crop is harvested | PennLive.com
Author: Jim T. Ryan
Contact: Contact Page - The PA Media Group
Photo Credit: Lauren Kershner
Website: Central PA Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - PennLive.com
