<\/p>\n
A Florida firm is interested in purchasing an abandoned sunflower processing plant in Dove Creek to process hemp crops.<\/p>\n
Bayfront Capital, of Bradenton, Florida, is negotiating to purchase the private pressing facility located on land within a business park owned by the Dove Creek Development Corp., officials report.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks promising, with hope that the purchase and land lease could be completed by the end of the year,\u201d said DCDC chair Gus Westerman.<\/p>\n
The firm has also expressed interest in purchasing an idle cement factory in the business park to manufacture specialized hemp crete, a type of building brick infused with hemp.<\/p>\n
Bayfront has been meeting with Dolores County commissioners and the community about the plan the last few months.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s generated a lot of curiosity and excitement,\u201d Westerman said.<\/p>\n
The proposed business plan would generate up to 17 new local jobs \u2013 five for the cement plant and 12 for the hemp processing plant.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get two idle businesses going again would put people to work and have a trickle-down effect into the entire local economy,\u201d said Dan Fernandez, boardmember for Dove Creek Development Corp.<\/p>\n
The company told county officials that they have lined up contracts for hemp from elsewhere that would be shipped to Dove Creek for processing. They reportedly plan to focus on pressing seed for oil at first.<\/p>\n
Westerman, who is also the Dolores County agriculture extension agent, said there are currently no hemp growers in Dolores County, which requires a permit from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. That could change if the plant goes on line.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis could be motivation for farmers to plant hemp,\u201d Westerman said.<\/p>\n
Colorado legalized hemp under Amendment 64, passed in 2012. Hemp is a form of cannabis and is a genetic cousin of marijuana, but has just minuscule amounts (.3 percent) of THC, marijuana\u2019s psychoactive ingredient.<\/p>\n
Hemps seeds can be processed for fuel, cooking oil, soaps and lotions. The fibrous stalks can be made into clothing, rope, paper and as a substitute for plastic. Cannabidiol can be extracted from hemp flowers and leaves for medicinal purposes with less side effects of traditional pharmaceuticals.<\/p>\n
So far, 29 states have legalized growing hemp.<\/p>\n
The Southwest Agricultural Research Center in Yellow Jacket is in its second year of experimental hemp trials, under a research provision in the U.S. Farm Bill.<\/p>\n
Researcher Abdel Berrada said 13 varieties have been harvested and are being studied to determine yields. Samples will also be tested to insure the crop is within the .3 percent THC limit.<\/p>\n
For best yields, hemp prefers irrigation. Last year, the research center harvested 500 pounds of seeds per acre. This year, they expect 1,000 pounds of seeds per acre.<\/p>\n
If grown for fiber, hemp requires good amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to encourage vigorous stalk growth. Last year\u2019s crop yielded 2 tons of fiber per acre.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one test plot, we are using deficit irrigation to see if the stress will effect THC levels and cause them to go over the standard,\u201d Berrada said, but the results are not in. \u201cThat\u2019s important, because if a farmer\u2019s hemp crop is over the standard, it could be destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The previous sunflower processing plant went bankrupt in 2010 due in part to a poor market for sunflower seed combined with the 2008 recession.<\/p>\n