INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, AND MARKETING IN THE U.S.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1019339
• Multistate No.: S-OLD 1084
• Project Start Date: Nov 22, 2019
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
KANSAS STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MANHATTAN,KS 66506

Performing Department
Horticulture & Forestry

Non Technical Summary
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativaL.) was at one time a major agronomic crop in the U.S. that has recently been reintroduced into the agricultural production cycle. Industrial hemp is produced primarily for one, or both of two, main harvestable components: 1) Stalks, 2) Seed/grain.The stalk is largely used for fiber that can be utilized in numerous ways ranging from yarn and fabric to electrical super-capacitors manufactured from carbon nanosheets. It can also be used in construction materials (chip board and particle board), for blown-in insulation, as insulative fill in lightweight concrete applications (hempcrete), and for structural reinforcement in molded plastic composites (replacing synthetic fibers).The seed is sold as hemp grain and also has several valuable markets. Hemp grain is relatively high in oil content; generally containing 30% or more by weight. This oil is very healthful as a dietary constituent or supplement for humans. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and has a very favorable omega 3 to omega 6 ratio of about 3:1. This is much higher than that found in many other oil seeds. The grain is also high in protein and contains all 20 amino acids.New industrial hemp varieties are very different from the varieties cultivated in the past and an entire generation has grown up in agriculture without industrial hemp. Therefore there is a great need for research and training in industrial hemp cultivation and utilization.This research will evaluate productivity and adaptability of currently available industrial hemp varieties in the state of Kansas. Research plots will be planted in south-central Kansas and monitored for stand establishment, growth, insect and disease issues, grain yield, and fiber yield. Stakeholders and clientele will be invited to field days to view the research and results will be published in traditional academic journals as well as easily accessible press outlets.This project will demonstrate which varieties of industrial hemp are best adapted to south-central Kansas. It will also many best management practices for production of industrial hemp in Kansas such as planting date, planting density, irrigation requirement, and harvest opportunities. Eventual acceptance of industrial hemp into the regular crop rotation of farmers across the state is a long term goal. It is hoped this crop will offer a lower input option for farmers looking to diversify their operation.After notification of a participant joining the project in NIMSS, the Administrative Advisor will ask the participant to include a summary of their state's hemp law and pilot program in their REEport project initiation.

Animal Health Component

85%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

5%

Applied

85%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
111	1730	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water;

Subject Of Investigation
1730 - Hemp;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

industrial hemp

farm diversity

cannabis sativa

alternative crops

variety trials

Goals / Objectives
Agronomic practices -Determine effects on grain, fiber, or dual-purpose productivity as functions of * Cultivars - including suitability to growing conditions/regions. This entails evaluating and developing adapted, improved, monoecious cultivars for grain, fiber, dual purpose (grain + fiber), and essential oil production systems across the USA.
* Soil types
ÿ­ Suitability/adaptability to varied soil types, including disturbed and marginal soils
* Establishment practices
ÿ­ Conventional tillage vs. no-till establishment
ÿ­ Planting date ÿ¿ variety interactions
ÿ­ Planting rates (and depths) appropriate for fiber and seed crops
ÿ­ Row spacing
* Fertilization practices
ÿ­ Application rates
ÿ­ Application timing (especially relative to different production outcomes (grain, fiber, dual purpose (grain + fiber), and essential oil production systems)
* Canopy management
ÿ­ Utility/timing of topping during growing season to induce multiple tillering
* Water use and demand
ÿ­ Irrigation ÿ¿ variety interactions
ÿ­ Evapotranspiration and water demand
ÿ­ Timing availability effects
* Insect, pathogens, and other pest management.
ÿ­ Pest and pathogen sensitivity
ÿ­ Efficacy of seed fungicide and insecticide treatments
ÿ­ Effects of late-season fungicide applications on grain yield and quality
ÿ­ Economic thresholds for insect and other pest control
* Weed management
ÿ­ Pre/post emergence herbicides for weed control
ÿ­ Herbicide sensitivities
* Harvest and handling practices
ÿ­ Evaluate efficacy of field desiccation (e.g., using diquat or glyphosate) for grain crops
ÿ­ Develop best practice protocols for retting both in fiber and dual purpose hemp systems
ÿ­ Determine engineering needs for harvest, handling and processing
* Suitability for crop rotations
ÿ­ Evaluate potential for use in rotations or mixtures with other crop
ÿ­ Measure hemp performance and weed/insect/disease incidence following corn, cotton, soybean, tobacco, forage/pasture/range/fallow
ÿ­ Determine hempâ¿¿s effects on disease/pest cycles of other crops Crop quality - Assay plant material from above for corresponding fiber, grain and cannabinoid traits * Stem and stem fiber properties characterized on the macro, micro, and micron scale
* Grain quality, including oil and protein levels and fatty acid and amino acid profiles
* Other potential uses (e.g., as a biofuel feedstock, as chemical adsorbents or as fresh/ensiled forage crops for livestock)
* NIRS equation development for rapid quality assessment

Project Methods
Variety trials to assess fiber and dual-purpose production and quality will be conducted. Multiple cultivars will be evaluated at threelocations in the state of Kansas representing different climates. Trial sites include: 1)John C. Pair Horticultural Center near Wichita, KS, 2) Kansas State University Agronomy Farm in Manhattan, KS, and 3) Northwest Research & Extension Center in Colby, KS.Experimental design will be a randomized complete block with three or four replications depending on land availability.Plot sizes will vary by site according to the available equipment. Plot size at Wichita will be 1.2 m x 6.7 m. Plot size in Manhattan and Colby will be 2.5 m x 7.6 m.Soil samples will be taken before planting and subjected to routine analysis (pH, CEC, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Cu, and Zn). The soil will be preplant fertilized to achieve 2.25 kg N ha-1, with P and K maintained in the "high" range based on a standard soil tests. Seed will be planted to a depth of 1.3 cm in rows spaced 18 cm apart using a Hege 1000 grain drill. Seeding rates will follow standard industrypractice of 33and 67kg ha-1(live seed) for dual-purpose and fiber, respectively. Following planting, the plots will be overhead irrigated hasten germination. Following germination plots will be either irrigated to maintain adequate soil moisture or unirrigated (dry-land)through harvest. Irrigated plots will be irrigated at 2.5 cm per week if precipitation is lacking. Sensors will be installed to monitor soil moisture during the growing season.Fiber will be harvested when male plants begin to senesce. Grain will be harvested when 50% - 75% of grain is mature, but prior to shattering. The grain will be dried using standard drying and storage protocols and subsequently quantified. Harvestof each variety will be done by hand on two, 1.0 m2plots within the center of the variety plot. Overall plant height, stem caliper, fresh weight, and dry weight will be measured. Grain quality will be evaluated based on oil content and fatty acid composition. For fiber assays retting may occur in field, unless a standardized lab assay for this process is developed to reduce lab-to-lab variation. Site environmental conditions will be recorded.Data will be analyzed using analysis of variance techniques and standard means separation in SAS. Data will be presented in peer reviewed journals as well as extension and consumer oriented popular press.Participants in the project will be required to comply with all applicable laws governing hemp in the state of their home institution. It should also be noted that among states with laws authorizing hemp cultivation, some are further along than others in full implementation of pilot programs. Participants will only be able to contribute to activities authorized within their states and approved by their institutions. It should be noted that when applying for use of Hatch Multistate and other USDA funds on this project, each institution certifies to the following:Certification Regarding Industrial Hemp: When signing the application (electronic submission through Grants.gov), the Authorized Organizational Representative is providing certification that if they grow, cultivate, or market industrial hemp under the proposed project, the organization will comply with all terms and conditions set by the applicant's State agency regarding industrial hemp growth, cultivation, and marketing. For this purpose, the term "industrial hemp" includes the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part or derivative of such plant, including seeds of such plant, whether growing or not, that is used exclusively for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) with a tetrahydrocannabinols concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. The term "tetrahydrocannabinols" includes all isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers of tetrahydrocannabinols.To ensure that participants comply with the above statement, upon NIFA approval of this project additional guidance will be provided to experiment station offices reviewing requests to join this project. Guidance will include references such as the certification statement for NIFA funding and the National Conference of State Legislatures compilation of state hemp statutes. Agricultural Experiment Stations are aware of the hemp laws within their states and will be the control point for monitoring compliance. After notification of a participant joining the project in NIMSS, the Administrative Advisor will ask the participant to include a summary of their state's hemp law and pilot program in their REEport project initiation. Participants in states without authorized hemp programs will be asked to include clarification for how their proposed work complies with applicable Federal and state laws.

Progress 11/22/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The primary target audience reached during this work includes farmers and growers that are growing or considering growing industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is a new crop and growers are looking for science-based information to guide their decisions. Efforts to reach this audience included, numerous presentations, printed material (factsheets), research reports, a research conference, active social media presence and numerous phone calls, emails, and drop-in visits. Extension agents across the state were another target audience because they are often the first contact for farmers looking for assistance. Efforts to reach this audience included presentations, research reports, conference, and social media presence. State and local law enforcement was another audience reached during this period. Presentations were give at two law enforcement events in cooperation with the state's Department of Agriculture. Changes/Problems:The COVID-19 pandemic severely curtailed the planned survey research and much of the outreach activities. Much of the primary data collection, which involves stakholder interviews has been delayedas we were unable to travel and meet with key stakeholders. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Some advanced training for individuals working on the project occurred in three specific events. In February of 2020 we hosted an industrial hemp conference where research results were presented and production information was discussed. Regulatory information was also a topic for discussion. Participants on the project were in attendance at that conference. Participants also attended the Kansas Sheriffs Association annual meeting where a lengthy discussion on industrial hemp occurred. This was an opportunity to participate in the discussion and hear how state-wide law enforcement was handling the issue of industrial hemp. Participants were able to attend the S1084 Industrial Hemp multi-state working group annual meeting and hear from hemp researchers, producers, and processors across the country. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of the project have been distributed widely in many different ways. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, several in-person seminars were delivered to various working groups. Some of the groups include: Vegetable Growers Association, Nurserymen's Association, Women Managing the Farm conference, two different Co-op alliances, Sheriffs Association, two different industrial hemp conferences, a train the trainer field day for county extension agents, and an agricultural commodities conference. In the era of COVID-19, we have reached out virtually at Horticultural conferences and reached a broad audience through our social media efforts. An annual report was developed, posted online, and has been widely distributed.We have also participated in a hemp webinar with the national organization for agricultural economists. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next reporting period we will continue our variety trial efforts as this remains one of the most important aspects of hemp production. We will expand our efforts to explore proper fertilizer timing and rate for optimal seed germination and seedling growth. We will continue to look at CBD hemp with an emphasis on methods to maximize yield while controlling plant growth in a high tunnel system. We will integrate 2020 growing season data into our database and analyze trends in the hemp sector. We will also undertake more in-depth analysis of the processing side of the market, including collecting primary data. We anticipate that work will result in both scholarly analysis and products aimed at stakeholders interested in understanding the emerging hemp market. Difficulties we have encountered and hope to address: We continue to learn best management practices with this new crop. We have learned that we are not planting our seed early enough in the season. This year we hope to obtain seed earlier so we can target an early planting date. We also learned that hemp appears to be sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer at planting. We hope to improve our crop stands by closely monitoring fertilization practices.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Prior to this project, farmers in Kansas interested in growing industrial hemp had no unbiased research based information regarding hemp production in the state. One of the goals of this project is to evaluate germplasm for grain, fiber, dual-purpose, and CBD production. In the current reporting period, 17 grain and fiber industrial hemp varieties and 7 CBD varieties have been evaluated. We also investigated the impact of pre-plant nitrogen fertilizer on seed germination and seedling emergence. That information has been presented to growers in conferences, meetings, research reports, social media posts, and numerous one-on-one interactions via phone calls, emails, and drop-in visits. Farmers within the state of Kansas now have research based data on which they can draw when making important decision regarding planting industrial hemp. In conducting experiments we learned that there is great variation among the current varieties of industrial hemp available. With regard to grain yield, plant height, and overall biomass produced, the variety of hemp selected can be the difference between success and failure. Similarly, the variety of CBD hemp selected greatly influence the amount of CBD produced, ultimate size of the plant, and flower yield. We have also established a baseline data set that allows us to integrate general agricultural and market data with reporting data submitted to the Kansas Department of Agriculture. In the short term, our efforts have allowed us to evaluate the first year of industrial hemp production in Kansas, and characterize the nature and distribution of hemp production and processing. Over the long term, we will be able to use the structure we created to track trends and understand changes in the hemp sector as it matures. Objective 1: Determine best agronomic practices for production of hemp. To address this objective we conducted a variety evaluation project to determine which commercially available varieties had the most potential to yield a profitable harvest. In the spring, 17 varieties of hemp were planted near Wichita, KS and grown throughout the summer. Grain and total plant biomass were harvested in the fall. Grain yield ranged from 800 lbs/acre to over 2,000 lbs/acre. This amount of variation among varieties is exactly why this type of research needs to be conducted. A farmer who invests in a variety that only produces 800 lbs/acre of grain simply because the variety isavailable is at a significant disadvantage compared to a farmer who invests in the variety yielding over 2,000 lbs/acre. Fiber varieties ranged from 6,000 lbs/acre biomass to almost 11,000 lbs/acre biomass. This if very important information to have if a farmer wants to grow industrial hemp for fiber production. Choosing the right variety can almost double the overall yield. Additionally, based on some observations, we decided to investigate how the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied at planting impacted germination and seedling growth. We observed that unfertilized hemp plots initially had more dense stands than fertilized plots. We set up an experiment to look at 5 different fertilizer rates ranging from none to a rather high rate of fertilizer. After applying the fertilizer and planting the seed, the plots were irrigated to encourage germination. After only 3 weeks the experiment was terminated and data was collected. We counted and weighed the plants in each plot. The best germination and highest plant number were recorded in the unfertilized plot. Germination and plant number steadily decreased with each increasing rate of fertilizer applied. The experiment taught us that fertilizer rate, and perhaps application timing, are important factors that need further investigation. There is great interest in growing hemp for cannabidiol (CBD) production. However, there is little information in Kansas regarding how best to produce those plants. One way that high value plants are produced and harvested within the state are in high tunnel production systems. We set up an experiment to see if high tunnels could be beneficial structures for the production of CBD hemp. We grew 4 varieties of CBD hemp inside and outside a high tunnel for one growing season. At the end of the growing season we measured the size of the plants, counted the number of colas (female flower inflorescence), and determined CBD content. The results were dramatic. High tunnel plants were far superior in every aspect. The high tunnel plants were 75% to 100% larger. They contained 300% to 400% more primary colas and a similarly large increase in overall CBD content. Our data suggest that growing CBD hemp in a high tunnel system is worth the small investment in the high tunnel. Objective 2: Crop Quality To explore other potential uses for industrial hemp we collaborated with colleagues at the Kansas State University Veterinary School. Specifically, we were interested in the potential use of industrial hemp as a cattle feed. Various plant parts were analyzed individually. It was determined that the grain heads, chaff, and leaves had relatively high protein content and low non-digestible fiber content. It is still very early in this line of research and we will continue exploring this line of work.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Zhao, J. Y. Xu, W. Wang, J. Griffin, K. Roozeboom, and D. Wang. 2020. Bioconversion of industrial hemp biomass for bioethanol production: A review. Fuel 281:1-8.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Griffin, Jason; Roozeboom, Kraig; Haag, Lucas; Shelton, Michael; Wilson, Clint; and Myers, Tami (2020) "2019 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp Dual-Purpose and Fiber Trial," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 6: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7882
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Jikai Zhao, Youjie Xu, Weiqun Wang, Jason Griffin, and Donghai Wang. 2020. High Ethanol Concentration (77 g/L) of Industrial Hemp Biomass Achieved Through Optimizing the Relationship between Ethanol Yield/Concentration and Solid Loading. ACS Omeg. 5(34):21913-21921
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Xu, Y., J. Li, J. Zhao, W. Wang, J. Griffin, Y. Li, S. Bean, M. Tilley, and D. Wang. 2020. Hempseed as a nutritious and healthy human food or animal feed source: a review. Int. J. Food Sci. & Tech. 1-14
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Kleinhenz, M.D., G. Magnin, S.M. Ensley, J.J. Griffin, J. Goeser, E. Lynch, and J.F. Coetzee. 2020. Nutrient concentrations, digestibility, and cannabinoid concentration of industrial hemp plant components. Applied Animal Sci. 36:489-494.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Kleinhenz, M.D., G. Magnin, Z. Lin, J. Griffin, K.E. Kleinhenz, S. Montgomery, A. Curtis, M. Martin, and J.F. Coetzee. Plasma concentration of eleven cannabinoids in cattle floolwing oral administration of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa). Sci Rep 10, 12753. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69768-4
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Jikai Zhao, Youjie Xu, Weiqun Wang, Jason Griffin, and Donghai Wang. Conversion of liquid hot water, acid and alkali pretreated industrial hemp biomasses to bioethanol. Bioresource Technology. 309:123383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123383.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Griffin, Jason; Shelton, Michael J.; Wilson, Clint; and Myers, Tami (2020) "2019 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp CBD Variety Trial," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 6: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7881
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Griffin, J. 2020. Industrial hemp @ K-State: Trying to fill the research void. K-State Industrial Hemp Conference, Februay 4, 2020. Wichita, KS
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Griffin, J., C. Rivard, E. Pliakoni, and E. Wyatt. 2020. High tunnel production of cannabidiol (CBD) hemp in Kansas (Poster). ASHS Annual Conference. HortScience 55(9):S327 (abst)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Griffin, J. 2020. Grain and fiber industrial hemp varieties in Kansas (Poster). ASHS Annual Conference. HortScience 55(9):S327 (abst)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Ladner, D.J., B.Hoch, J. Griffin, and L. Haag. 2020. Part of the solution: Leveraging partnerships to educate Kansans in the evolving world of industrial hemp (Poster). 2020 NACTA Conference. NACTA Journal 64(S1):134 (abst)