Agronomy Update Lethbridge, January 20, Industrial hemp. Jan J. Slaski Ph.D., P.Ag. (Dist.) Vegreville

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1 Agronomy Update Lethbridge, January 20, 2015 Industrial hemp Jan J. Slaski Ph.D., P.Ag. (Dist.) Vegreville

2 What is hemp? Hemp is one of the oldest fibre crops Originates from Central Asia where it was cultivated 6,500 years ago The Greek name of hemp, κάνναβις (kannabis), means fragrant cane - aroma is produced by volatile compounds.

3 Taxonomy of hemp Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has two subspecies: sativa and indica that differ in content of delta- 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Industrial hemp < 0.3% Marijuana up to 40%

4 Hemp a crop like no other Framers know how to grow staple crops in Alberta (wheat, canola, barley) Hemp is different - you have to know what are you growing for and adapt cultivation practices accordingly Regulated crop Cultivar selection Seeding rate and date Mineral nutrition Harvesting equipment Grow under contract!!!

5 Hemp is a regulated crop 1606 hemp arrived in Canada - Seeds distributed for free - used for clothes, ropes, paper, oil the Opium and Narcotic Act banned cultivation, possession and processing of hemp on the territory of North America 1998 Sixty year ban lifted (so far only in Canada) - Hemp can be grown/processed under licence from Health Canada - Criminal record check - GPS coordinates; Min 4 ha - Apply for the licence now!

6 Hemp is a multipurpose crop Bast fibre Hurd Food products (protein, oil, nuts) Cosmetics Paints, varnish Lubricants Biodiesel Bioplastics Hemcrete Industrial absorbents Insulation Animal bedding Garden mulch Low-grade paper Fibreboard Biofuels Chemicals Biocomposites Textiles Geotextiles Rope and twine Carpeting, upholstery Paper products Fibreboard

7 Usage types Grain type Short stature High seed yield Low vegetative biomass Fibre (dual) type Tall or very tall plants Very high stem yield Lower seed yields

8 Cultivar selection Variety AB (ha) Other Provinces (ha) Total (ha) Finola CFX X CRS CFX Canda Delores CanMa Anka Ferimon USO Alyssa USO Joey 8 8 Carmen Other Total

9 Seeding Field selection - does not tolerate soils with poor soil drainage, saline (stunting, yellowing and death of plants) Seeding rate Grain - 18 to 25 lb/ac - ( plants/m 2 ) Fibre - 40 to 50 lb/ac ( plants/m 2 ) High field mortality (10-70%); add 30% when calculating seeding rates Seeding depth to 1 inch

10 Seeding equipment Precision in seeding is important to establish target density Conventional seeding equipment can be used: air seeders/drills hoe-press drills disk-pressed drills Air delivery systems use low volume of air to avoid seed cracking (mortality!) Hemp benefits from packing after seeding (i.e. press wheels) that warrants good contact of seed with soil.

11 Seeding date Affects more yield of crop grown for fibre, less critical for grain Hemp is a short day plant Long days (17 h) at higher latitudes delay flowering Stem elongation occurs before flowering Early seeding generates taller plants and more vegetative growth Delayed seeding shorter plants, while grain yield not much affected (extremes mid-june to early July)

12 Mineral nutrition Rule of thumb for fertility recommendations - a high yielding and high protein spring wheat Typical range of application (actual nutrients) kg/ha N 45 kg/ha P kg/ha K kg/ha S Hemp is sensitive to N fertilizer placement side-banded, mid-row-banded or banded in a separate operation. More fertilizer research is needed

13 Weed control There are no in-crop herbicides registered for use on industrial hemp in Canada Pre-seed burn-off with glyphosate Minor use registration studies are commencing Cultural practices Hemp is very competitive closes canopy quickly Pre-seed tillage accelerates establishment does not like hard pan Weeds to avoid Wild buckwheat, volunteer cereal seeds - difficult to clean out of hemp grain Canada thistle

14 Biotic and abiotic impediments Diseases rotation! Sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) - grain loss Moisture excess Saturated soil conditions especially in the early stages

15 Hail injuries Extent of damage depends on: plant stage usage type Symptoms - leaf shredding, stem bruising, kinking and/or breaking of stalks, loss of flower heads

16 Harvesting For grain the most challenging activity At 18-22% moisture (or when birds start coming); store seeds at 7-10% Straight cut (canola settings) or swathing For fibre requires retting At flowering for textile quality fibre At grain maturity for biocomposite applications

17 Attainable yields Yield range in commercial conventional dryland production: Grain kg/ha Fibre kg/ha Seed yield (kg/ha) Falher Vegreville Lethbridge Seed yield - dryland sites Seed yield (kg/ha) Dry vs. irrigated at Lethbridge Dry land Irrigated Canda Silesia Delores CRS1 X59 CFX2 CFX1 Finola Joey 0 Irrigation dramatically (3-6 times) increases grain yield

18 Fibre yields across Alberta Fibre yield - dryland sites Dry vs. irrigated at Lethbridge Fibre yield (kg/ha) Falher Vegreville L - Dry Fibre yield (kg/ha) Dry land Irrigated Finola CFX2 CFX1 X59 CRS1 Canda Delores Joey Silesia 0 High fibre yields in the northern portion of the province Irrigation increases fibre yield of dual purpose cultivars

19 Conclusions: You can do it (and make $$$)! Hemp acreages are growing rapidly to meet demands of processors of grain (and soon of fibre) Hemp acreage (ha) Canada Alberta Total Province Cultivation licences licences AB BC 2 13 MB ON PE 1 3 QC SK TOTAL

20 Thank you!