When to harvest hemp for cbd oil

There are two methods for collecting hemp biomass, and each are dependent on your end goals. For collection of oils , leaves, or for use as fuel, hemp biomass should be dried as effectively as possible before further processing. Hemp leaves and stalks can be used to produce a wide variety of goods. Having a successful hemp harvest is key to the quality of theses goods. There are a few factors that are imperative to know, to get the most from your crop.

Hemp Biomass: A Step-by-Step Guide to Harvesting

Fast growing markets in industrial hemp Hemp cultivation areas are growing fast around the world. Hemp is an extremely useful and versatile crop; parts of, or the whole crop, can be processed into a number of highly useful products. Harvesting this form of industrial hemp in a whole crop method with forage choppers produces a type of wet woody biomass with leaf and flower in the mix.

This type can have CBD oil extraction from the leaves, buds and flowers, but also can have hemp seed oil extracted from the seeds. It is not a simple process to optimise both the CBD oil yield and hemp seed yield. Other varieties and planting strategies are used to grow hemp for hemp seed oil. Then, within the hemp grain sector, seeds can be processed for flour, hemp food supplements, and then onwards to a thousand uses within the food sector.

Then there is the hemp hurd and bast fibre which has a multitude of uses. A number of separate possible revenue streams from the same plant; however in this article we focus mainly hemp grown for CBD oil extraction. As day length reduces and the window for harvesting in optimal conditions closes, late autumn weather leads to increased risk of frost, mould and rot which can seriously reduce the quality and price of the dried product for CBD extraction. There is a lot of work being done to develop earlier varieties with all the benefits that early harvests bring.

There is a compounding effect of earlier harvesting and drying:. Of course there are many other factors to consider when selecting the correct varieties to grow; such as biomass-to-seed index and CBD oil levels depending on the purpose of the crop.

Post-harvest management of the wet biomass and correct equipment selection for hemp drying is key to avoiding significant losses of the crop for CBD oil extraction. In addition to varietal development, there is a lot of work being done to develop optimal planting techniques and spacing. It can still be considered early days. The skills and knowledge that have been lost over the last 70 years, during which hemp production was banned in many areas, needs to be relearned and hemp varieties and equipment infrastructure need to be developed to optimise their oil content and growing period.

Decisions on harvesting methods affect the speed and scale of the hemp drying process which is a key factor in growing industrial hemp for CBD oil extraction. Field losses are also an important factor in harvest method decision making. Stronga have experience in drying various types of wet hemp biomass which result from clients harvest method decisions.

Call Stronga today to discuss how your planned harvest method will affect the scale and speed of drying your industrial hemp crop. When moving from small-scale to field-scale operations, manual harvesting methods are one option to consider. However as your acreage increases labour cost, reliability and availability can be a big problem during a time critical harvest period.

Industrial hemp bushes are tough so it is hard labour; you will need a strong workforce to be able to cope with tackling the challenges of handling and processing a hemp harvest manually. In any region it is likely that all hemp crops will mature to peak CBD oil percentage and be harvest ready together as well as other late season harvest crops so this can create pressure on the availability of local labour forces while increasing costs.

Stronga can help you manage your risks. New techniques are evolving such as surge harvest methods which are enabled by our hemp harvest HookLoada transport systems. When coupled with specialised ventilated containers and stations, HookLoada can help keep a cooling air flow through the material to extend periods that your industrial hemp harvest material remains fresh.

No matter what harvest method, you should consider how to avoid spoilage immediately post-harvest and also losses to your high value crop. Whole transport and drying solutions from Stronga can help to improve the efficiency of the whole harvest process. Planting and growing strategy will determine your options for field-scale mechanical harvesting.

Consideration of equipment type must include factors such as field losses, speed of harvest while conditions are good, and minimising the whole volume of biomass to be dried. Hard stalk content in the biomass will increase the total amount of moisture to be evaporated, which therefore significantly slows down the drying process.

Long stalk sections which occur, especially in tall fibre crops, can take significant time and energy to dry when resources are limited. Stalks can be a lower value compared to leaves flowers and buds with their higher CBD oil content. Inclusion of significant stalk content in the final dry sample can dilute the quality of your final hemp product. The above aspects need to be balanced against the speed and convenience of harvesting.

For example, whole crop hemp forage methods while optimising chop sizes can be an effective and fast method of clearing a hemp field if you have the right equipment. This is challenging work, selecting the right equipment for each process is not easy, therefore you need to create a harvest plan as early as possible to allow for the acquisition and set up of the correct equipment and infrastructure. Hemp is tough crop, it wants to wrap on shafts and bearings so therefore the equipment you select needs to be specialised to cope with the nature of this demanding material.

Poor preparation and lack of foresight can lead to high losses of crop in the field and in the process, leading to considerable loss of profit from your hemp harvest. In the worst case, an inability to harvest and process the wet biomass into dry biomass before poor weather sets in can lead to high levels of mould, frost and rotting loses of hemp crop.

Your harvest method decisions and timing will affect downstream processes and the most important of these is drying. There are variables to consider such as the amount of wet biomass the harvest method produces with large variations in biomass volume, depending on;.

Stronga have solutions via the HookLoada system for industrial hemp ventilating stations to allow surge harvesting in good conditions while keeping valuable hemp dry and cool. This is vital while waiting for the dryer which is often the slowest process due to the large volume of water needing to be removed from the wet biomass.

Drying is nonetheless vital in reducing the industrial hemp quickly down to the low moisture content percentage required to allow it to be preserved and stable from deterioration.

Wet hemp biomass starts to deteriorate within hours of harvest, so it is critical to purchase the right infrastructure around the drying process.

Large amounts of moisture need to be removed which is a challenge for all hemp growers. The Stronga FlowDrya offers efficient hemp drying solutions with various scale models available. FlowDrya is well-proven in many other sectors and biomass materials, as well as various types and sizes of hemp biomass.

We salute the farmers and growers as pioneers who are leading the way forward into the new age of industrial hemp production of this amazing, rapidly-growing, highly useful plant.

Planning your equipment in good time is vital for the success of your hemp harvest. Contact Stronga early to ensure time for planning the right equipment and scale for your hemp growing business. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Industrial hemp planting, harvesting, drying and processing for CBD oil extraction. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

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Current prices for CBD oil are $5 per gram. With grams per pound, a 1% discrepancy in CBD content on one acre can be a $20, crop. Whether growing for seed, fiber or cannabidiol (CBD), hemp producers hemp exclusively for CBD, a highly desired extract of cannabis and.

Call Toll Free sales kenncomfg. Growing and farming Hemp for profit has become very popular in the U. For years, farmers have grown Hemp to harvest the actual biomass and fiber of the plant for many uses such as textile. More recently, there has been a big shift of farmers who are growing Hemp or for the Cannabidoil CBD which is the oil produced by the Hemp flower.

Post Harvest processing is the immediate agricultural processing of wet and dried herbal material needed to prepare the hemp for industrial, food or medical use.

Farmers have a lot of questions about hemp, so we asked expert Michael Bowman, founding chair of the National Hemp Association, to answer a few. MB: Hemp was poised to be a billion-dollar crop in the s with Henry Ford a big supporter, but the Marijuana Tax Act of killed the growth of the industry.

How to Harvest and Dry Hemp for CBD Production

Easy to grow without agrochemicals, hemp is used increasingly in agrotextiles, car panels and fibreboard, and "cottonized" for clothing. Hemp is an industrial variation of cannabis plant. It is the most useful plant known to man kind. In fact, cannabis sativa means useful sativa hemp cannabis. It is used to make over 25, different products, most of which are superior alternatives to less environmentally friendly products.

What Farmers Need to Know About Growing Hemp

Fast growing markets in industrial hemp Hemp cultivation areas are growing fast around the world. Hemp is an extremely useful and versatile crop; parts of, or the whole crop, can be processed into a number of highly useful products. Harvesting this form of industrial hemp in a whole crop method with forage choppers produces a type of wet woody biomass with leaf and flower in the mix. This type can have CBD oil extraction from the leaves, buds and flowers, but also can have hemp seed oil extracted from the seeds. It is not a simple process to optimise both the CBD oil yield and hemp seed yield. Other varieties and planting strategies are used to grow hemp for hemp seed oil. Then, within the hemp grain sector, seeds can be processed for flour, hemp food supplements, and then onwards to a thousand uses within the food sector. Then there is the hemp hurd and bast fibre which has a multitude of uses. A number of separate possible revenue streams from the same plant; however in this article we focus mainly hemp grown for CBD oil extraction. As day length reduces and the window for harvesting in optimal conditions closes, late autumn weather leads to increased risk of frost, mould and rot which can seriously reduce the quality and price of the dried product for CBD extraction.

The conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

There are some visual cues to indicate when a hemp CBD crop is nearing harvest time. Most notably, the trichomes, or tiny mushroom-like resin glands that coat hemp flowers, will change from crystal clear to a milky white color. Though this method to determine harvest time may be sufficient for small-scale grow operations, extensive, commercial cultivation facilities will find better results by testing their crops for potency.

CBD Hemp Farming Equipment

Community members are encouraged to reach out to Extension Agents for assistance via email and phone. There is a lot of interest in growing industrial hemp for CBD production, especially since hemp was legalized in the the Farm Bill. Take a look at some of my previous articles regarding the potential risks and rewards in the CBD market as well as agronomic considerations for successful industrial hemp production. Hemp Production — Market Opportunities and Risk. Hemp Production in Catawba County. Industrial Hemp Pest Management. Fresh cut hemp drying. Breaking off and hanging individual branches is recommended. Photo by George Place. Harvesting hemp is a critical stage for CBD production. The presence of molds and mildews will lower the value of hemp floral biomass so a timely harvest is essential. There are visual clues on the hemp bud that growers should monitor. When trichomes on the hemp bud shift from white to milky white it may be time to harvest. Weekly testing of CBD content can inform the grower of when harvest should be initiated.

Field production of industrial hemp is getting lot of attention in Canada and the U. Oil from the seed and fiber from the stem are the two most common uses, and now the possibility of extracting cannabinoids CBD from flowers appears very attractive. Here are a few basic facts before you jump into cultivation for CBD extraction. Selection of varieties for CBD This is one of the very important aspects growers must understand. In , my colleagues at the Alberta Innovates — Technology Futures facility in Vegreville and myself completed a one-year study screening four hemp varieties for CBD content and developing best management practices. We tested four varieties and selected X because of its smaller size. Male plants were removed and all female plants were grown to maturity.