Field inspectors for the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association were learning the nuances of certifying industrial hemp seed this past growing season — a first for the state.

They worked with two farmers growing 140 acres of industrial hemp under the state’s seed certification program. The farmers planted X-59, a certified cultivar imported from Canada. Next year, thanks to their efforts, there will be a domestic seed source for growers.

Jim Boots, MCIA field inspector, says working in the hemp fields was a new experience. Most crops that are inspected by MCIA staff are monoecious, meaning that they have male and female flowers on the same plant. Industrial hemp varieties can be monoecious, dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) or have unisexual female hybrids (sterile male and fertile female flowers on the same plant). The variety planted by the two farmers this year is dioecious.

Inspectors made their first inspection around July 19-20, when males are ready to pollinate but before females bloom. They looked for off-types, such as monoecious plants, and other field variations. The second inspection took place Aug. 2, when female plants were receptive to pollination. This time, inspectors focused on off-types and weed issues. No herbicides are labeled for use in industrial hemp.

Both farms passed their field inspections and purification standards. Now it is up to the growers to harvest and clean the seed. To pass certification, the seed must have 80% or more germination and be 98% or more pure. Then it can be sold in the state.

“It was a good first-year experience for us,” Boots adds. “If this takes off, MCIA will be in a good position to go forward and keep purities of varieties of industrial and nonindustrial hemp.”

U-M TRIALS: The University of Minnesota has hemp variety trials at five locations across the state, including one in Callaway, Minn. Fawad Shah, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association president and CEO, attended the White Earth Hemp Field Day Aug. 23. The trials are evaluating 12 oilseed varieties from Canada.

MCIA helped develop seed certification standards for industrial hemp in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. A total of 1,460 acres of industrial hemp were grown this year by 33 farmers under the pilot program. MCIA developed an industrial hemp seed storage and distribution program for MDA to help distribute the seed to pilot program participants after procuring it from overseas.

The majority of acreage is expected to be harvested as grain and processed as food-grade oil. Stalks may be baled on some acres after harvest, too. The stalks then can be used as a fiber source in animal bedding, or for processing in paper pulp, textile and building or insulation materials.

MDA created the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program two years ago to study the growth, cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp. Pilot participants are required to provide reports to MDA regarding seed varieties planted, agronomic findings and any processing, distribution and sales of products.

In 2016, six pilot participants harvested about 40 acres of industrial hemp — the first time for the crop since the 1950s.

Next year, MDA will continue the pilot program, assuming industrial hemp regulations remain the same at the federal level. Officials anticipate up to 50 applicants seeding 3,000 acres.

“It’s exciting to work with certified hemp seed,” says Fawad Shah, MCIA president and CEO. Due to farmers’ interest in this crop, he expects growth in certified seed acres next year. He says a processor in Canada has expressed interest in processing hemp grain for oil. That potential market would work well for Minnesota growers.

The 2018 industrial hemp pilot program application will be posted in November on MDA’s website. For more information, visit mda.state.mn.us/industrialhemp. You also may contact Margaret Wiatrowski, MDA industrial hemp program coordinator, at 651-201-6123 or at [email protected].

Visit MCIA’s website for information about industrial hemp seed certification at mncia.org/client-seed-certification.