On 07 February 1996, Matt Nespeca wrote: [clip]>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 do not share this concern. I sincerely doubt that we will replace forests (working or otherwise) with industrial hemp farms. Rather, we would see industrial hemp replacing some crops that are no longer economical to grow (if and when price supports and other market distortions are eliminated). Possibly, hemp would also be grown on land currently in pasture, or on some marginal, non-forest lands, but I doubt this, too. Industrial hemp requires inputs just like any other agricultural crop, and it would make no sense (to me) to convert existing forests (less productive soils than ag soils, generally) to farms. If industrial hemp fiber competes in the market with other forms of fiber, so be it, that's how the market works. I believe that most forest landowners are creative enough to find new ways to market their woods. > 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? Hemp the crop has little in common with marijuana the recreational drug, other than the scientific name and the general form of the plant. Industrial hemp contains very little THC (the psychoactive ingredient). Ask any Iowa farm boy who's tried to smoke what they refer to as "ditch weed." All you get is a bad cough. >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. You're right. Kenaf is a possible source. I don't have my kenaf file close at hand, so I can't give you references right now. > 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. You should really consider the two issues separately (otherwise, you just get into a highly polarized debate over government regulation of personal behavior). Then you can evaluate whether industrial hemp is a competitive, alternative fiber source. Best regards, Donald Mansius cndmans@state.me.us ----------------------------- Standard disclaimer: My views are my own...
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