Local Producers Reaping the Benefits of Hemp

Local Producers Reaping the Benefits of Hemp

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Canadian Rockies Hemp Corporation (CRHC) is working to develop Alberta as a global hemp processing hub, and is currently in the midst of constructing its bio-refining processing plant in Bruderheim. The plant is expected to open Spring 2020 and will employ 50 to 100 plant employees and 25 to 50 support workers. CRHC has been working closely with local farmers, contracting hemp acres and providing specific high- quality feedstock to the plant that will be capable of processing 50,000 acres of hemp per year, producing 50,000 tonnes of fibre and 120,000 tonnes of hurd. After successfully contracting 13,000 plus acres of hemp in 2019 from 31 local farmers, CRHC is contracting 20,000 to 30,000 acres of hemp for the 2020 growing season and will be working with 100 to 150 local farmers.

Todd Brodziak, who farms near St. Brides, is one of those farmers who has contracted acres with CRHC. “Hemp doesn’t get manipulated by the market,” said Brodziak. By entering into a contract, Brodziak said it guarantees stable set prices. What he also finds appealing about hemp is the diversity and change it brings to crop rotation. He said that’s important since Clubroot has been established in the area and hemp has been proven to be an effective form of weed control. “Everybody is thinking greener,” added Brodziak. Hemp sequesters 15 tonnes of carbon per acre. He has also changed what he uses for fertilizer and herbicide. He has also been investing time, energy and money into regenerating the topsoil, creating a deeper grow zone, so there will be less chance of clubroot, and adding natural nutrients back into the soil. “I’m stepping out of the box.” Once hemp gets established, Brodziak said it out-competes other crops and weeds, which is a definite plus. Even though 2019 wasn’t the best as far as growing conditions because it was cool and there wasn’t a lot of sun, Brodziak is hopeful for the coming season. He said he learned a lot of lessons and will not plant the seeds as deep and drain any standing water if there are several days of rain this year. He also plans to seed earlier so he can cut and harvest the bales by the middle of August and then follow up by planting winter wheat. There are so many uses for hemp, said Brodziak. According to CRHC, there are 50,000 known uses. Some of which include: textiles, paper, building material, and bedding. “The possibilities are almost endless,” noted Brodziak, who will be toiling away this year to help himself and the environment.