By Rep. Paul Anderson
The House Ag finance and policy committees went on a joint tour last week to an industrial hemp farm south of the metro area, and we also visited a 150-acre vegetable farm run by Hmong farmers. Both were interesting and showed potential for further growth.
The re-establishment of hemp as a commercial crop was made possible by the 2013 federal farm bill, which allowed for limited cultivation under the supervision of land grant universities. Hemp is related to marijuana, but contains only trace amounts of the drug THC. Despite those low levels, it is still classified as a controlled narcotic under federal law.
Here in Minnesota, the number of acres devoted to the crop has grown from 37 acres last year to 2,100 this year. The University of Minnesota has been studying hemp for many years, but it was only after the farm bill allowed for its cultivation again that the crop began making a comeback. It was widely grown during WWII and used mainly for its fiber in the making of rope.
When we arrived at the field near Hastings, the first thing I noticed was the number of weeds mixed in with the hemp. We were told that there are no herbicides currently labeled for use in hemp fields, so weed control can be an issue. The owner of the field told us that planting of the crop is not done until early June, the main reason being they make several tillage passes to take out the first couple of weed flushes before the crop is planted. There are male and female plants interspersed in the field, with the male plants drying up after pollination has occurred. Harvest is done with a combine and soybean header, with the plants being cut fairly high off the ground so only the portion containing seeds goes through the combine. It is possible to go back into the field again with another cutter if the stems are to be harvested for fiber.
The field we visited was only being grown for its seeds, which will be processed following harvest to yield hemp oil and a high protein meal product. The oil is high in omega fats and can also be used in cosmetic products such as lip balm. The hemp meal is fairly high in protein and could be used as a livestock feed, but current federal law doesn’t allow that on a commercial basis. Strangely, it is permissible to be used as a protein source for human consumption, such as in high protein milk shakes.
There seems to be a solid future for this crop. The trick will be in developing the processing and marketing networks to make these products widely available. We were given a sample of one such product called Hemp Hearts, which can be added to yogurt, salads, and smoothies.
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The roll out of a new software program for the processing of car titles and license tabs in Minnesota has not been a smooth one. The system, called MNLARS, has been in the development stage for several years and was introduced statewide several weeks ago. It has been frustrating for vehicle owners trying to obtain new plates and for dealers needing to register vehicles to new owners. It’s also been very frustrating for those who work in deputy registrar’s offices around the state, as they at times have simply closed their doors because the new system was not working properly. I have been in contact with the Department of Public Safety and have relayed concerns and problems from those trying to work with the new system. Things have improved, but they need to get a whole lot better.
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