Industrial Hemp in the USA: A Brief Synopsis

Abstract

Industrial hemp has a long history of use in the U.S.A. Historically the crop was grown for fiber for home use as well as for ship cordage, rigging and sails, and this made the crop of strategic importance. The end of slavery, changing technologies, and other competing fibers all played roles in hemp’s decline as an important commodity in the U.S.A., but prohibition through various federal legislation essentially created a 70-year hiatus for the crop. Changes in U.S. federal legislation have made hemp once again legal, and the crop is returning to production fields. However, this time around the majority of effort with the crop is for flowers production. Most regions of the country have seen rapid expansion of acres in hemp flower production, largely due to the potential returns significantly greater than possible with other commodity crops. Opportunities for other hemp products – i.e., grain and fiber – remain more restricted as processing capacity, particularly for fibers, is limited. However, regions such as the Mid-West and Great Plains are likely to be able to grow hemp grain in rotation with other crops given that this part of the U.S.A. has grain suitable infrastructure capable of handling hemp. Both long-term farmers and agricultural neophytes are engaging in efforts to grow hemp flowers, and it is likely that the market for cannabidiol (CBD) hemp growers will remain volatile over the next few years. Still-evolving Federal guidelines provides further uncertainty to these markets. Current production models rely on labor-intensive production, harvest and processing systems, and the application of technologies such as mechanization is likely to introduce significant changes in costs, value, and opportunity for this new industry. To date, research has largely focused on plant varieties and management. Efforts to address issues such as low seed vigor and seed shatter would likely have value across all hemp production systems. Research work also is being conducted on disease resistance and management, weed management and herbicide susceptibility. After a long interruption, U.S.A. efforts to improve industrial hemp are in the beginning stages of an exciting new chapter for this crop.

Author David W. Williams deceased at the time of publication.