Milkweed Now A Profitable Cash Crop

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #1, Page #06

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Milkweed as a crop still covers only a few thousand acres, but it is rapidly becoming a cash crop for farmers who have it. Roger Rainville has 60 acres of it growing on his farm. Another 40 acres has been planted elsewhere in Vermont.
  “My father is likely turning in his grave at the idea of planting milkweed,” says Rainville. “It was always a weed we tried to get rid of. Now we are trying to grow it.”
  Rainville is on the board of directors of the Monark Cooperative, a milkweed growers cooperative. Most of the members are in Quebec, where more than 2,000 acres of milkweed were harvested last fall. The co-op contracts with members at a set rate per acre.
  The milkweed floss is also in demand as a fiber for oil cleanup, as well as for cold weather clothing.
  “We have a new buyer who wants to use the fiber and eventually the plant stems to make clothing thread,” says Rainville. “They are a very innovative investor group.”
  The co-op has been working closely with McGill University in Canada, and Rainville is working with University of Vermont extension researchers to further develop the crop. He says there is much to learn.
  “We are trying to figure out the best equipment for planting, as the seed is very fine. We only plant about 3 lbs. per acre,” says Rainville. “I tried no-till seeding, but didn’t get good results. My best results have been with an air seeder.”
  Rainville notes that milkweed wouldn’t grow in one field that had been in alfalfa. He is also working with the extension researchers on planting dates.
  “It is supposed to take 3 years before milkweed will start to produce, but the first 7 acres we planted here had pods the following year,” says Rainville. “The 40 acres I planted last year also produced pods their first year.”
  Since milkweed is a perennial plant, Rainville says the co-op is working on harvesting equipment that will pull the pods off while leaving the plant intact.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Rainville, 124 Line Rd., Alburgh, Vt. 05440 (ph 802 796-3292; cra@fairpoint.net).

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Milkweed Now A Profitable Cash Crop CROPS New Techniques Milkweed as a crop still covers only a few thousand acres but it is rapidly becoming a cash crop for farmers who have it Roger Rainville has 60 acres of it growing on his farm Another 40 acres has been planted elsewhere in Vermont “My father is likely turning in his grave at the idea of planting milkweed ” says Rainville “It was always a weed we tried to get rid of Now we are trying to grow it ” Rainville is on the board of directors of the Monark Cooperative a milkweed growers cooperative Most of the members are in Quebec where more than 2 000 acres of milkweed were harvested last fall The co-op contracts with members at a set rate per acre The milkweed floss is also in demand as a fiber for oil cleanup as well as for cold weather clothing “We have a new buyer who wants to use the fiber and eventually the plant stems to make clothing thread ” says Rainville “They are a very innovative investor group ” The co-op has been working closely with McGill University in Canada and Rainville is working with University of Vermont extension researchers to further develop the crop He says there is much to learn “We are trying to figure out the best equipment for planting as the seed is very fine We only plant about 3 lbs per acre ” says Rainville “I tried no-till seeding but didn’t get good results My best results have been with an air seeder ” Rainville notes that milkweed wouldn’t grow in one field that had been in alfalfa He is also working with the extension researchers on planting dates “It is supposed to take 3 years before milkweed will start to produce but the first 7 acres we planted here had pods the following year ” says Rainville “The 40 acres I planted last year also produced pods their first year ” Since milkweed is a perennial plant Rainville says the co-op is working on harvesting equipment that will pull the pods off while leaving the plant intact Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Roger Rainville 124 Line Rd Alburgh Vt 05440 ph 802 796-3292; cra@fairpoint net

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