Best Practices for Growing Industrial Hemp
Scale a new crop like Industrial Hemp by leveraging much of the same equipment and techniques used to grow vegetables, hay or grain crops; in a different way.
"What occupation is paid once a year, gambles on weather, is treated like a criminal and has about thirty tries to get it right?...
a Hemp Farmer."
Rich Becks, NOCO 4
Evaluating Industrial Hemp Genetics
How do i choose the right hemp strain?
If you are in this business to farm cannabis resins you need to start with the right genetics. The key is to find a breeder you can trust and one who stands behind their product with the consulting, education and training necessary to grow high performance hemp genetics and remain compliant with Industrial Hemp regulations in your state.
A high-performance hemp cultivar can be successfully grown if you understand the the genetic capability of the strain and how to farm your new crop. Look for a CBD to THC ratio of 30:1 to 40:1 as the sweet spot for Industrial Hemp.
A high-performance hemp cultivar can be successfully grown if you understand the the genetic capability of the strain and how to farm your new crop. Look for a CBD to THC ratio of 30:1 to 40:1 as the sweet spot for Industrial Hemp.
Tested CBD:THC Ratio |
CBD % at 0.3 % THC |
25:1 |
7.5 |
30:1 |
9.0 |
35:1 |
10.5 |
40:1 |
12.0 |
50:1 |
15.0 |
What are the Best strains for my region?
Our strains are growing from "Columbia to Canada" because we cross our foundation strains with Sativa and Indica varieties to bring out climate attributes that work well for a particular region. Our Indica leaning strains are very frost hardy and can take a lot of wind which works well in northern climates with shorter growing seasons. Our Sativa leaning strains are more tropical and thrive in hot humid climates. By carefully breeding the two types and hand selecting for weather hardiness we dial in the best traits of both foundation strains.
How can i maximize CBD yield?
After choosing a strain bred for your region the next most important factor is the growing environment. Resin Hemp plants are NOT weeds, they need fertile, well drained soil and plenty of water while they get established. We like to see a soil pH of 6.45 to 7.0 although the plant will tolerate more acidic and alkaline conditions. You will probably need to amend your soil or treat your water supply. See Plant Nutrition to learn more.
Choosing A Hemp Farming Consultant
How do i choose an industrial hemp consultant ?
The "Green Rush" has spawned hundreds of consultants emerging from basement marijuana grows representing themselves as "Hemp Consultants". While they may have great skill growing "killer weed" they often lack the necessary farming and business skills needed to compete in this fast moving, increasingly competitive business. Look for a consultant who has grown hemp at scale: over 10 acres and risked their own money. The economics of hemp are very dependent on growing practices such as raised beds, field of green, or no-till and each method has many variables to consider that took real farmers many years to perfect. There is, however, a cannabis knowledge gap that even the most skilled farmer needs to fill so find the education, training and consulting that matches your situation. You need both farming and cannabis growing skills demonstrated at scale to be sure you have the right consultant working for you.
How do I know i have everything i need to succeed?
First you need to clarify what business you want to be in: Business -to-Business (B2B) or Business-to-Consumer (B2C). What channel of distribution do you plan to focus on? Do you know the operating margins of that channel? Do you bring something unique to the market like Intellectual Property or a special skill your competitors lack? Once you have chosen a Business Model you need to do a Gap Analysis of what you have vs. what you need. Look for a consultant with years (not months) of technical and business consulting experience with clients of the size you want to be.
How profitable is this business?
Industrial Hemp is the fastest growing, most profitable segment in agriculture today and everybody want in. From the Pennsylvania Amish to the Utah Mormons, to Big Tobacco, Big Alcohol, Big Pharma and anyone with a piece of land and water that was, or ever wanted to be a farmer is looking to get in. It is getting crowded and the margins are sinking fast. You do not have time to experiment and figure this out on the job. Millions are being invested and lost while everyone is scrambling for market share. Find a consultant you are comfortable with and get the training you need before committing serious money to this industry. You are not too late to do it right. But you are still early enough to lose a lot.
Field Hemp
No-Till High CBD Hemp Field Trials
Our field hemp is grown on farmland along the banks of the Piedra River. We drip and flood irrigate river water originating from snow melt high in the Rockies, guaranteeing no herbicide or pesticide run-off from upstream conventional farms or industrial parks. As part of our commitment to regenerative farming, we use techniques such as no-till and cover cropping to preserve the land and restore vital nutrients to the soil.
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Greenhouse Hemp
Greenhouse Research of Advanced High-CBD Genetics
Even in the sometimes harsh climate of Southwest Colorado, we are able to grow hemp year round in our two passive solar greenhouses. The design of our "Rockhouse" is based on an ancient Chinese design requiring little to no additional heat to grow plants in extremely cold weather. We also incorporate aquaponics into our hemp cultivation by irrigating our plants with nutrient-rich water from our tilapia tanks.
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