Ready to begin the hemp harvest. In the distance, behind the Massey Furgeson 35 pull type combine, the land drops down into the Bonnechere River, East of Douglas, in Ontario's Renfrew County. On the left is the farm of John and Rae Ann Briscoe
Ready to begin the hemp harvest. In the distance, behind the Massey Furgeson 35 pull type combine, the land drops down into the Bonnechere River, East of Douglas, in Ontario's Renfrew County. On the left is the farm of John and Rae Ann Briscoe

The field of ESTA-1 variety hemp, showing the relatively weed free ground below the plants.
The field of ESTA-1 variety hemp, showing the relatively weed free ground below the plants.

The green female seed-bearing hemp plants, and the brown male hemp plants which have already pollinated the females and completed their life function.
The green female seed-bearing hemp plants, and the brown male hemp plants which have already pollinated the females and completed their life function.

A close up of a female seed-bearing plant.
A close up of a female seed-bearing plant.

A close up of a female hemp seed head. Some seeds are already ripe and ready to harvest. Some are still very green and need to ripen. This is a common growth habit for hemp.
A close up of a female hemp seed head. Some seeds are already ripe and ready to harvest. Some are still very green and need to ripen. This is a common growth habit for hemp.

Closer to the ripe seeds, showing veins on the individual seed shells, and the seed nestled into the brown seed bract.
Closer to the ripe seeds, showing veins on the individual seed shells, and the seed nestled into the brown seed bract.

John Briscoe begins the hemp harvest.
John Briscoe begins the hemp harvest.

Looking at the stalks as they are being cut by the header of the combine.
Looking at the stalks as they are being cut by the header of the combine.

A view from behind the combine
A view from behind the combine

Another view from behind the combine
Another view from behind the combine

The chaff coming out from behind the combine. 3 foot tall cut stalks are in evidence all around the rear of the combine.
The chaff coming out from behind the combine. 3 foot tall cut stalks are in evidence all around the rear of the combine.

Looking back west towards the barn over the freshly cut row of hemp.
Looking back west towards the barn over the freshly cut row of hemp.

Jim Lynch, 6 foot, 8 inches tall, standing besides some 9 foot tall hemp stalks.
Jim Lynch, 6 foot, 8 inches tall, standing besides some 9 foot tall hemp stalks.

The hemp field awaiting harvest, seen from standing on top of the combine.
The hemp field awaiting harvest, seen from standing on top of the combine.

The cylinder of the combine, freshly freed from tangled hemp stalks.
The cylinder of the combine, freshly freed from tangled hemp stalks.

The combine's \
The combine's "beater" halfway through the process of using a power reciprocating saw to cut free the tangles hemp stalks.

Jim Lynch's John Deere 6600 combine begins harvesting where John's MF 35 left off.
Jim Lynch's John Deere 6600 combine begins harvesting where John's MF 35 left off.

The header approaches the hemp crop
The header approaches the hemp crop

A view of the approaching combine.
A view of the approaching combine.

Looking up at the combine in action
Looking up at the combine in action

The combine comes closer...
The combine comes closer...

... and starts to pass by.
... and starts to pass by.

The cut seed heads falling into the auger and towards the mouth as the seeds start falling off.
The cut seed heads falling into the auger and towards the mouth as the seeds start falling off.

The chaff coming out the rear of the combine.
The chaff coming out the rear of the combine.

A close up of the chaff
A close up of the chaff

Dried male hemp plant stalks will wrap around any exposed moving shaft, axle, pulley, chain, or belt.
Dried male hemp plant stalks will wrap around any exposed moving shaft, axle, pulley, chain, or belt.

To protect the combine and save clean up time, a heavy piece of rubber is clamped on the frame....
To protect the combine and save clean up time, a heavy piece of rubber is clamped on the frame....

.... split pipes and a plastic bucket are taped over moving shafts, rotors, ....
.... split pipes and a plastic bucket are taped over moving shafts, rotors, ....

.... and axles.
.... and axles.

Still, the overly tall plants and the inability to raise the header any higher means too much stalk fibre is entering the cylinder and feeder chains, causing friction and eventually smoke emerging from the rear.....
Still, the overly tall plants and the inability to raise the header any higher means too much stalk fibre is entering the cylinder and feeder chains, causing friction and eventually smoke emerging from the rear.....

.... and more smoke
.... and more smoke

This is why there's a fire extinguisher, or two, within easy reach.
This is why there's a fire extinguisher, or two, within easy reach.

Very tall stalks couldn't be cut high enough, so the long stalk fibres got tangled between the auger and the mouth, bringing harvest to a temporary halt....
Very tall stalks couldn't be cut high enough, so the long stalk fibres got tangled between the auger and the mouth, bringing harvest to a temporary halt....

... and helping hands to the fore.
... and helping hands to the fore.

The view out the combine window of the hemp field.
The view out the combine window of the hemp field.

A day's harvest coming out the combine's screw auger into the grain trailer.
A day's harvest coming out the combine's screw auger into the grain trailer.

Freshly harvested hemp grain.
Freshly harvested hemp grain.