530-993-4379
Sierra Booster
  • Home
  • Newspaper
    • Latest News
    • Letters to the Editor >
      • Submit Letter to the Editor
    • Old News Archive
    • Photo Tour
    • Events
    • About Us
    • SUBSCRIBE
  • Advertiser Directory
    • Advertiser Press Releases
    • Website Sponsors
    • Advertiser Area
  • Buy Ads - Services
  • Fishing Report
  • Contact Us
  • Admin Log In

A24 FARMING PIONEERING HEMP IN SIERRA VALLEY

6/16/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture





ROBERTI RANCH historically known for its cattle and hay operations in Sierra Valley, announced at a media night held at the ranch on Monday, June 11, 2018 their new farming venture with University of Nevada, Reno: 
A24 Farming is set to pioneer the hemp industry in the Sierra Valley.  A24 Farming and Roberti Ranch are two different entities due to major insurance companies still considering hemp a drug.
Local media and those involved in the project were invited to the ranch where the new product as well as Sierra Valley were showcased. Folks were bussed and toured the site, walking the areas having been planted.
Speaker for the project, Dave Roberti, said they want the public to understand what hemp is, that it is a different plant than marijuana and the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has to be .3% or less to be considered hemp. Working with University of Nevada, Reno makes the entire project for research with a brand new crop forging new territory.
Roberti introduced major players in this undertaking: 
Kevin Moats of Harvest Tek is A24 Farming’s contact and “main guy managing the whole thing,” by supplying the plants and seed, helping Robertis with consulting for the growing and harvesting and contracting with him when the product is sold as Harvest Tek will buy it back. Kevin plans on filling different contracts for creams, oils and isolates and they make different versions of crude oil. He found Sierra Valley ground “amazing; very neutral.”
Dr. Glenn Miller, Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science from UNR will be doing a lot of research. Miller said the whole thing is a 
research project and he will be looking at spacing; can you grow it on half the water; how do you control the weeds and pests. Roberti stated they can’t call up many people to see what works because it is so new. The only other farm that is 
mechanically harvesting hemp is in Colorado. Roberti said, the harvesting is still iffy. He stated they plan on using a corn head to cut it and thinks it will work just fine. Roberti said they will harvest some by hand and will try using a modified combine, which is what Colorado uses.
Erica Kay, a Ph.D. student from UNR who studied pest management on hemp, will be advising as well. Roberti stated the project had been delayed due to weather, but they finally started planting the last couple of days. They will be planting 160 acres, which is "huge" for a hemp project. Most hemp is grown in 10-50 acres. Roberti said they will be planting some by plant and some with direct seed, to see what performs well, and what doesn’t. A24 Farming plans to have a couple hundred thousand plants growing.
One of the biggest reasons they chose to do this project is the dairy market is starting to collapse which will have a big direct impact on their markets for selling alfalfa. 
Roberti said Sierra Valley is very limited in what they can grow and hemp can handle frost, a variety of soil conditions, likes elevation, and Sierra Valley doesn’t have insect or mildew problems like other elevations. He added, hemp uses a half to a third of the water alfalfa uses.
Working with University of Nevada’s research facility for higher eduction makes A24 Farming exempt from most federal laws restricting hemp right now. There’s been discussion with Plumas County Sheriff Hagwood who is said to see no problem with how it’s grown and planted, completely legal.
Taking the leap to grow hemp through A24 Farming, gives the upcoming leaders of the family such as Jay, Ben, and Weston, the chance to be involved with the decision making of planting and exploring a new crop. It also potentially provides a way for the  entire family to continue making a living in agriculture.
The late Elmer Roberti was one wise man and his family members are reminded of something he often said, “If you’re not going ahead, you’re falling behind.”


Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    April 2014
    September 2009

    Categories

    All
    2015
    Sierra County News

    RSS Feed

    Vie
    ​w Old News

CONTACT US:

Sierra Booster Newspaper
PO Box 8
Loyalton, CA 96118
Phone: 530-993-4379
Fax: 844-272-8583
Email: jbuck@psln.com

Website Privacy Policy​
Picture
Local Weather
©Copyright Sierra Booster - Sierra County News - Editorial
Website by Chamber Nation