HEMP FIBER: BUILDING FARMER CAPACITY TO MEET THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF A NEW MARKET

Project GoalThe overall goal of this project is to increase the acres of fiber hemp grown in the Northeast that meet the market's quality standards. This proposal demonstrates how innovative practices, and a cropping system approach will help expand the acreage of hemp, and guide farmers through a comprehensive post-harvest protocol from harvest window to processing facility.This project seeks to evaluate numerous components of hemp fiber production systems including crop rotation, varietal selection, fiber harvest timing, and in-field retting duration. In-fieldsensors and weather stations will be setup at each site to record temperature, humidity, and precipitation throughout the project period.This project will have the following objectives:1) Identify hemp fiber production practices that complement each other and lead to maximum productivity of the crop.2) Identify hemp fiber harvest practices that will produce the quality ofbiomass required to meet market opportunities.3) Deliver hemp fiber production information to over 500 farmers in northern regions through webinars, conferences, field days, and online resources.Our research will involve both university station experiments as well as on-farm trials to effectively develop and deliver information to farms in the region. An innovative outreach and educational model will be employed to reach and engage stakeholders within and beyond our region. Over a 3-year period, research station trials will be conducted to determine best practices for hemp fiber in the northeastern region. On-farm replicated strip trials will be initiated in close collaboration with hemp farms. These trials will serve to explore on-farm harvest management strategies that address quality requirements of the market. In addition, these trials will serve as highly visible and valuable demonstration sites where the farming community can learn first- hand from the research. Throughout the project, staff will work closely with farmers and advisors to develop an innovative planning, recordkeeping and monitoring program that will be developed specific for hemp producers. This will include hosting outreach programs and events that will be implemented in years two and three in the form of field days, conferences, webinars, andoutreach materials including visual guides and written materials.