Hemp underseeded with clover.

Keeping hemp company

Studying ways to maximize agricultural potential by underseeding hemp crops

One Manitoba agriculture research group is trying a few new things with hemp that involve the crop sharing the land. In 2017 and 2018, the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization (WADO) conducted a study on relay and intercropping with hemp. With most of the data in from that two-year study, WADO’s Scott Chalmers spoke to an

Hemp underseeded with hairy vetch.

Hemp quality starts at the farm

Good agronomy is the starting point to ensure food-grade hemp

Hemp processors are fixated on quality, and one of the most important links in that chain is at the farm level. Jeff Kostiuk, Hemp Genetics International director of operations, Central Canada, U.S. & international, recently spoke to an audience at the Canadian Hemp Trade Association Conference about what practices growers should work towards when considering


The hemp sector is experiencing a few growing pains lately.

Hemp market woes launch contract conflicts

Fresh Hemp Foods says market pressures forced it to ask producers to voluntarily dock contract prices, but producers aren’t happy with the cut

Hemp growers say they are getting a raw deal on contracts after being asked to accept a lower price than initially agreed. In late 2017, growers contracted by Fresh Hemp Foods (an umbrella company including Manitoba Harvest) received a letter asking them to adjust contract prices. The letter blamed market pressures for the move, including

Manitoba hemp growers could see new markets, including non-human food markets like cattle feed, develop in the coming years.

Hearings planned for hemp agency

Farm Products Council is seeking feedback on a proposed hemp promotion and research group

The Farm Products Council of Canada (FPCC) is seeking input on a proposal for a hemp group. The Canadian Industrial Hemp Promotion and Research Agency (PRA) would be funded by levies applied to domestically produced and imported hemp products. The first step for FPCC is to collect views from interested persons or groups on the


A hemp plant in Alberta. (Jennifer Blair photo)

Cannabis’ cousin hemp entering new age too

CNS Canada — As cannabis basks in the glow of the first day of its legalized recreational sale, its close cousin hemp is coming through its own year of change. Ted Haney, executive director of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, said hemp growers are going through a year in which they are learning how to

Hemp coffee creamer developed at U of M

Hemp could soon be the (non-dairy) creamer in your coffee. A recent research project at the University of Manitoba’s Richardson Centre For Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals has reported the successful formulation of a hemp-based coffee creamer for Natures Hemp Corp. “Working with the University of Manitoba, Natures Hemp formulated an all-natural, hemp-based, non-dairy coffee creamer


A hemp plant in Alberta. (Jennifer Blair photo)

Hemp growers eye new markets for 2018

CNS Canada — Hemp producers across Western Canada will potentially gain access to lucrative new markets thanks to changes for this year’s harvest. For the first time, hemp growers are allowed to harvest their plants’ buds, leaves and flowers, after receiving an exemption from Health Canada. The market opportunities will be significant, said Ted Haney,

Hemp growers say outdoor cultivation of cannabis too close to their fields could see them inadvertently running afoul of some regulations.

Navigating the hemp nutraceutical market

Hemp growers will soon clear the legal hurdles keeping them from the nutraceutical market, but they may face an uphill climb from the field

A regulatory roadblock is about to disappear for hemp growers, but plenty of obstacles remain to capturing the nutraceutical market. Until now they’ve been required to destroy parts of the plant that might have otherwise been harvested, but new regulations from Health Canada will be arriving along with cannabis legalization this fall. They will then


Hemp producers want a buffer between outdoor marijuana fields.

Outdoor cannabis regs leave hemp producers out of luck

Hemp producers hoping to buffer their crops from outdoor cannabis were left out in the cold when final cannabis regulations were unveiled earlier this month

Hemp growers say they are not impressed by the lack of buffer zones in regulations that would govern outdoor cannabis production. Health Canada has confirmed that licences will allow cannabis to be cultivated and harvested outside after legalization Oct. 17, although, “all other activities with respect to cannabis must take place indoors, such as trimming,

Hemp growers hope cannabis legalization will remove some legal roadblocks they’ve been facing.

Hemp growers will be able to harvest more material

Hemp growers want in on the nutraceutical market, but until now 
regulations have limited them to harvesting hemp grain and fibre. 
That might be about to change when cannabis becomes legal

Farmers may soon be able to harvest the whole hemp plant, including the leaves and flowers they are currently required to throw away. Health Canada has just completed consultations on the federal government’s proposed framework for legal cannabis, a document that includes regulations that are, “risk based and that allows cultivators of industrial hemp to