WHAT DO YOU NEED TO START GROWING HIGH CBD HEMP?

Now that it’s finally legal to grow hemp in the U.S., many farmers are wondering if it’s worth their time to get into this versatile plant, and exactly what they need to know and do before planting their first crop.

For the modern-day farmer, hemp has a lot to recommend it. It’s useful for a wide variety of products, demand is currently high and getting higher, and it’s a crop that does well in different types of soils, climates, and terrains, excepting desert and high mountain.

However, there are a few pitfalls to growing industrial hemp, particularly if you are trying to grow the kind with a high CBD content, to be harvested for that specific need. There are many government regulations about the sale of hemp and the amount of THC it can legally have. So while the plant itself is quite hardy and quick-growing, that itself is not enough to guarantee a successful high CBD crop.

Before you take the plunge:

1. To harvest a truly profitable crop, you’ll need a minimum of 50 acres or so.
2. Hemp grows best in warm weather and in soil with good drainage.
3. Experienced growers recommend having your soil tested before deciding to plant. It’s important to test for elemental sulfur, potassium sulfate and rock phosphate levels. If they are too high, they will need abating before planting the seeds to ensure a successful harvest. The best time to do the soil tests are early spring or late fall.
4. You’ll need seeds that are certified to produce plants with a lower THC content. However, these seeds are not always easy to find because the demand for them is outstripping the supply in many states. And there can be issues with transporting the seeds across state lines.
5. Established hemp plants are quite drought tolerant, however expect to have to water the seedlings if the soil becomes dry, until they become established at around six weeks old.
6. You will need a license from your state to grow hemp (and of course that will come with a licensing fee) and will likely be subject to a criminal background check.

Hemp Depot strongly recommends that farmers do their due diligence before trying to get a piece of this billion dollar market! Because the industrial and CBD hemp market is in such flux, it’s important to always stay on top of the current regulations for your state. Thorough research and careful planning are the farmer’s best tools for a successful business with hemp. Find out how Hemp Farmers are Making a Killing on the Hemp Industry.