With the word coming down the pike last year about the production of hemp to become legal again in the United States, the struggling American hemp farmers felt as if they just received a stay of execution. 

This means that they will not have to nickel and dime themselves by dedicating their exclusive land to traditional crops like wheat and corn. They might also be able to stay in the agriculture field for longer without having to deal with pasture crops.

Cannabis supporters have been preaching from the past few decades about the potentials of industrial hemp in saving the economy of the country. Moreover, this depends on whether the country is willing to accept hemp as a sustainable alternative to substances like cotton, fossil fuels, and cotton.

Mitch McConnel, a Senate Majority leader, and a federal lawmaker, fought against legalizing cannabis since the 1980s and saw the hemp potential first hand while exploring various facilities involved with the pilot program in Kentucky, his home state. Noticing the benefits that hemp could provide the average American farmers and consumers, McConnel took charge of the pressing issue on Capitol Hill during the last year. McConnel was determined to ensure that industrial hemp would become one of the plows and pick collection for the farming community. And he got successful in his plan. 

So, now that the production of hemp is legal under the 2018 Farm bill, more and more jurisdictions in the countries are accepting it. As of now, 34 states of the United States have made the production of hemp legal for the farmers since the legislation is signed into law by President Trump.

So, this means that the country is happily accepting the decision to hold down the prohibition of hemp production. 

Although the hemp market is predicted to cross the $26 billion mark within the upcoming six years, farmers are not living the high life. There are many challenges and uncertainties in the agricultural sector that are to be sorted off before the crop could take off just like the supporters have predicted it to. However, one thing that is certain in the hemp industry is that only the strong or at least those with better resources will survive. Here are some of the most prevalent issues that hemp farmers have been facing since the crop was legalized.

Hemp Production Generates Poor First Year Yield

The farmers of industrial hemp have accepted this decision of legalizing hemp and regarded this as a sweet spot. But, the poor first-year yields of hemp production have made it difficult for the farmers to be profitable. Due to the delayed planting schedule and heavy rainfall, there is a situation where the initial harvesting of the hemp is looking to be miserable. And, this will certainly make a huge impact on the profits. 

The Indiana hemp farmers stated that the plants didn’t grow much taller. Moreover, they never canopied the fields, and this has also led to weed problems for the crop. 

Reports might have shown that the production of hemp may bring between $40,000 to $50,000 per acre, in comparison to corn, which is just generating $1000 per acre; the farmers still do not believe that the first harvest of the hemp will bring in any profit for them. 

Hemp Farming is mostly done with Hands

Hemp farming may bring big money into the farming community, but for this, they will have to put a huge effort into it. Hemp farming is a laborious task, especially when the farmers are not equipped with the necessary equipment to complete the process from seeding to harvesting efficiently. Although some of the hemp farmers may have been able to use modern equipment and machinery to farm hemp, others may have to invest thousands of dollars to purchase new retrofits and equipment. Moreover, as only certain types of plants need to be seeded into the ground, a lot of work needs to be done with the hands by the farmers for the seedling. Someone will have to it do this work, however dirty it may be. 

Back during the time of original Rockstar cropping in the United States, slaves used to work in the hemp fields only because no one, especially white men, wanted to do anything related to it. The book “A history if the Hemp Industry in Kentucky” clearly indicated that slavery only flourished in the Bluegrass State because of Hemp. Let’s hope that things go the other way around this time.

Seeds of Hemp being Sold for CBD rich Plants is a Rip-off

There is a shortage of hemp seeds that can be used for producing high CBD yield plants. Many of the hemp farmers who have just started hemp businesses are focusing on capitalizing on the emerging case of CBD. But, for this, any old hemp will not solve the purpose. Farmers interested in producing hemp for selling it to the CBD processors will require only female plants. Many of the hemp farmers are getting ripped off due to the fact that hemp seeds they purchased recently are male plants of hemp. For the farmers who are expecting to sell their plants for CBD, these plants are completely worthless. Now, they won’t be able to sell their crops to the CBD processors, resulting in huge losses. 

However, analysts have predicted that by the year 2023, the industrial hemp market could be worth $22 billion.

Thieves are stealing Hemp mistaking it as Marijuana

As marijuana and hemp are similar in odor and appearance, thieves have been mistaking it into marijuana and sneaking into the hemp fields and stealing the crops with enthusiasm. Many farmers in New York have complained about the lost crop because the pot seeking thieves have been stealing it every night.

Apparently, thieves have been mistakenly stealing hemp plants, and the problem is worsening with time, as reported by the hemp farmers. The stealing of hemp started with 20 plants and then slowly escalated to 100 plants. Moreover, in the beginning, such incidents happened just once a week, but it has now escalated to every night. These plants are completely useless to them, and they can smoke as much as they can without getting the ‘high’ they are looking for. 

The farmers also fear that this significant loss of crops even before reaching the harvesting time could badly cripple them before they even start. The problem of theft is forcing the farmers to either assemble an independent team or invest in increased security to keep a look at their crop.

A farmer in New York reported that he is in big problem as he is sleep deprived because of spending countless nights watching out for his property. He said his family had spent many nights for the same reason. 

Along with this, the hemp farmers are facing challenges with crop insurance, banking, and a shortage of sufficient pesticides and herbicides. In other words, it will be some time before the hemp production can get back to normal in the United States, and the farmers can enjoy farming without any issues. Moreover, considering the duration for which the crop was out of circulation, the country may never see a rise in the hemp production like expected.

Hemp is undoubtedly one of the most durable fibers available, but its production has been discouraged (and banned) because of its close resemblance to marijuana (also commonly known as the pot). The truth is that its chemical is used as a narcotic. The rest of the components of hemp are very useful and are being used in several ways in various industries.

Hemp fiber made from the hemp plant is way better than other alternatives in many ways. Some people tend to confuse it with other materials, but in reality, fiber from the Cannabis plant is being used for 10,000 years. Hemp clothes dated from 8000BC are proven to exist.

The plant named Cannabis sativa (aka hemp) is being employed in a number of industrial uses. Efforts are underway to legalize its mass production because of its immense benefits.

Reasons That Make Hemp Fiber Better:

1. Protection of the wearer:

Since these fibers are made from a plant, they protect the wearer from water and sun. It does not absorb water so you can be safe from any spilling, and alongside it absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, keeping the wearer safe. So, hemp fiber can save you from the scorching sun and pouring rain.

2. Durability and strength:

Fibers made from hemp are durable and reliable; also, at the same time, they are also very lightweight and comfortably breathable. Strength combined with lightweight material makes it suitable for use in a variety of fabrics.

After spinning, the material becomes coarse and slightly thick, which makes it suitable for a number of industrial uses. For use as a fabric, it is spun in such a way that it becomes mold resistant and very able to withstand damage or tearing down.

3. Sustainable material:

Talking in terms of sustainability, hemp is a perfect choice for the environment too. It not only absorbs more CO₂ but also produces more oxygen. There are no waste materials, and every part of this crop can be recycled, so this is a very sustainable choice.

4. Organic crop:

Growing hemp plants puts a lesser strain on the ecosystem. It does not require fertilizers or pesticides for growth and turns out to be a fully organic crop. A full harvest of hemp needs half water than that required by the cotton crop. There are no by-products as all components of hemp can be used for industrial purposes.

Additionally, the crop can be harvested roughly three times in a year, because hemp gets ready much quicker (in roughly 3 to 4 months), thus causing lesser strain on land and environment. Once the crop has been harvested, the land can be immediately used for growing the next crop of hemp without needing an in-between break.

The growing space requirement is also quite low, so it can be easily grown in compact spaces while increasing the yield. So, the farmers can have a good yield throughout the year, with up to 3 harvests of hemp n a calendar year.

5. Range of industrial uses:

The use of hemp is not limited to fiber only; rather, it is being used in industrial production of a number of practical uses like shoes, insulation, paper, ropes, and even biofuel. Since 2000 years, hemp is being used for paper production, thus saving countless trees.

6. Withstands wear and tear:

Strength is one of the most significant plus points of Cannabis sativa. It is sturdier than materials like wool or cotton. So, fibers manufactured from hemp are able to withstand wear and tear a lot better.

7. Pairing up with others

Another significant advantage of hemp is that it can be used in combination with other fiber materials. So, combining it with other materials in proportionate amounts will result in the right qualities that the manufacturers are seeking.

8. Profitable produce

Despite being ecologically feasible, the production of hemp is economically viable too. Farmers and producers can earn a good share of profits from this crop. As mentioned earlier, it cuts down other expenses like water and pesticides, making it less of a hassle to grow it. The soil also improves with each harvest, allowing a good crop in next season.

There are many other advantages of using hemp fiber. It is a win-win situation for everyone; right from the grower to the wearer, everyone benefits from using hemp as a fiber.

References

Clarke, R. C., & Merlin, M. D. (2013). Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany. California: University of California Press.

Hemp Business Journal. (2020). The U.S. Hemp Industry grows to $820mm in sales in 2017. Retrieved from Hemp Biz Journal: https://www.hempbizjournal.com/size-of-us-hemp-industry-2017/

Hemp Gazette. (2020). How Hemp Fibre Is Produced. Retrieved from Hemp Gazette: https://hempgazette.com/industrial-hemp/hemp-fiber-production/

Hemp News. (2020). Why should farmers grow hemp? Retrieved from CRRH Hemp News: http://www.crrh.org/cannabis

Musio, S., Müssig, J., & Amaducci, S. (2018, November 23). Optimizing Hemp Fiber Production for High Performance Composite Applications. Retrieved from Frontiers In: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2018.01702/full

Recreator. (2017, July 12). Hemp 101: A Traditional Method of Hemp Textile Production. Retrieved from Recreator: https://recreator.org/blogs/hemp-101/hemp-101-a-traditional-method-of-hemp-textile-production

The passing of the 2018 Farm Bill now classifies hemp as a legal substance. Because of this, a lot of producers were presented with a massive window of opportunities to cultivate Industrial hemp. Under the Act, hemp is deemed industrial if the concentration of its tetrahydrocannabinol or THC has a dry weight of less than 0.3%.

Legally, this separates hemp from its cousin marijuana, which is more intoxicating. Nonetheless, there’s still a fine line in the distinction between these two types of cannabis. And this is a concern among hemp breeders who want to make sure that they’re following the law.

As much as possible, hemp growers want to distance themselves from THC. What they’re after is to cultivate plants that mainly produce CBD or cannabidiol. CBD is a non-psychoactive substance that offers calming properties and plenty of other health benefits. Because of this, they are keen to understand and learn the genetic foundation of CBD production. 

The Importance Of Genetic Testing

For anyone looking to breed premium varieties and lines of hemp, genetic testing of the utmost importance. The molecular markers treatment in numerous field produce has advanced the process of breeding dramatically. Hemp growers can also apply this together with database genotyping and DNA fingerprinting in the breeding and production of the cannabis plant. 

Female plants can be easily distinguished during the growth’s early stages with the help of a DNA marker. This tool can help both breeders and growers massively. They can extract the DNA directly from the leaf tissue or seed of hemp. Then, to determine the male to female ratio, PCR is conducted on the extracted DNA. And the great thing about it is that the entire process can yield results within 72 hours.  

These genetic markers are associate with THC content and other desirable traits of the plant. Hence, hemp growers can utilize the DNA analyses for screening seedlings for desirable properties. This means that they don’t have to wait for the plants to grow into adults, which can take months. 

Is Genetic Engineering The Solution?

Genetic engineering may very well provide the industry with effective alternatives. There are already some biotechnology companies and researchers looking for ways on how to use genetically-enhanced microorganisms spitting out THC, as a replacement to cannabis plants. Meanwhile, some are striving to modify the cannabis plant’s chemical synthesis through the genetic alteration of its cells to produce the molecules they desire to boost the yield.

Regardless, the goal remains the same, and that’s to produce a more efficient, reliable, and affordable CBD in comparison to the traditional way of cultivating the plant. Additionally, microbial synthesis offers further benefits such as the capability of mass-producing rare CBD, which are typically present in plants in trace amounts only. 

Final Words

Public research about the development of hemp molecular markers has commenced. The study will provide breeders with an extremely cost-effective solution. And in no time, this will be readily available to assist hemp growers. 

Nevertheless, it’s still a waiting game for the industry before the data becomes available to the public. But molecular tools are something that private growers need as soon as possible. For cases like this, interested parties can develop molecular markers quickly by utilizing their germplasm. 

One of the biggest benefits of this method is that it can increase the effectiveness of the data since it will be developed from a particular germplasm, as well as for utilization in the same materials. Thanks to the improvements in sequencing, projects like these could be arranged immediately and cost-effectively.