In Connecticut, hemp cultivation became legal for licensed growers in May 2019. There was huge interest in this crop, especially, Cannabidiols (CBD) hemp in the first couple of years.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that is used for health benefits such as reducing anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and addiction. However, the number of hemp licensees and acres significantly dropped in the last couple of years. In 2019 and 2020, 109 and 140 producers harvested hemp in 120 and 134 acres, respectively, which dropped to 57 producers harvesting 16 acres in 2023. Nearly all hemp grown in Connecticut was for CBD.
While we have a suitable climate and soils in Connecticut to grow hemp, the main reason for such a decline was a lack of market and price drop. The price of hemp flower dropped from $3.8 per % CBD/lb in early 2019 to $0.25 per % CBD/lb in 2023 (93% drop). The total cost per acre for a 10-acre CBD hemp farm in Connecticut is estimated to be $19,000 or $9.6 per pound of dried hemp flower. About two-thirds of this is variable cost, meaning that it changes with the level of production, and one-third of it is fixed. While the average yield in 2019 in Connecticut was 2,000 pounds of dried flower per acre at 8% CBD, just to breakeven, 4,000 lbs/acre at 9.5% CBD needs to be sold at $0.50 per lb.
While fiber hemp is the same plant species (Cannabis sativa) as CBD hemp or even marijuana, fiber hemp is bred or selected to produce strong fiber rather than flower quality and high cannabinoid levels which would be important for CBD hemp. Production practices for fiber hemp are very different from those for CBD hemp, as fiber hemp is grown as an agronomic crop while CBD hemp is grown as a horticultural crop. Agronomic crop production emphasizes large-scale cultivation using mechanized techniques and lower input cost, while horticultural crop production involves smaller-scale cultivation generally labor intensive to ensure high quality and shelf-life for market appeal.
A recent Harvard study reported fiber hemp farming could be a profitable business in New England with a co-op-owned operation of a decortication facility (to break down the bulky stalks into manageable bast fiber) with a medium capacity that can process more than 15 acres of fiber hemp.
Fiber hemp is emerging as a climate-smart crop, offering multifaceted benefits within a rotational farming system. Its rapid growth and extensive root system contribute to soil health and carbon sequestration, making it an ideal candidate for crop rotation strategies aimed at improving agricultural sustainability.
Studies show that hemp absorbs approximately six to eight tons of CO2 per acre during cultivation. For comparison, forests typically capture between one to three tons of CO2 per acre annually. Furthermore, hemp’s deep taproots help break up compacted soil, enhance soil structure, and increase water infiltration, thus reducing erosion and improving overall soil quality. Additionally, fiber hemp requires minimal water and pesticides or herbicides to thrive, reducing agricultural runoff and preserving water quality. It can remediate contaminated soils through phytoremediation. Even leftover hemp materials can function as natural pesticides, as well as inhibitors for soil nematodes and harmful fungi.
Hemp’s adaptability to various climates and soil conditions enables Connecticut farmers to integrate it into their existing crop rotations, providing avenues for diversification and risk mitigation. Leveraging hemp’s ecological resilience and economic flexibility within rotation systems allows farmers to optimize resource utilization, minimize environmental footprints, and foster agricultural resiliency.
While the Connecticut Department of Agriculture regulates the production of hemp in Connecticut and anyone with a hemp producer license can grow hemp on licensed acres, some cities and towns in the state may have regulations that restrict its cultivation. It is important to understand fiber hemp (as well as grain hemp), is different from CBD hemp in terms of cultivation practices, intended use, and how it looks. Fiber hemp also has soil health and climate benefits and can fit into a rotational system with other annual or biennial crop production systems. Fiber hemp can serve as a normal cover crop with all the added environmental benefits as highlighted above.
The current testing and reporting requirements give the impression that all hemp, including fiber, is either a highly lucrative crop or a potentially hazardous substance. However, to enable farmers to grow fiber hemp as a cover crop and enhance their agricultural sustainability, regulations for growing fiber hemp should be less stringent compared to CBD hemp (the latter resembles marijuana). Generally, fiber hemp contains very low THC levels and is not intended for human consumption.
The government should not treat fiber hemp as a high-risk crop warranting heightened scrutiny.
Shuresh Ghimire PhD is an educator who specializes in vegetable and hemp production at the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension.