Parkland that can provide varieties
with considerable quantities of fibre.”
It's a lack of processing capacity
that prevents the hemp fibre industry
from flourishing in Manitoba, where
most hemp is grown for grain only. The
PIHG's goal has been to change that,
and there have been several attempts
over the years to bring processing
plants to the area – from the failed
CGP endeavour in the late ‘90s to a proposed
partnership between PIHG and
the Hanes clothing company in 2010
that unfortunately also fizzled out.
Currently the grain processors in
the province include Manitoba Harvest
in Winnipeg, Hemp Oil Canada in
St. Agathe, and Northern Mills and
Oilseeds in Rossendale.
As for fibre processing, the Plains
Hemp plant originally announced by
owner Robert Jin in 2010 has yet to
begin operations in Gilbert Plains due
to numerous setbacks. In the meantime,
a plant owned by HempSense
president Lyall Bates has opened in
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Most modern equipment is capable of harvesting industrial hemp with minor adjustments, but in the early
days growers had to get creative.
Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Winter 2019 § 7
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