Cover Sheet University of Idaho Sustainability Center Project Proposal Date Submitted: March 14, 2013 Project Title: Feasibility Study of Hemp Test Plot-‐-‐ Moscow Idaho Student PI: Jordan E. Sanders Local Mailing Address: 938 w. A St. Moscow, ID. 83843 Email: [email protected] Major: B.S. Renewable Materials College: Natural Resources Year: Senior Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2015 Academic Advisor: Name: Tom Gorman Department: Renewable Materials Email: [email protected] Project Dates: 11/3/14 to 8/7/15 Amount Requested: $1,813.58 Project Synopsis: The main goal of this project is to determine the feasibility of growing hemp in Moscow Idaho. The cultivation process will take place on a parcel of land lent by the PCEI’s community garden program. The land area will be 1000 sq. ft. and will host two types of hemp plants. The study will be an indicator of how well hemp will grow in the northwest region of the united states, and the research done will facilitate studies within the UI and it’s many colleges. If successful, this study will give insight on the requirements needed to facilitate this crop in local soils and shine a light on future economic opportunities. BACKGROUND Hemp yields two products that can be processed further after cultivation: the seed and the straw. Seeds provide oil and, from it, a variety of items ranging from foods to cosmetics and fuel. After the oils are extracted from the plant the biomass or “seed cake” is leftover. From that we can make animal feed, protein powders, flour and beer. The straw can be processed into to items, the fiber and the Shiv/Hurd. The fibers are used for textiles, paper products and rope. The fibers are most likely a product of the internal part of the woody node. The outside fraction of the node can be used in insulation, building materials and animal bedding. These uses are but few of the potential benefits that hemp can provide. (Herman) Industrial hemp is composed of “Cannabis Sativa L” elements that contain hardly any (.3%) Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp is an annual broadleaf plant with taproot. There are a variety of qualities to be considered while growing hemp. There are two main groups “dioecious” (male and female flower parts on separate plants) and “monoecious” (has male and female flower pats on the same plant). There are multiple types of hemp plant. Within these contain a variety of either fibrous plants or grain yielding. Levels can be adjusted based on types of breeds. (Herman) Plants mature to fiber in 60-‐90 days and grain yields in 110-‐150 days. The cultivation process holds many facets. In order to obtain fiber, hemp needs three months without severe frost conditions; for seeds to mature four to five months are needed. The first stages of the plant require water until roots are stable. For this, some irrigation or watering labor may be required. (Day) Project Goals and Description: The growth of Industrial hemp will create new opportunities for researchers in the soil, agricultural and food science programs on campus. Cultivation shows potential to study the material and produce old and new derivative products from the plant. The growth of hemp can provide countless years of research opportunity. Soil sciences and biology majors will be given the chance to create favorable conditions for the cultivation of ideal hemp crops. The stock and seed obtained will be sent to the Natural Resources and Food Science departments for further analysis. Graduate studies within these departments hold potential for chemical extraction of component materials from the plant; these discoveries will pick up where scientists left off before the nation wide ban. Growing the crop locally, to sustain these research opportunities will enlist the help of interns, work-‐studies, student research positions, and volunteers. Time slots for these positions may vary; work studies will be limited to scholarship restrictions; internships can be paid or unpaid and consist of 10-‐20 hours of work a week for cultivation; and research opportunities exist in lab settings generally allowing only up to 10 hr./wk. while school is in session. The growth of hemp can be achieved in a large range of climates. However there are ideal conditions where hemp will produce maximum seed and fiber. Seeds and mature crops can withstand a -‐5C frost. Therefore, planting in the early spring is recommended (Day). Hemp fiber needs a solid three months to create a good yield; the seeding plant types require four to five months to produce a favorable yield. Planting restrictions depend on the desired density and yield. Stands of 200 to 750 plants per square meter are recommended for fiber growth; a density of 5 to 120 plants per square meter is recommended for seeding plants (Day). Hemp is most comfortable in soil levels containing 6 to 7.5 pH level and is sensitive to tightly compacted soils. The proper levels of nitrogen (120-‐lbs./ acre), phosphorous (100 lbs./acre) and potassium 150 lbs./acre) are needed to maximize growth (Day). Heavy saturation of roots is essential to a strong start and if done properly, the plant is able to out compete weeds. The best time to harvest the plant is during flowering. Harvesting methods generally vary by the species of hemp grown. Hemp is dioecious, meaning there are female and male plants; males produce fiber and females generally produce seed and fiber stalk. Harvesting for this small plot will not require any extraneous machinery, only garden tools. Natural enemies to the hemp plant are grasshoppers (Day). After hemp is harvested the needs of the manufacturer will determine further processing. Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute has available land for small-‐scale growth of about 1000 sq. ft. (93 m^2) of plant space. Coordination with PCEI could potentially supply labor through volunteers. However, 2 to 3 people will be employed to care for the plot on a weekly basis. The hours are potentially low due to the self care of the hemp plant. Maximum time for employed students a week will be four hours at an $8 pay rate. Project Outcomes: The primary outcome of this project is to cultivate hemp material while educating students, staff and public. Tall and short stem hemp crops possess unique qualities and by-‐product possibilities. The tall stalk plants can be used in the material science setting to discover new building and commodity uses. Short stock hemp plants produce seeds, from which, essential oils, proteins, and other consumable substances are produced. Cultivation encompasses a wide range of short and long-‐term benefits. In the short run, it will provide small projects for various colleges in food, material and natural resource sciences. Within the scope of this project is also to educate students and the public. Beginning goals are establishing cultivation plan, executing that plan, creating information literature, obtaining a booth in the farmers market, and displaying hemp products already in production. These few items will consume the bulk of the work done while the plants grow. Work to create required materials for info presentations can be commissioned as scholarships in small amounts of no more than $100 to the winner. Involving the Dpt. Of Plant & Entomological Sciences, valuable information on ideal soil levels and relevant methods of achieving said qualities could be offered with student incentives; such benefits include extra credit assignments to students, scholarship opportunities or volunteer work. Long term benefits include, carbon sequestration, carbon neutral by-‐products, community awareness, interdisciplinary research foundations and a yearly project for PCEI; granted PCEI accept the project again in the following years. Local byproducts can be generated via product not used in research and sold to fund the project and related activities. Education of the students and public may influence local farmers to consider this plant’s use and growth in the region. The benefits provided by hemp will extend from local soil quality to the local and regional economy. Outreach Approach: • [Issues] Currently, only the federal legislature has approved the use of industrial hemp under the stipulations that it be grown for research within accordance of state law. Idaho has yet to allow legislation in order for this growth to begin. However, our neighboring state of Washington has passed legislation allowing research and commercial growth. • The approach I would like to take in the community, in information presentation, is with posters and flyers. One point that will be heavily circulated in the literature is the difference between hemp and it’s cousin plant marijuana. The current reason hemp hasn’t made growth in local farms in Idaho is because of the misconception that growers of the illicit cousin could potentially hide under the hemp veil. However, hemp is not conducive to growing marijuana and, on the contrary, hinders the ability to grow marijuana. I would use a booth or table to present this information with pamphlets or handouts clearly displaying benefits and economic analysis of hemp. Another way to increase public involvement in the information foundation of hemp is to hold public events dedicated to clearing misconceptions. These information seminars would show what hemp is in its raw form. Visual displays of hemp during the event would allow people to interact with the plant and make individual judgments. Throughout the presentation, information kiosks with facts and material potentials could be placed in convenient locations expressing key information about the plant’s benefits. Information stands could also be digitalized and displayed on select TV monitors on campus grounds. Participation and Support Involved staff would include soil nutrient teachers/grad students, plant biologists (faculty/grad student), faculty/graduate students in food, material and renewable materials degrees, and a partnership with Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute. Also, work-‐study students, interns, and research positions could be utilized. • The role of faculty and staff in the various programs will provide supervision and verification of the validity behind student research. As discussed in the project outcomes, faculty can use extra credit to influence student participation for the research. • Student roles would be to provide basic information on soil and plant logistics, after given information on hemp, to establish the growth of a quality crop. Faculty or qualified personnel would provide supervision. If not for extra credit, then monetary incentive will be advertised to students. Design scholarships throughout the semester will aid in creating the poster, digital presentation and flyers. Video presentations on hemp might also be considered as a scholarship opportunity. • Work-‐studies or interns would be used for maintenance and upkeep of the growth land provided by PCEI. These students would be paid at a rate of $8 an hour. Volunteers can also be used during student community events to plant, maintain or harvest the hemp during the grow season. Project Administration: The season to plant hemp is when the frost temperatures stay above -‐5°C. Planting the crop requires a small startup labor force and a few additional costs. Soil preparation and planting will be labor intensive but is easily accomplished within 20 hours of work. In the mean time, announcements for the literature and poster design contests will begin. After the design winners are announced, the material will be used in the farmer’s market and tabling sessions on campus. Maintenance on plants will also be needed on a weekly basis for the duration of the growth periods for both species of hemp plant. Plan for Future Action This project is a pilot study for further educational and possibly regional growth. Specifically, UI and UISC will benefit from the research done by the various colleges working with hemp to provide products available to local consumers in the future. Although not directly profitable, the main benefits are indirect. This small study can be an educational transition into larger scale operations and further studies. This study has fairly simple elements. Therefore, it will be easy to track the accomplishments of the project. Events like the contest winners for the poster design are checkpoints for goal achievements and progress. Continuous information sessions and reports on hemp growth are equal indicators of progress. Budget Template Grant Budget Template
Requested Funds
1. Equipment / Capital Expenditure
Equipment
Literature
Total equipment
278.90
417.00
$696
Total travel
37.80
0
$37.80
Total other directs
4.20
0
0
0
$4.20
2. Travel
Gas x 10
3. Other direct costs
Seed and Fertilizer
4. Personnel*
Maintenance Worker
Scholarship Winner (x3)
775.68
300.00
Total salaries
$1,075.68
Total Budget Request
$1,813.58
Budget Explained: Figures adjusted from (Day) source. Equipment includes a shed for storage of the shovels and raw plant materials. The gas will be for operating costs like rototilling and travel expenses within town. It’s a rough estimate, but gas shouldn’t be a problem. The seed and fertilizer have been scaled down to the 1000 sq. ft. test plot area. The personnel budget accounts for two maintenance workers on a weekly schedule of 8 hours and the three scholarship contest winners for the literature contest. Under the literature budget is the cost of two posters; one is for the farmers market and the other for the table sessions in the commons. Also, under the literature budget are 300 copies of the flyers in color. Team Members Qualifications and Interests: As of now, I am the sole proprietor of this study. I am a renewable material major in the college of natural resources. The study directly pertains to my academic interests because I am in search of new materials that will provide renewable and sustainable products to local markets like Moscow. I will assume the responsibility of coordinating all of the events and people involved within the study. I believe this will be a beneficial study for me to pursue because of my aspirations to study the physical properties of hemp for building uses in the future. Also, on an environmental level, this study provides insight into the logistics of creating carbon negative products. These products will be on the market within a few decades time, and I would like to be a member of few dedicated to making this vision a reality. Works Cited Andrea, Hermann. N.p.. Web. 14 Mar 2014. <http://www.hemp-‐ technologies.com/page83/page83.html>. Day, Dennis. Canada. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Industrial Hemp Enterprise. Alberta, 2000. Web.