Hemp is a multifunctional crop, capable of being used both conventionally (fibre, food and medicine) as well as industrially. With its distinctive botanical structure comes an abundance of advantageous ecological, agronomical and pharmaceutical properties.
Hempfest is a high-protein, low-glycemic fiber plant with nontoxic characteristics that can be used in textile and paper production. Hemp produces light but strong fabrics with resistance against shrinkage and high breathability as well as great durability against abrasion – ideal for outdoor apparel applications. Furthermore, hemp provides more sustainable biodegradability options as compared to cotton or wood textile raw material sourcing solutions.
The Manitoba Management Plus Program (MMPP) collects hemp yield and crop management information from Manitoba farmers and makes it easily available online to facilitate better on-farm decision making. With this data at their disposal, farmers can identify specific varieties produced as well as their acreage planted and yields over multiple years.
Precision is key when it comes to growing hemp. Accurate and consistent seeding rates help optimize input usage, and help maximize potential returns on investment. In general, for fibre production this could mean sowing at 250 to 300 plants per square meter target rate and 100-125 plants per hectare target rate respectively.
An optimal soil quality is crucial to cultivating successful hemp crops, and its dense leaves form a natural protective cover which minimizes water loss while simultaneously controlling weeds. Furthermore, their dense coverage helps slow water and nutrient movement through soil erosion processes by slowing movement between layers.
Just like other crops, hemp requires an adequate supply of nitrogen for proper development and harvest yield. Under ideal conditions, hemp grows at 7 to 10 cm daily during its vegetative stage from July to early August; its nitrogen uptake averages approximately 6.7 kg N/ha/day during this time; 1.56 kg P2/ha/day are also taken up during this timeframe.
Hemp flowers produce five green-yellow sepals that enclose five closely packed stamens, as well as access to tiny anthers. Female flowers produce two pistils carrying one ovary with an oval or spherical seed compartment which can then be used either nutritionally or as fuel.
Hemp is an efficient, sustainable crop that offers many environmental advantages. When planted as an alternative to crops such as soybeans, corn and cotton on land that would otherwise be planted with them, hemp can help break the cycle of plant diseases and promote soil health. Furthermore, its dense foliage offers natural shade protection from wind and sun exposure, while its rapid growth rate helps combat against weeds, soil erosion and pest damage.