Industrial Hemp Potential for Colorado Farmers

Presented by Caren Kershner and Colorado Industrial Hemp Coalition

719-238-1563

carenkershner@hotmail.com

Industrial Hemp in Colorado • Amendment 64, which

legalized marijuana for adults over 21, legalized the growing of marijuana’s cousin, industrial hemp, as well.

• Both medical and industrial cannabis are classified as Cannabis sativa, but differ in the phytocannabinoids they contain.

• Industrial hemp does not contain the psychotropic compound D9 THC, and will not get you high. It has a variety of other uses, however.

• This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

What does growing industrial hemp in Colorado involve?

Colorado Industrial Hemp Act Title 35, Article 61

• This act allows farmers to grow low THC industrial hemp as a commercial crop.

• Colorado adopted the same THC standards as are used in Canada. Industrial hemp must contain less than .3% THC

• This act addresses: – Appointment and duties of an industrial hemp committee – Registration of industrial hemp crops, commercial or R&D – Report of growth and sales activities – Fees – Violations and penalties – Exportation of industrial hemp

– This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

Why would we even want to grow hemp in Colorado? …a history lesson

Well, hemp has been used for thousands of years for food, medicine and textiles.

7000 BCE (recently discovered ) 2737 BCE……………………………….. 1500 BCE……………………………….. 600 BCE…………………………………. 100 BC…………………………………… 850 CE…………………………………… 1533 CE…………………………………. 1616 CE…………………………………. 1753 CE…………………………………… 1776 CE …………………………………. 1842 CE…………………………………… 1937 CE…………………………………… 2013 CE……………………………………

• Hemp/linen fabric used in Turkey • First recorded use of cannabis as medicine • Cannabis cultivated for food & fiber in China • Hemp rope appears in Russia • First evidence of hemp paper from China • Vikings take hemp rope and seed to Iceland • Henry VIII fines farmers for NOT growing

industrial hemp • Jamestown settlers grow hemp for rope, sails

and clothing • Linnaeus classifies hemp as Cannabis sativa • Kentucky begins growing hemp

• O’Shaugnessy publishes cannabis research

• Marijuana Tax Act is passed, criminalizing cannabis

• First cannabis crop in almost 60 years grown in Colorado

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Hemp was grown by our forefathers. • Hemp cultivation was banned in

1937 due to pressure from the oil and cotton industries. Although cannabis was used for centuries as medicine, the plant was demonized in the wake of the new pharmaceutical industry.

The first American flag was made of hemp. This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of

Caren Kershner.

Both Washington and Jefferson grew hemp, with limited success. It was offered as an alternative crop to tobacco farming in Virginia.

This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

Kentucky is growing experimental hemp crops this year. Other states will soon follow.

Other states where industrial hemp cultivation is legal include Oregon,

California, Vermont, Montana, West Virginia, North Dakota and

Maine, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

It continues to be illegal to grow industrial hemp under federal law,

although the Farm Bill allows state agriculture departments and

institutions of higher learning to obtain and grow seed without fear

of retaliation.

UC Boulder is presently working on a genome sequencing project for

cannabis. This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

Presently, almost all hemp used in the U.S. is imported from Canada and China.

The U.S. imported approximately $2 billion of hemp in 2012. Hemp products were a $450 million industry in the U.S. at that

time.

Hemp farmers in Canada report a profit of $200-$250/ acre. Dual or multi-purpose crops can improve that profit margin.

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There are over 25 000 products which contain industrial hemp.

• Hemp can be used for traditional uses like

rope, paper, canvas, and other textiles. It makes a strong and durable

fiber.

• It can also be used to create plastics, biofuels, construction materials,

and body care products.

• This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission

of Caren Kershner.

Will houses of the future be made of hemp? Since 1 acre of

hemp can produce as much building material as 4 acres of trees, there’s a good possibility. Plus, hemp doesn’t require the

pesticides that other crops do. Hemp houses are being built in Scotland and South Africa- why not here?

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This hemp house in South Africa is a finalist for the World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 Award.

Hemp homes are more energy efficient than homes built with traditional building materials.

Hempcrete, the primary building material for hemp homes, is made from a combination of plant matter, mainly hurds, and lime. Besides being an excellent insulator, it has the additional benefit of being carbon-negative.

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Factories in Canada are producing the Kestrel, an electric industrial hemp vehicle. This car weighs

approximately 25% less than a Ford Fusion and gets 25-30% better mileage. List Price~ $25 000.

Henry Ford built the first fiber-based car in 1941- hemp was one of the

fibers used. Other automobile companies presently using hemp composites include BMW and Lotus. These composites are used to

replace other plastic and metal parts in the vehicle. This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

Opportunities abound for Colorado hemp farmers. Dr. Bronner’s will purchase our hemp oil for its soaps. EnviroTextiles in

Glenwood Springs may purchase hemp fiber for its textiles and insulation. Michigan Hemp Company has offered to purchase all of the I-hemp Colorado can produce. Groups like Industrial Hemp in Colorado and HempCleans are

working to establish infrastructure and new businesses here. Hemp also shows promise for phytoremediation in polluted or burn areas.

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Because hemp has the potential to be high in CBDs, a medicinal phytocannabinoid, there are many

companies that will purchase the hemp in order to produce ‘medicated’ products.

Some CBD products are currently undergoing clinical trials to determine their effectiveness treating epilepsy, MS, Crohn’s disease and other ailments. Presently, these products are made from hemp paste imported from China.

Could this be the ‘miracle ingredient’ in remedies of the past? Ask me about the

endocannabinoid system. This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written

permission of Caren Kershner.

Other cannabinoids and terpenes are now being investigated for their medical potential.

Both medical/recreation cannabis and industrial hemp are classified as Cannabis sativa L., although there have been some recent attempts at botanical reclassification.

However, industrial hemp, by definition of the state agriculture department, must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). The other cannabinoids are not regulated at the present time.

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The food uses of hemp are remarkable. Hempseed has recently garnered much

attention and is considered a superfood. Hempseed has been used as a food for humans for thousands of years. It is high in protein and unsaturated fats. It is also a good choice for animal feed supplements. Birds especially seem to thrive on hempseed and hemp oil. This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

There will be markets for hempseed oil and health care items, raw hempseed, beverages and other food uses.

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Typical nutritional analysis of hulled hemp seeds[10]

Calories/100 g 567 kcal

Protein 30.6

Carbohydrate 10.9

Dietary fiber 6.0

Fat 47.2

Saturated fat 5.2

Palmitic 16:0 3.4

Stearic 18:0 1.5

Monounsaturated fat 5.8

Oleic 18:1 (Omega-9) 5.8

Polyunsaturated fat 36.2

Linoleic 18:2 (Omega-6) 27.6

Linolenic 18:3 (Omega-3) 8.7

Gamma-Linolenic 18:3 (Omega-6) 0.8

Cholesterol 0 mg

Moisture 4.7

Ash 6.6

Vitamin A (B-Carotene) 4.0 IU/100g

Thiamine (Vit B1) 1.4 mg

Riboflavin (Vit B2) 0.3 mg

Pyridoxine (Vit B6) 0.1 mg

Sodium 9.0 mg

Calcium 74.0 mg

Iron 4.7 mg

Hemp ice cream, hemp tofu, hemp burgers- there are endless possibilities for this low impact plant.

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*These optimal values are based on a 4 month growing season with 3 crops harvested per year. This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of Caren Kershner.

Hemp shows promise as an alternative energy source. Recent research suggests it might be used in place of

graphene for supercapacitors.

Hemp Biodiesel Hemp biodiesel is the name for a variety of

ester based oxygenated fuels made from hemp oil.

Biodiesel is safe to handle and transport because it is as biodegradable as sugar, 10 times less toxic than table salt, and has a high flashpoint of about 300 F compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which has a flash point of 125 F.

When burned in a diesel engine, biodiesel replaces the exhaust odor of petroleum diesel with the pleasant smell of hemp, popcorn or French fries.

Hemp biodiesel is made from the oil contained in hemp seeds.

Hemp Ethanol Ethanol is a common additive to gasoline.

Hemp requires less water to grow than corn, a traditional source for ethanol distillation in the US.

Hemp is the most cost-efficient and valuable of all the fuel crops we could grow on a scale that could fuel the world.

Hemp ethanol is produced from fermenting the stalks of the plant. The stalks are also valuable for fiber, construction materials, papermaking and cannabinoid extractions.

This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of

Caren Kershner.

Lots of good reasons for wanting to grow industrial hemp in Colorado….

…but is it going to be a hassle?

• How did the CDA interpret the Colorado Industrial Hemp Act?

• What are some of the present setbacks?

• Is this really a viable industry for Colorado farmers?

Rules Pertaining to the Administration and Enforcement of the Colorado Industrial Hemp Act

• The Colorado Industrial Hemp Act was created in legislative session. However, the rules have been developed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture after several internal sessions of the Colorado Department of Agriculture and meetings with the Industrial Hemp Committee. These rules address:

– Definitions

– Registration

– Reports

– Inspection Program

– Waivers

– Violations and Penalties

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Registration • Registration forms are now available from CDA. There are two

classification options on the application: – Commercial

• Registration fee is $200 plus $1 per acre. Commercial grows may be done indoors or outdoors, and there is no limit as to the number of acres that can be grown commercially

– Research and Development

• Registration fee is $100 plus $5 per acre. R&D grows can only be conducted outdoors this year and are limited to 10 acres.

• GPS coordinates are required on all applications.

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Reports • Prior to planting, each commercial hemp registrant shall file a

report with the Commissioner that includes a statement of verification that the type and variety of hemp to be planted will contain less than .3% THC on a dry basis and a description of cultivars and where they are planted.

• At least 7 days prior to harvest, they will file an additional report that includes documentation that the grower has entered into an agreement for crop purchase by an in state processor or a statement of intended disposition of the hemp crop. NO VIABLE PART OF THE PLANT MAY LEAVE THE STATE.

• Any changes of intent must be reported to the Commissioner within 10 days of the change.

• Growers must report the anticipated harvest date 30 days before harvest.

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Inspection Program

• Approximately 1/3 of the growers this season will have their crops sampled for THC content. Presently, there will be no tests for other cannabinoids.

• Farmers selected for testing will provide access to the state inspector to any and all industrial hemp plots.

• The inspector will gather composite samples from each variety grown and divide the sample into two parts, one for immediate testing and one for retesting if necessary, and sent to a lab for quantitative determination of THC content.

• Hemp that tests over the .3% limit may result in suspension and revocation of the commercial industrial hemp license.

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Waivers

• R&D growers will have more leeway than commercial growers this initial growing season.

• They will not be subjected to any penalties if the THC content of their crop falls between .3% and 1%. The crop may be destroyed or possibly utilized on site. CDA is presently working on alternative methods of disposal.

• Commercial growers whose crop tests over .3% may also be approved /verified by the Commissioner and then may not be subject to suspension or revocation of their registration.

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Violations and Penalties

• The following can result in fines or revocation of the applicant’s registration: – Refusal to cooperate with the inspection process – Failure to provide requested information to CDA – Providing false or misleading information to CDA – Failure to submit required reports – Growing industrial hemp with a THC concentration

greater than .3% on a dry weight basis – Failure to pay fees associated with inspection and

testing costs

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Potential Setbacks for Colorado Farmers

• Some of the following concerns may limit the amount of hemp grown this (or any)season:

• Availability of seed

• Water restrictions

• Harvesting equipment

• Processing facilities

• Testing requirements

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What about Seed? Do you want to grow for food, fuel, fiber or ???

Oil Crops

• Plants grown for oil production will typically have shorter internode spacing and a heavy seed head.

• Some examples of oil cultivars are: Finola and Carmen

• Canada presently produces much of the world’s oil crop.

• Most hemp cultivars come from European strains.

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Caren Kershner.

•

Fiber Crops • Plants grown for fiber production

will have longer internode spacing, providing long bast fibers.

• Some examples of fiber cultivars are: Arlington and Ferramington

• China presently produces the

most fiber hemp in the world. • There is a relatively limited gene

pool for hemp due to its ancestry. Some plants, like Carmagnola, are

used for both food and fiber (dual purpose)

Where Can Farmers Obtain Viable Seed? What Are Some Issues with Imported Seed?

• Presently, there are several groups working to bring quantities of seed into Colorado for this year’s planting season. Clones may also be available, but are best suited for research and development.

• Most plots will require around 20-30# seed/ acre.

• Imported seed is often unpredictable re: both viability and THC content. Because it is often grown at higher latitudes, it may not be ideal for Colorado farmers.

• Farmers can link to several of the websites or facebook pages listed at the end of this presentation for additional information on viable seed availability.

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Other Potential Issues

Water Restrictions • Hemp requires approximately 6-10”

of water during the vegetative stage and an additional 6-10” of water during the flowering stage, depending on soil. This is not a problem for farmers with irrigation rights, but may present difficulties for those who plan to grow R&D crops using a domestic well as their water source.

• Domestic well users may not grow commercial crops at the present time.

• R&D cultivation must be done outdoors. The clean-up bill allowing indoor R&D grows may not take effect until 2015.

Registration Window • The registration application window only

runs for 2 months, from March 1, 2014 until May 1, 2014. No applications will be taken after May 1.

• The application involves some financial risk, since the present availability of seed is unclear and fees are involved in order to register. Many farmers will not plant until May 15, but will need to submit their paperwork before May 1.

• Farmers will not be required to divulge the source of their seed on this year’s application.

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of Caren Kershner.

Harvesting and Processing

• Colorado’s initial hemp harvest was completed by hand. Over 40 individuals worked for two days to complete the harvest.

• Farm equipment will need to be retrofitted in order to optimize this process.

• Some processing facilities will be in place this season, mainly for oil processing.

• Fiber mills may not be practical for Colorado due to our short growing season and the low cost of imported hemp textiles.

• Because hemp must be processed before being exported from the state, there are many possibilities for those who wish to become involved this re-emerging industry.

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It is possible to grow hemp in Colorado. It will require the development of seed that matures in our growing season and

infrastructure support to make it happen. But in a few years, this should be a common sight…

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Despite the challenges, industrial hemp cultivation shows unlimited potential for Colorado farmers.

• Careful planning will help farmers overcome the problems resulting from short growing seasons and limited water.

• Communication with medical growers will prevent cross-pollination and protect both crops.

• Markets are available for hempseed and hemp products.

• A few possible markets include foods, biofuels, textiles, phytoremediation applications and building materials.

• The crop requires few pesticides and limited additional nutrients.

• So, what are you waiting for? The time is ripe!

This power point presentation may not be reproduced without the written permission of

Caren Kershner.

Resources for Additional Info

Hemp Cleans- Broomfield, CO, www.hempcleans.com (this is a non-profit Colorado company devoted to hemp legislation

and education)

Paul Lembeck Sativa Labs LLC, Global Heritage Seed Company LLC paul@sativa-labs.com www.sativa-labs.com 617-515-7378 (Testing and seed development, working with farmers to help them assess their crops and potential cultivars for THC and CBD content. )

http://www.hempfarm.org/Papers/Hemp_Facts.html (Several pages of interesting facts about hemp, divided into categories for easy reference )

Hemp Industry Association- U.S. and Canada, www.thehia.org (membership-based non-profit trade group, representing the interests of

the hemp industry and encouraging the research and development of new products made from industrial hemp, low-THC oilseed and

fiber varieties of Cannabis)

Rocky Mountain Hemp Association- membership organization providing news, education and resources about the emerging hemp industry

Michigan Hemp Company, Joe Brown, National Spokesman/ Project Engineer, MHC/BGNR, 5333 Plainfield Ave Ste.C, Grand Rapids,

MI49525, 616-828-1313 Ext 5, joe@michiganhempcompany.com (seeking Colorado hemp farmers to provide us with hemp hearts,

seeds, seed/stalk oil, root powder, root oil, and hemp powder)

Colorado Industrial Hemp Coalition, an active Facebook group page dedicated to providing education and disseminating information about industrial hemp, https://www.facebook.com/CoIndHemp

Industrial Hemp in Colorado, seeking to build a viable hemp industry by educating and informing the public and building a community, https://www.facebook.com/VoteHempYesOn64

Growhempcolorado , a local resource to all things Colorado hemp. Learn more about growing hemp in Colorado, viable hemp seed and plants for sale, http://www.growhempcolorado.com/

Farm Women for Industrial Hemp, general information, www.facebook.com/pages/Farm-Women-for-Industrial-Hemp/293674470745705

…and many more

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