Hemp is an exceptionally useful crop, offering food, fuel and fiber alongside advanced industrial products. Thanks to its eco-friendly agronomical and pharmaceutical properties, hemp has emerged as a multifunctional alternative for conventional crops as food, fuel and fibre (such as cotton timber and jute).
Hemp’s rapid growth rate makes it ideal for use as a break cropping before planting wheat or soybeans, providing essential sources of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus as well as helping prevent erosion by retaining water in its leaves and stems – as well as healing damaged soil quickly while other crops take more time to regrow back.
Hemp seeds are packed with essential nutrition. Packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and an ideal balance of omega-6 to omega-3 ratios, as well as plenty of other important vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, folate, protein calcium magnesium phosphorus iron etc. Hemp seeds make an excellent addition to a nutritious diet as they have been found to lower blood pressure by increasing levels of nitric oxide which dilates blood vessels thus decreasing chances of atherosclerosis coronary artery disease or other cardiovascular issues.
Harvesting hemp for fiber production typically occurs about 8″ after early bloom and seed set when its lower leaves begin to yellow, when cut in swaths or windrows and baled at around 12% moisture content. Once transported to a facility where bast fibers are separated from their woody core and used to weave textiles such as linen or canvas textiles. Hemp farming makes an attractive option for farm families as it’s non-labor intensive and adaptable to various climates, soil types and management practices.
Hemp holds enormous potential as a food product. It contains essential fatty acids which have been shown to support brain health, along with protein that aids muscle growth. Furthermore, hemp provides vitamins A, B and D and iron and potassium–all valuable nutritional assets for good health.
Recently, numerous organizations across the nation have become engaged with hemp research with great enthusiasm, including the University of Kentucky, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Kentucky Hemp Industry Council – formed in 2004 specifically to foster its growth within Kentucky. Of these institutions, University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences stands out as being a premier hub of hemp research within America.
Hemp can be planted using conventional grain drills and air delivery systems, with extra caution taken to prevent plugging of seed manifolds or air lines. Careful attention must also be paid when working with heavy soils as hemp plants may become susceptible to compaction, with optimal rows 12-30 inches apart depending on desired outcome of field and ideal pH between 6.0-7.5. For further reference, Manitoba Management Plus Program yield data is accessible through MASC website Hemp tab.
