Hemp usage as a viable paper fiber has become quite a popular topic, and I am glad that forestry professionals are choosing to address the issue. I am very fearful that in the coming years, we may choose to replace our growing forests with agriculturally produced annual fiber sources. Tree farms and working forests provide an array of wildlife habitats and ecological functions. There is a limited land supply available for fiber production in the U.S. If we choose to grow hemp instead of trees, are we going to be forced to replace forests with agricultural fields? I realize that we may start to see alternative fiber sources in the coming years, but why would forest growers choose to experiment with hemp, given the immediate association with marijuana? There seems to be many other alternative annual crops that provide equal if not better fiber yields than hemp. If someone on this listserver is knowledgable of alternative fiber sources, I would be extremely interested in knowing more. As for hemp, I'll let the marijuana legalization crowd fight their own battles. My interest is in natural resource production, not recreational drug use. Matt Nespeca Graduate Student Virginia Tech
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