THE LAND — AUGUST 21/AUGUST 28, 2020
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
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Interest was high at Seehusen hemp field day By DICK HAGEN three seeding rates. The early The Land Staff Writer Emeritus May plantings have already been cut and he is seeing interOLIVIA, Minn. — Yes, as esting results. you might expect, lots of people, lots of talkers, great noon lunch “The two Canadian seed variand interest expectations runeties which we made available to ning high at the Aug. 6 field day our first-year growers were Joey of Prairie Producers. And why and Canda, which we purchased not? These are the enterprising, through Cereseed (a certified enthusiastic and vigorous group hemp seed supplier and distriblaunching the first hemp faciliutor located in the Twin Cities). ty in Renville County. These are dual grade varieties, both for hemp fiber and hurd. Tim Seehusen, along with They did very well — even Paul Seehusen and Joe Dollerschell brother Paul Seehusen, are coexceeding the height we expectfounders of this newest agricultural endeavor for area farmers. With the 2020 hemp ed. And since producers are paid on a dollar-per-ton harvest season about to begin, Tim shared a few pricing schedule, the bigger the total harvest per acre thoughts on this ‘home opener’ for their new industry. the bigger the payment. North Dakota State University data show these two varieties 54 to 63 inches tall. Here “We’re happy with the turnout — especially the this year we are pushing 84 inches tall! cross section of farmers, both potential growers for “We planted May 4; again on May 18/22; also the the 2021 season and some current hemp growers,” first week of June. Early May plantings got off to a said Seehusen. “We also have industry reps from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the hemp slow start … cold and dreary weather. The mid-May business world, some media folks, our local banker planting came up quickly, reaching growth of the early-May planting. Now here in early August all and some local business friends. three are about equal in plant height. With early “We had a father/son team from Sleepy Eye grow- planting, weeds quickly became a factor which may ing hemp for grain this year. They are looking for an have challenged some germination. Our June plantoutlet for their fiber after harvesting the grain. In ings are shorter … perhaps because after June 21, the past they’ve just plowed it under. But rest day length starts decreasing. And apparently, these assured, we can provide an added revenue source later-planted hemps start thinking of putting on seed here at our new hemp facility.” and getting ready for harvest. Soil temps of 55 All hemp fields of the first-year growers with degrees or warmer are preferred before planting. Prairie Producers cut their hemp the first week of Hemps seeds germinate in 3 to 5 days, so with warmAugust with conventional sickle cutter bars. Hemp er conditions they’re soon off to the races.” plants were ranging from 6 to 7 feet tall supported by Researchers and marketers never talk a ‘perfect 12 to 15-inch stalks. “So these fibers are lying in the season;’ but Seehusen did venture, “Yes a good year. fields right now drying,” explained Seehusen. “Next But a few rains were excessive. However, we’re wellstep is to turn it to assist with field drying. Then they tiled so we didn’t have standing water. So it’s been a bale the fiber crop when it at 12 to 14 percent mois- good first year for us rookies.” ture. We bale into square bales (2-foot squares and “I can’t share names yet at this stage, but procesabout 4 feet long) which will be hauled into our storsors are already calling us asking about our products. age warehouse here at our office facility. This will hold upwards of 350 bales — plus we have access to And that’s key to a successful first year effort.” other covered shed for additional bale storage. “I commend the Seehusens for their ambition in “Our processing facility is being developed right developing a hemp industry right here in this innonow for our particular setup. John Lupien, co-found- vative agricultural area of Minnesota,” said Harold er of HempVentures (and a speaker today) is talking Stanislawski. (He is the project development director about the processing equipment being put together at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute for us. Called the ‘decortication process,’ this is the (AURI). “This crop, centuries old around the world, is removal of the outer layer of the hemp stalk — sepa- rapidly gaining new attention as scientists, researchrating the outer blast fiber from the inner woody core ers, and creative thinker keep tinkering with new ideas, new thoughts and new uses for one of the oldcalled hurd. est plants on the earth’s surface.” “Next year we’ll be setting up a larger building at Now let’s hear from Paul Kubista, President of the west end of our property here along (U.S. Highway) 212. The intent is to minimize highway Cereseed. (Even his business card is printed on ecotraffic of trucks hauling the baled product into our friendly hemp stock.) He explains, “We wanted a seed firm specific in hemp seed verities. My intent is processing facility.” to (connect) with hemp seed suppliers and producers Seehusen said Prarie Producers has test plots with already in this industry. So far he’s talked with five hemp varieties with three seeding dates and European, Canadian and U.S. hemp developers to get
the best possible seed for this newly emerging new crop in America.” At this stage, Cereseed is using only Canadian hemp seed sources; but already has an Indiana source viable for 2021 seed. Kubista also noted organic options are coming to fruition. “There is a huge push from companies like Patagonia (which markets a variety of hemp clothing for men and women) now also wanting organic hemp. Currently sourcing from other countries, they see U.S. farm production as a valuable new hemp source.” Kubista, 29 years in Pioneer Seeds marketing, is excited about his new future because he’s big on hemp’s future in American agriculture. “The keys for the explosion of this new crop industry are deregulations that open up the animal feed market and human consumption. Every day you are reading about new consumer Paul Kubista products with hemp ingredients.” He points out much hemp seed currently is internet marketed with prices at $10 to $12 a pound. “In the CBD world it’s sold by the seed … typically 50 cents to $1 a seed. In my world, we’re looking at wholesale costs to the farmer in the $5 to $7 per pound range. With new U.S. production, that cost should come down.” See FIELD DAY, pg. 19
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