They’re Making Milkweeds A New Cash Crop

They’re Making Milkweeds A New Cash Crop CROPS New Crops A group of farmers in Quebec and the far northeast U S organized under the name Monark Cooperative are growing milkweeds as a new income-producing crop Nathalie Leonard leads the group and farms with her brother in Lac-du-Cerf Quebec Her family has about 60 acres dedicated to milkweeds which were planted in the spring of 2016 She’s harvesting the first seed pods this fall Their farm also grows grains and hay has U-pick strawberry and blueberry fields a cow-calf operation cabin rentals on a lake and a bakery that turns their berries into desserts Leonard says that even though milkweeds are a vigorous native plant in the wild that can thrive in rough soil and dry conditions in a farm field they need a specific pH and definitely fare better if fertilized After the plants are established each rhizome creates 5 new rhizomes a year Pod production starts after the 2nd year and beyond the 3rd and 4th year it’s better Leonard says a crop should yield pods for 10 years on the same field On Leonard’s farm they’re experimenting with management and harvesting practices They’re harvesting pods by hand and with a special harvester that isn’t quite working like they want it to yet Because milkweeds are non-GMO Leonhard says they fit their operation perfectly In addition to being the sole host for monarch butterfly eggs and benefitting many other insects there’s a market for milkweed seed and fiber Milkweed fiber has been used as an oil absorbing agent as well as insulation for jackets and vests Because it’s non-allergenic the fiber might also find its way into pillows mattresses and toy stuffing Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Nathalie and Ghislain Leonard 123 A Route 311 Lac-du-Cerf Quebec J0W 1S1 Canada fermehleonard@gmail com

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