The popularity of hemp farming has exploded over the past few years, thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill – so we know there are many farmers transitioning fields to hemp for the first time, or they’re fairly new to the industry and looking to learn as much as possible. 

With that in mind, we thought it would be helpful to give you a few quick tips for growing the best possible hemp crop this season.

This is a quick list of our top suggestions for success – but if you’re like a more detailed guide to growing hemp, you can click the link or image to access our free How to Farm Hemp e-book.

10 Tips for Growing Hemp

1. Plan ahead and do your research before you buy. Do some careful planning before you order hemp seeds or starts. Your weather conditions, soil, and infrastructure will be different from other farmers, so your plan will be unique. Include a plan for your harvest, too. Last year, many farmers failed to consider how they were going to get their material out of the field and dry it, and they ended up losing money on their crops. Planning ahead will save you a lot of time and effort later in the season, so make sure to take all factors into consideration.

Think about your operation’s equipment, your available labor pool, regional weather differences, soil, water, and irrigation/pest control plans, before you make decisions about which varietials you’ll buy in which quantities. The more you plan ahead, the greater your chance of success will be at the end of the season.

2. Connect with local resources in your region. We always recommend connecting with your state or local hemp-growing resources for more information about what’s required in your area. Start with your state’s Department of Agriculture to get their advice and learn about networking opportunities and events that support your supply chain.

3. Create an irrigation plan that will help your plants thrive. Hemp is typically drought tolerant, but in many regions, you’ll get a better yield and higher quality if you plan to irrigate. Consider the irrigation equipment you’ll need before you buy your seeds and starts. 

4. Order your hemp seeds and starts. Once you’ve got a game plan based on your regional factors and infrastructure needs, it’s time to order. If you’re growing for the CBD market, we recommend buying feminized seeds, which predominantly produce female plants. Using feminized hemp seeds can vastly cut down on waste and reduce the amount of time you spend culling males out of your fields later in the season. 

5. Time the arrival of your order. If you order your starts early (January or February) you can often choose the specific day(s) when you want your plants to arrive, to coincide with your planting timeline. If you order hemp seeds, they will ship immediately after you order.  Remember to work backward from your target transplant timing and allow time to germinate seeds.

6. Store your hemp seeds properly. Moisture and light are your enemies when you’re storing your seeds, so plan to keep them in a cool, dark place. We’ve been hearing reports of people storing them in refrigerators or freezers, but we don’t recommend that long-term. While it’s best to plant your hemp seeds in the season following purchase, our hemp seeds can be stored for 3 to 5 years under good conditions.

7. Prepare for the arrival of your starts. If you order starts, they will arrive on a refrigerated tractor trailer truck. You’ll need a forklift or tractor to unload your plants. Depending on your location, your seedlings will have been in the truck for 5 to 30 hours before they arrive. Ideally, you’ll give them some water, and move them to a spot where they can get natural sunlight. If you’re not immediately able to get them into the ground, make sure you have a plan for watering during the waiting period. 

8. Germinate the smart way. If you choose to buy hemp seeds and germinate them yourself, we recommend growing them in a greenhouse environment. Plan for approximately 4 weeks (28 to 30 days) from sowing your hemp seeds to planting the starts in your field, depending on the size of your tray and the size of your root mass. Use a soil mix that is hospitable for hemp seedlings, instead of using soil from your field to propagate your starts. 

9. Don’t skip the hardening off process. Before you transplant your seedlings to the field, you’ll need to get them acclimatized to the harsher outside conditions. This acclimatization process is called hardening off, and you’ll need to plan for it. You can open up your greenhouse, or put your plants out during the daylight hours for a few days, before returning them to the greenhouse at night.

10. Bring in an outside expert to help you troubleshoot. We know that farmers like you are always going to have the best eyes on their crop, and they will be in tune with what’s happening in their field – but it never hurts to get another pair of eyes on your crop. We recommend bringing a third party (like an agronomist or a rep from your fertilizer company) to help you walk the field and identify bugs, disease, and other issues. 

If you have questions about how to successfully grow hemp in your geographical area, or you’d like help identifying third-party advisors who can help you, we’d like to assist! Contact us to set up a free call to discuss all your supply-chain needs.

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Since the reintroduction of hemp in the U.S. is so recent, there is not yet a national standard for certifying feminized hemp seeds. There are a handful of smaller certification programs that are beginning to address the industry’s concerns about hemp seed quality on a state-by-state basis, but currently the definition of “certified hemp seed” is new and vague. Very few hemp genetics companies specializing in high-cannabinoid, feminized strains have begun the process of obtaining any kind of certification. 

Because farmers can’t count on uniform, nationwide standards for hemp seed certification, they may end up purchasing poor-quality seeds – which can have disastrous consequences. Farmers who purchase seeds from questionable sources risk accidentally buying non-feminized seeds, having crops perform poorly in the field, or growing non-compliant crops that have to be destroyed. 

But there are organizations who are working together to establish industry-wide accountability by standardizing the quality of hemp genetics worldwide.

Oregon currently has some of the strongest testing protocols in the country for seed certification. High Grade Hemp Seed and iHEMPx, among others on the Certification Committee, have been integral in establishing the rules for certification hand-in-hand with the team at OSU.

Oregon State’s certification program offers a hemp seed certification that will give farmers peace of mind when they’re buying seeds, because they will have a guarantee that the seeds and starts being purchased are true to strain, with proven feminization and germination rates, and of the highest quality.

Matterhorn CBG is the first hemp strain under production by iHEMPx that is being certified under OSU’s new Oregon Seed Certification Service. Matterhorn seed produced by iHEMPx has received its Experimental Tag while in the process of being certified, and we look forward to soon receiving Full Certification and a “Blue Tag.

The Current Seed Certification Landscape

American seed certification programs across the country are governed by The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA), an organization dedicated to assisting in the identification, production, distribution, and promotion of certified classes of seed.

The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies sets minimum standards for genetic purity and identity, and the organization recommends minimum standards for seed quality for the various classes of certified seeds.

Now, with programs like Oregon State’s Seed Certification Service, hemp is being incorporated into the same certification process used by traditional seed producers.

Currently, the Oregon Seed Certification program certifies approximately 250,000 acres of seed crops across 50 different crop species on an annual basis – including hemp. Their testing process ensures varietal purity and seed quality through field inspections, laboratory evaluations, and record keeping. 

There are 2,500 traditional seed growers and 382 seed warehouses participating in OSU’s program.  iHEMPx is pursuing certification for all hemp strains under production, and currently has the only approved Seed Cleaning Warehouse for feminized hemp seed in Oregon.

The Oregon State Seed Certification program has its own standards (all of which are equal to or above required AOSCA standards) and Oregon State administers the testing and issues certification tags.

A Peek Behind the Scenes of the Certification Process

The Oregon State testing process is quite vigorous, and each field is assigned 2 to 3 inspectors from the field inspection group. Each field has to pass inspection, and there are requirements for greenhouse sanitation, isolation, and crop rotation to ensure that each seed lot is true to the variety. During iHEMPx’s current certification process, OSU is able to visit our farms and greenhouses at any time with no restrictions. 

Oregon State maintains the chain of custody of the seed sample from the warehouse and tests each seed lot for purity, feminization, and germination. They also fully inspect each operation to ensure that equipment, recordkeeping, and processes comply with the Federal Seed Act.

“Oregon is known for quality seed production and has leveraged that knowledge in the newly-established hemp seed certification process,” shared Rachel Hankins, a Seed Certification Specialist and Hemp Program Coordinator at Oregon Seed Certification Service. “Our standards are set higher than the national requirements to ensure that Oregon-certified seed is of the highest quality.”

A Peek Behind the Scenes of the Certification Process

Here at iHEMPx, we are proud to partner with Oregon State University to provide confidence and clarity for farmers in the midst of an onslaught of questionable genetics and inflated claims from seed suppliers. 

Oregon State has some of the strongest testing protocols in the country for seed certification, and their new program will provide much-needed protection for hemp farmers as they’re making choices about their 2020 growing season.

To connect with iHEMPx, or to inquire about Matterhorn CBG hemp seeds, visit www.ihempx.com or call #877-FARM-HEMP (327-6436). To learn more about Oregon State’s seed certification program, visit their website. 

About iHEMPx

iHEMPx serves the hemp industry as a trusted, vetted, and reliable supply chain partner, from seed to finished product. We exclusively produce and distribute High Grade Hemp Seed genetics, the most genetically superior seeds available, and provide support and education to help farmers turn those seeds into profitable crops.

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For more information on iHEMPx, or to inquire about the availability of Colorado seeds, starts, clones, and smokable flower call #877-FARM-HEMP (327-6436) or click here to contact our sales team.

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According to surveys, the global industrial hemp market is projected to grow to $26.6 billion by 2025, so upward trends for hemp are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Now that a year has passed since passage of the Farm Bill, iHEMPx wanted to give you a quick recap of the 2019 season, and share some helpful forecasts for the year ahead. 

Hemp Industry Recap for 2019

Growing consumer interest in CBD led to a huge jump in the quantity of hemp planted in the U.S. in 2019 – up from approximately 78,000 acres in 2018 to 285,000 acres last year.

Some farmers growing CBD were making upwards of $200,000 an acre in certain situations, but the average was lower per acre in 2019 and there was wide variance.  Compared to most traditional crops, farmers are still seeing a much higher premium growing hemp.

Hemp grown for fiber, building materials, and food was also profitable, but the returns for those harvests were closer to returns for traditional farming operations (around $2,000 to $3,000 an acre).

Cultivating hemp with the goal of cannabinoid extraction is still the market that farmers flock to when they’re looking to maximize profits. 

Major Challenges for Some Unprepared Hemp Farmers

Overall, the 2019 harvest was about as good as experts predicted – but there were a lot of farmers who had a difficult time. Some people weren’t able to get their material out of the ground, because they didn’t have harvesting implements and drying facilities ready. Others were plagued by weather issues.

The farmers who saw the greatest challenges were the ones who dove into hemp farming with blind optimism – the ones who came in with a “get rich quick” attitude and didn’t plan properly. These were the farmers who assumed they would have an easy sale for their harvest in 2019, because they didn’t think there would be enough hemp to meet worldwide demand.

At the end of the season, many of these overly optimistic farmers struggled to find buyers, because they hadn’t done any prior legwork and lacked industry connections as newcomers.

Unfortunately, there were quite a few hemp horror stories last year. But keep in mind that the people who are having the most difficult time right now are largely the ones who didn’t plan all the way through their harvest.

Overall, the 2019 harvest was positive for many farmers, but as with any newly-rediscovered crop, there were some growing pains.

The farmers who saw the greatest challenges were the ones who didn’t have adequate plans for harvest and drying. Unfortunately, this problem wasn’t solely the fault of farmers. Many people were promised solutions by harvesting and drying companies that never followed through on their promises, leaving crops in the ground far longer than desired.  Left with sub-optimal product, many of these farmers found it difficult to move their harvested material. 

There were also quite a few farmers who purchased genetics from disreputable companies after the rushed release of the USDA draft interim rules. They suffered the consequences when their seeds didn’t germinate or produced an overabundance of male plants.

It is not all doom and gloom in the industry, though. For every farmer who had problems, there were many who had successful crops and a highly profitable year. Even the majority of farmers who had issues say they ultimately came out profitable. Many of these farmers are learning from last season, and are planting again – sometimes with even more acreage than last year.

The 2020 Hemp Forecast

For 2020, experts are predicting that the growth of the hemp market will continue. 

Mike Leago, the founder and CEO of iHEMPx, also believes that we’re going to start seeing trends toward creating efficiencies, especially in the larger operations. 

“In 2020, I think we’re going to see some smaller farming operations start to question whether they want to stick with hemp farming,” Mike says. “We’re going to see more and more large operations that have the infrastructure, equipment, and knowledge to handle the challenging aspects of the season.”

“Farmers are also going to start hedging their bets when they choose what to plant – both to ensure themselves against bad weather, but also plan for shifts in the market,” Leago adds.

Mike recommends farmers explore new varieties like CBG and auto flower, to have more unique and desirable products as well as the ability to stagger harvest, optimize harvest/post production machinery, and get to market quickly.

The Future Is Bright for Hemp Farmers

Despite some of the challenges of 2019, there is no better time to get into hemp than today. Growing hemp can still be highly profitable, especially when you plan in advance. By planning in advance, you can set yourself up for greater success seasonally, with the right seed genetics planted at the right time.

iHEMPx is here to service the hemp industry by being a trusted, vetted, and reliable supply chain partner from seed to finished product. Whether you are trying to find buyers for your products and services, or you want to get into the industry for the first time and are looking for high-quality seeds, iHEMPx can be your partner as you plan for a profitable and successful 2020 harvest. 

Contact us to speak with one of our team members about how we can help you.

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CBG (cannabigerol) has caught the attention of major players in the scientific community, including the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health. In 2018, the NCCIH announced it was kicking off a major research initiative to look into the possible pain-relieving benefits of CBG.

So what is CBG, how is it different from CBD, and what should you know about this important cannabinoid?

Let’s dig into the details.

What Is the Difference Between CBD and CBG?

CBG isn’t found in large quantities in the cannabis plant, which makes it difficult to study, and there hasn’t been a lot of research about its efficacy. But it’s still important to understand how it fits into the larger cannabis picture.

Cannabigerol is commonly known as the precursor of all cannabinoids (including CBC, THC, and CBD), because all cannabis compounds actually start out as CBG. When cannabidiolic acid (CBGA), the inactive form of CBG, gets broken down, it becomes the molecule from which other cannabinoid compounds are created. 

Like CBD, cannabigerol is non-psychotropic, and is legal and safe to consume. 

However, CBG is present in very small quantities in the cannabis plant, which makes it harder and more expensive to produce. 

“It takes thousands of pounds of biomass to create small amounts of CBG isolate,” says James Rowland, CEO of Steve’s Goods, a Colorado company that produces CBG products. “Most hemp only contains minute percentages of CBG. If the CBG content of the same crop is only 1%, that means you need to extract 20 times the amount of biomass to get the same amount of CBG out.”

Our CBG Varietal

CBG will be entering the consumer market in 2020, making CBG-rich hemp varietals a great choice for farmers.

We recommend our boutique CBG varietal, Matterhorn, for its extractable and smokeable biomass. This varietal is known for its uniform shape plant vigor and yield, as well as its distinct and captivating scent. 

We suggest around 3,000 plants per acre (this is a very rough estimate). Matterhorn CBG seed from iHEMPx can be purchased for as little as $1.00 per seed (if purchasing 100,000 or more) and starts are only $1.99 with a minimum order of 10,000.

This cultivator shows Total THC compliance, even in trimmed smokable material – a serious advantage to farmers, now that the Farm Bill passed. 

About iHEMPx

iHEMPx serves the hemp industry as a trusted, vetted, and reliable supply chain partner, from seed to finished product. We exclusively produce and distribute HGH seeds, the most genetically superior seeds available, and provide support and education to help farmers turn those seeds into profitable crops.

For more information on IHE, or to inquire about the availability of Colorado seeds, starts, clones, and smokable flower call #877-FARM-HEMP (327-6436) or click here to contact our sales team.

Sources:

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AT-19-009.html

https://www.cannapio.com/en/blog/2635-what-is-cbga

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/uk-supplier-launches-revolutionary-new-cbg-the-stem-cell-of-cbd-2019-10-07?mod=mw_quote_news

https://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/03/cannabigerol-cbg-is-a-minor-cannabinoid-with-major-impact/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janellelassalle/2019/09/11/why-cbg-cannabigerol-expensive-produce/#619a294b2f77

https://www.wikileaf.com/thestash/cbga/

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Today, many farmers are concerned that hemp may be more challenging to grow successfully than in years past. The reason for concern lies in the recently released USDA interim draft rules. The main areas of concern emerging right now are the change in sampling and testing protocols, as well as Total THC requirements. 

While we may have opted to change the language of some of these regulations, they did not come as a huge surprise. Being based in Colorado, iHEMPx has always dealt with Total THC testing requirements with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. While it’s been more loosely regulated than the new rules propose, testing has been happening for years in Colorado, and our testing has taken into account Total THC levels, not just Delta 9 THC. 

Although this new rule will make it a little more challenging for farmers to stay in compliance, it should surprise no one that regulators found it necessary to include more stringent new guidelines. 

It would have been a big win for the industry, and for farmers across the US, if the rules had remained the same this season. Farmers would have continued to feel confident in growing compliant hemp, and in their ability to find success with each crop. However, it was naive to think a loose regulatory environment could have lasted much longer. Taking into account only Delta 9 THC would have left the door wide open for problems on the consumer level. Hemp crops testing under 0.3% Delta 9 THC could still have as much as 10%+ THCa, which would likely cause psychoactive effects in consumers. So although this new rule will make it a little more challenging for farmers to stay in compliance, it should surprise no one that regulators found it necessary to include more stringent new guidelines. 

So what can farmers do to be successful in 2020?

1. Know what genetics you’re using going into this next year. Our genetics have been bred in a Total THC compliance state since 2014. Options do exist for farmers to have success but selecting the right genetics partner when sourcing seeds and starts is crucial. 

2. Explore the potential for CBG crops for 2020. Our new CBG varieties are showing Total THC compliance even after flower is trimmed. 

3. Have a working plan to stay within compliance. Ensure you have the know-how and resources to do your own testing throughout the season to position yourself for the appropriate harvest window to remain within compliance. 

4. Submit your comments and concerns directly to the USDA. The public comment period is now open and will remain open through December 30th, 2019. You can submit your comments at the following link: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=AMS_FRDOC_0001-1919. 

Lastly, don’t get discouraged! 

This industry is going to continue to grow, and along with that comes growing pains. We are firm believers in “where there’s a will, there’s a way” and we feel no differently now. 

Both iHEMPx and High Grade Hemp Seed are here to help farmers find success in this industry. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to see how we can advise your farming efforts. We all need to work together to find smart solutions that can work not only for large corporations, but for small companies and family farms as well.

If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it is the long term opportunity of hemp. This plant is here to stay as an agricultural crop – and the future will be better for it. The team here at iHEMPx couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it all. 

Mike Leago, CEO & the iHEMPx Team

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