Did you know that Wisconsin was once a major producer of
hemp? Of course you also likely know
that hemp is a first cousin of marijuana—which eventually caused the demise of
the industry.
In 1908 the University of Wisconsin’s agronomy department
grew the first hemp in the state, on the grounds of the Mendota Hospital in
Madison. The demand for binding material—hemp
was excellent for making twine and rope—was ever increasing. By 1911, the UW had hemp experiment plots at
Mendota Hospital, Waupun and Viroqua. Hemp
grew well in southern Wisconsin, producing as much as 1,200 pounds per
acre.
Wisconsin was the number two producer of hemp in the United
States in 1917 with some seven thousand acres.
Kentucky was number one.
During World War II, hemp fiber was once more in high demand,
particularly for marine rope and rigging for parachutes. During WW II, Wisconsin
had 42 hemp mills scattered across southern Wisconsin from Cuba City to Union
Grove.
Today no hemp is grown in Wisconsin.
See a more complete story of Wisconsin and the hemp industry
in my new book: WISCONSIN AGRICULTURE: A
HISTORY, published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Order by going to this link:
http://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=14&idproduct=1874
THE OLD
TIMER SAYS: Wisconsin’s agricultural history includes some mostly forgotten
crops.
.
Purchase Jerry’s
DVDS and his books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin
(a fund raiser for them):
The
library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs, Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.
Also
available are several of Jerry’s signed books including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old
Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry
Apps a Farm Story). Also available is Jerry’s new novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.
Contact
the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson
Memorial Library
500 Division Street
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
.
August
26, 9:30 a.m. Farm Technology Days, Sun Prairie. Farm Stories.
August
30, 1-4 p.m., Book World, West Bend.
Book signing.
September
3, Noon. Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Agriculture: A History .
September
3, 7 p.m. Books and Company bookstore, Oconomowoc. Wisconsin Agriculture: A
History.
September
12, 2-4 p.m. Remarks at 2:30 p.m. West Madison Agriculture Research Station,
Wisconsin Agriculture: A History. Call
888-748-7479 for reservations.
September
17, 11:-a.m. St. Luke’s Church,
Middleton, WI Stories From the Land
September
19 , Stonefield Village, Cassville.
Whispers and Shadows.
September
23, Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.
September
26, 10:30 -2:00, Dregni’s, Westby, Book signing.
October
4, 1-3 p.m. Readers Realm bookstore,
Montello. Ag. History
October
7, 6:30 p.m. Reedsburg Library, Whispers and Shadows
October
10, Heartland Forum, Chicago.
October
11, Old World Wisconsin
October
15, Prairie du Sac Library, Whispers and Shadows
October
17, 9-4 Teaching writing workshop at The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI
October
17, 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Clearing. Book
signing, Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.
October
29, Brown County Library. Premier of TV
Documentary,” The Land With Jerry Apps. “ Book signing, Whispers and Shadows.
November
5, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Library, Whispers and Shadows.
November
7, Edgerton Book Festival, The Land (TV documentary) and Whispers and Shadows
November
14, 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. Wisconsin Agriculture: A History.
November
15, 9:15 Midvale Lutheran Church, The Land (TV documentary) plus discussion of Whispers and Shadows.
November
18, Preview of TV Documentary, “The Land With Jerry Apps” Wild Rose High School
Auditorium. Whispers and Shadows book
signing. (Time to be announced)
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