HEMP PROJECT SPRINGING TO LIFE

The 100 Mile House Industrial Hemp Project is up and running again, as
a student co-ordinator has been hired and a test plot has been seeded.

Project manager Erik Eising was in 100 Mile last week to meet with
Horse Lake resident Robin Diether who was hired as the project student
co-ordinator on June 30.

Eising says they had numerous applications for the student
co-ordinator position and Diether was the one who stood out for the
four-person selection panel.

Diether has already started maintenance and observation work on the
test plot and will have numerous tasks to perform throughout the
growing season.

These include providing producer support and project co-ordination,
agronomic research and testing as well as co-ordination and liaison
with a university partner, including green construction material
development.

He will also construct a portable industrial hemp demonstration
building, co-ordinate and host a green building symposium and field
day, and help with fibre-processing activities.

Eising says all of this will be done in a team environment that also
includes a local 100 Mile House Industrial Hemp producer group that
was formed in January.

"We'll also be doing producer group development and crop production
field days, during which present and past producer group members as
well as those interested in production will visit this year's
production areas."

These folks will be given detailed information on varieties,
fertilization, field preparation and marketing options, he says,
adding this will help them get ready for next year's production season.

Eising says the production area extends from 100 Mile in the south to
Vanderhoof in the north and all are under the banner of the 100 Mile
Industrial Hemp Project.

He's also excited about the Green Building Symposium that will be held
in 100 Mile. Eising explains that industrial hemp can be integrated
into the construction industry.

"In combination with a binder, you can use hemp core to create
non-structural walls and the fibre can be used for
insulation."

Eising was in 100 Mile last month to seed the test plot. It's a
countrywide varietal test program, he explains, and the only one in
British Columbia.

"This year, we are testing five varieties and we're replicating each
variety four times to establish reliable results. We have 20 test
plots and each one is six by 20 feet."

Noting 2009 was a horrible year for growing, he says some of last
year's producers haven't planted this year but remain with the
producer group. However, two others have come on board.

"Some of the fields were not well prepared last year, so we're really
focusing on the varietal test plots and the fields on the producers'
side to get people interested and making them aware of how to have
successful crop production for the future."

Last year, there was some government funding for the project, but
because it was a terrible growing year, they didn't use all of the
grant money.

Eising says they asked for, and received, an extension so they could
use

the leftover funding this year.

Noting producers received funding last year, he says they are "on
their own" this year.

"We're now focusing our efforts on producer group development and our
test plots, so we get better information on what varieties are best
suited for 100 Mile House area."