In 2018, the Canadian government passed the Cannabis Act, which legalized the production of all cannabis plants within the country. In addition to marijuana, this act legalized the production of industrial hemp, a cannabis variety that contains low levels of THC.
Canadian farmers are generally pleased with this change. Hemp plants are fairly easy to grow and can also be quite profitable to produce. However, because the plant only recently became legal, Canadian farmers are still learning a lot about the cultivation process.
This has led to a series of trial and error. But after two years of growing hemp seed in Canada, a lot of knowledge and insight has been gained.
And many mistakes have been made as well. Which new farmers can now learn from. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common errors made by hemp farmers who are just starting out.
Top 8 Errors Made by Canadian Farmers Who Are New to Growing Hemp
First time growing hemp seed in Canada? Here are the top mistakes to avoid:
- Not planting an approved cultivar. Not all hemp cultivars are legal to grow in Canada. In fact, the Canadian government maintains a list of approved varieties.
- Not taking the climate into consideration for seed selection. Certain varieties of hemp seed grow better in Canada’s climate. These varieties usually have shorter growing cycles that prevents them from being endangered by winter frost.
- Not obtaining necessary documentation for imported seed. Seed that’s been imported internationally must be accompanied by verifying documents such as a Certificate of Analysis.
- Forgetting to make a plan for hand weeding. Most hemp farmers do the weeding by hand as an alternative to pesticide use. This keeps hemp products safe for human and animal consumption. However, it does require a considerable amount of time and labor.
- Not securing a relationship with a processor early on. It’s highly recommended to find a processor before you begin planting. That way, you don’t end up with a huge harvest that you can’t sell.
- Not reading COAs. This is extremely important if you plan to have your hemp used for CBD extraction. You need seeds that will produce plants with high CBD content.
- Buying poor quality seed. Just because you’re buying a legal cultivar of seed doesn’t mean that it’s high quality. CBD Seed Co. sells seed that’s both approved and high quality. We take our seed breeding very seriously.
- Not submitting information to the Minister. Depending on your operations, you may need to submit certain reports and/or documents to the Minister. This includes a planting report that must be filed within 30 days of sowing seeds in the ground.
Where Can I Legally Buy Hemp Seed in Canada?
In Canada, hemp seed can be purchased from any licenced supplier. If you buy seed from another country, you may need additional documentation that proves that it’s compliant with Canada law. CBD Seed Co. is proud to be one of Canada’s top vendors for high CBD hemp seed and clones.
Get Ready for the Upcoming Growing Season
Place your order with CBD Seed Co. today! Call our office to learn more about the services available for your Canada hemp farm.