Industrial Hemp

Industrial hemp is Cannabis sativa that is cultivated for fiber, seed, and flower while having less than 0.3 percent THC. Industrial hemp has traditionally been divided into three main categories: fiber, grain and high-cannabinoid producing, such as high-CBD hemp varieties.

• Industrial hemp is Cannabis sativa that is cultivated for fiber, seed, and flower while having less than 0.3 percent THC.
• Permits are needed to grow industrial hemp in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is administering permits. Refer to their site for updates on the regulatory process.
• In 2022 applications for a Hemp growing or processing permit were $150.00 for a new permit and $50.00 for a renewal. This includes all legal hemp parts and products (e.g. growing buds for CBD extraction, grain for oil and seedcake, stalks for fiber products, etc.)

Industrial hemp and marijuana are different cultivars bred from the same species, Cannabis sativa . While biologically related, the plant has been bred for different purposes, and the traits exhibited in cultivars grown for industrial hemp and marijuana are distinct. Industrial hemp is grown for its fiber, seeds, and non-psychoactive plant compounds, while marijuana cultivars are grown for high levels of THC. Industrial hemp is a plant with many uses, including food, fiber, fuel, industrial, and personal care products. The following is a partial list of potential uses of industrial hemp:

Fibers

• Textiles: clothing, shoes
• Industrial textiles: rope, nets, carpet, tarps
• Industrial products: paper, building materials

Leaves

• Farm and landscaping: mulch, composting, and animal bedding

Hemp Oil (from pressed seeds, not to confused with "CBD oil")

• Foods: oil, food supplement; birdseed
• Personal care: soap, beauty products, moisturizer

Seeds

• Seed cake
• Protein flour
• Animal feed (currently illegal)

Buds and Floral Leaves

• "CBD" oils, creams, gummies, etc. containing cannabinoids (CBD), terpenes, and other related compounds to enhance health and well-being. May not exceed 0.3% THC in the plant standing in the field or in any finished product.
• Smokable buds

Hemp is best adapted to well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Hemp does not grow well on wet soils or those with a heavy clay content. Hemp is sensitive to soil crusting and soil compaction, which can occur on these soils. Ideally, hemp should be planted in May to early June in most areas of Pennsylvania. Some Canadian varieties are short season and could be planted through mid-to-late June and still mature before frost. Hemp is a short-day plant and will begin to mature when day length approaches 12 hours or less of sunlight.

Grain Production

Hemp grown for grain is generally medium to shorter varieties. Varieties that have low THC levels must be selected. In Pennsylvania and federally, the level of THC in industrial hemp must be under 0.3 percent. Most industrial hemp seed sources have tested their varieties to meet this requirement. Varieties come in various heights, including those that are medium height (6-7 feet tall), semi-dwarf (4-5 feet tall), and dwarf (3-4 feet tall). In the United States, medium to taller varieties are preferred because there are no herbicides labeled for hemp.

Hemp for grain can be planted in rows, like corn, or with a grain drill, like a small grain. Because there are no herbicides currently labeled for use on hemp, hemp grown in rows will require some mechanical weed control. Hemp can also be grown in a tilled seedbed similar to that prepared for forage crop establishment: firm, level, and relatively fine. It can also be established with no-till methods using burndown herbicides to control existing weeds. Planting rates for industrial hemp depends on the variety, but in general rates from 25 to 35 pounds per acre are recommended. Planting depth should be ½ to ¾ inch. A dense, drilled stand should provide some control of weeds.

For seed production, hemp is harvested when seeds begin to shatter. The plants will still be green. At this time about 70 percent of the seeds will be ripe and the seed moisture is often about 22-30 percent. If harvesting is delayed, then grain losses can increase from shattering, bird damage, and grain quality. There is also a greater problem with the fiber in the stalks wrapping in the combine. Avoiding taller varieties can help reduce the amount of material going through the combine.

Grain must be dried to about 15 percent moisture soon after harvest to prevent molding. This is a seed with high oil content, so monitor bins and other storage areas for heating.

Fiber Production

For fiber production, planting is best done in drilled stands at seeding rates of 35-50 pounds per acre, which should result in stands of around 15 plants per square foot. The taller fiber hemp varieties provide more competition with weeds than the shorter grain types. Fertility recommendations are slightly different for hemp grown for fiber compared to grain. At optimum phosphorus and potassium soil test levels, a recommendation would be 150 pounds of nitrogen, 20 pounds of phosphate (P2O5), and 20 pounds of potash (K2O). There is no grain development when producing hemp fiber and the nutrients in the leaves are recycled to the soil.

Hemp for fiber is generally harvested when female plants are between early bloom and seed set depending on the fiber quality. After the hemp is cut it traditionally must undergo a process called retting. This helps break the bonds between the two different types of fibers in the hemp plant: the bast (the outer long fibers) and the hurds (inner short fibers). Field retting is the most common process and involves leaving the crop in the field for up to five weeks to allow a field decomposition process to occur. Windrows are raked two or three times before harvest to dry and remove leaf materials. Then the crop is dried and baled in round or square bales and hauled to a storage or processing facility. From there the hemp is processed and separated into the bast and hurds for further processing into finished products. Individual processors may have different harvest procedures and requirements for biomass quality.

CBD Production

Hemp grown for CBD or other phytochemical production is generally medium height (4'-6') and bush like. Most varieties are sourced from genetics companies who are breeding for low THC and high percentages of CBD. CBD hemp can be transplanted with clones, cuttings taken from female plants and rooted out, seed grown transplants, or direct seeded. Care must be taken to rogue out any male plants that may develop. Planting and fertility programs differ from fiber and grain hemp. Most CBD hemp is planted on black plastic with drip tape, much like fresh market vegetables. Some growers will plant on raised beds without plastic, however, weed management will be more challenging. Plant populations are 1500-2000 plants per acre, with the most common being 1750 plants per acre. Plant spacing ranges from 4' to 6' apart. CBD hemp can also be grown in containers in greenhouses or high tunnels. At optimum P and K soil test levels a recommendation would be 50-100 pounds of N, 60 pounds of P2O5, and 300 pounds of K2O. 50% of this is applied preplant and then the rest applied with water soluble fertilizers twice weekly.

Hemp for CBD is allowed to fully flower and mature before harvesting, but pollination and seed set should be avoided. Full plants can be harvested or just the flowering portions. These plant parts must be dried with low heat and humidity then either sent to an extraction facility for CBD extraction or whole flowers can be sold.

Fertilizer requirements are best determined by a soil test and understanding the needs of the type of hemp being grown. The Agricultural Analytical Services Lab at Penn State has developed fertilizer recommendations for hemp. For instance, in a soil with optimum levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), recommendations for a crop with a 1,500-pound fiber yield potential would be 150 pounds of nitrogen (N), 30 pounds of phosphate (P2O5), and 20 pounds of potash (K2O). The nutrient needs of a grain crop and a CBD crop will be somewhat higher.

You should carefully consider how to manage risk on your farm. First, you should insure your facilities and equipment. This may be accomplished by consulting your insurance agent or broker. It is especially important to have adequate levels of property, vehicle, and liability insurance. You will also need workers' compensation insurance if you have any employees. You may also want to consider your needs for life and health insurance and if you need coverage for business interruption or employee dishonesty. For more on agricultural business insurance, see Agricultural Business Insurance .

Crop insurance programs for industrial hemp are under development. Check with your local Farm Services Agency or crop insurance agent for updates to federal programs and to learn about options for private policies.

Other important risk management considerations for industrial hemp are distance to market and market access. Make sure you know if there is demand for your crop within a reasonable distance of your farming operation. Transportation costs can rapidly reduce the profitability of growing any crop. Contracting with industrial hemp processors prior to planting would be a good way to make sure that you have a destination for your crop after harvest.

A. Decide what type of hemp: grain, seed, dual purpose or CBD? Then apply for a PDA permit, and obtain a soil test kit from your county's Penn State Extension office

Review the requirements for each cropping system to help you make an informed choice about growing hemp.

A. Most farmers who already grow other grains such as corn, soybeans, or wheat will already have access to most of the equipment needed. A chisel/disk or other tillage equipment, planter or grain drill, and a conventional combine are recommended. A custom farm machinery operator may by contracted to do some of these activities for landowners. Some growers are controlling weeds in-season with cultivation or cover crops, so consider equipment needed for these approaches as well. Bins or other storage with forced air will also be necessary to avoid heating and spoilage immediately after harvest.

A. Many farmers who produce hay are already well-equipped for hemp fiber production. A chisel/disk or other tillage equipment, planter or grain drill, sickle bar or discbine, tedder, rake, and baler are recommended.

A. You will need to consider tractor, plow, plastic layer, drip irrigation, fertigation system, a transplanter and roughly 1750 plants per acre. Be sure to investigate equipment availability early, as many equipment providers maintain only a few units in stock.