A Comprehensive Assessment of Industrial Hemp as a Potential Crop for Organic Farmers
Project Director
Kevin D. Gibson
Year Funded
2019
Award Number
2019-51300-30532
Funded Institution
Purdue University
Grant Program
OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative)
USDA NIFA Report
Project Overview
When the 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the federal list of controlled substances, this new crop opened an opportunity to diversify organic crop rotations and income streams. The goal of this project was to develop and disseminate science-based practical information on best agronomic practices for organic hemp production and marketing so that producers can make informed decisions whether to add hemp to their cropping systems.
Field trials were conducted for three years at Purdue (IN) and Rodale Institute (PA) to assess the integration of hemp into organic field crop rotations (corn, soy, and/or winter wheat) with cover crops planted and terminated with or without tillage. Additional trials evaluated effects of cultivar, location, and planting date on crop performance and quality, pest and weed pressure, and soil health. The economic potential and potential constraints for organic hemp production were assessed through farmer surveys and an analysis of the supply chain from production and processing to utilization of hemp fiber, seed, and oil.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) Poor stand establishment and weed competition hindered the trials, illustrating a need for more reliable seed sources and refinements in planting dates and agronomic practices.
(2) Timing of hemp planting and harvest reduced broadleaf weed seed banks during the hemp cropping cycle.
(3) Hemp did not accumulate heavy metals when grown on productive cropland.
(4) An interview of Indiana farmers licensed to grow hemp found that current hemp markets are quite risky. Costs often exceeded revenues and some crops could not be sold.