FARMERS WON'T GIVE UP HEMP FIGHT

Joe Federowich admits to being a little battle worn after years of leading
efforts to get a hemp fibre processing industry established in Manitoba.

It's been an uphill struggle since the late 1990s, but don't expect
Federowich to wave the white flag any time soon. He seems willing to take
the odd scar if it means bringing a new industry that he thinks will
benefit farmers and rural communities.

"I honestly believe that once enough people see what we're doing, they'll
come on-side," said Federowich, a producer at Ashville, Man., who chairs
Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers.

Federowich is among those who want to build a hemp processing plant at
Dauphin, Man. The project would cost about $15 million.

The province is willing to put up $3 million, he said. The challenge now is
prying $3 million out of Ottawa. With the combined government funding in
hand, a local fund-raising campaign could start and Parkland Industrial
Hemp Growers could work on getting a bank loan.

Federowich hopes the federal government will put its money where its mouth
is. He sees hemp fibre processing as a good fit with government appeals for
farmers to diversify and add value to their crops. The project also would
bring economic development to rural Manitoba.

"It just gets a little frustrating," said Federowich. His original hopes
for a hemp processing plant were dashed with the collapse three years ago
of Consolidated Growers and Processors, a company driving the expansion of
the hemp industry in Manitoba.

"Now we're refighting the same battle and we're starting to get a little
battle worn."

The hemp processing venture would make non-woven matting for things like
hanging wire baskets for flowers. House insulation is another potential market.

Keith Watson, a Manitoba Agriculture agronomist, said the processing plant
would be a pilot project unique to North America. The manufacturing
equipment needed for the venture has already been found in Britain.

"The equipment's out there. It's just a case of getting the money together
to be able to do it."

It became legal in 1998 for Canadian producers to grow hemp. The crop is
grown for its grain and fibre.

The hemp grain produced in Manitoba is finding a reliable market when grown
under contract, Watson said. Two companies in the province are buying
increasing volumes of the seed, mainly to crush for the oils.

To meet growing demand for the seed, it's expected that up to 6,000 acres
of hemp will need to be planted in Manitoba this year, said Watson.

However, the fibre grown since 1998 has gone mainly into stockpiles to
await the day when a processing plant gets built. Hemp fibre is known for
its durability but will slowly deteriorate when left stacked in bales.

"The hope is the plant will come on-line soon enough that the fibre in
those round bales will be usable," said Watson. "It looks like so far it
will be."

Progress continues on the agronomy of growing hemp on the Prairies.
Producers are especially interested in fertility and variety selection.