Project Overview
Commodities
- Agronomic: hemp
Practices
- Crop Production: application rate management, cover crops
- Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
Summary:
Since the Kansas Department of Agriculture industrial hemp research program first launched in 2019, farmers in the state have attempted to produce profitable industrial hemp fiber and grain crops. Ninety percent of farmers have failed to produce profitable industrial hemp crops due to a lack of
knowledge and resources providing guidance to establish on farm best practices for profitable production. This has been the norm in the North Central part of the United States. As with any commodity crop, soil preparation, nutrient content and planting methodology, harvest and post harvest processing are critical to profitability. Research in these areas have been sparse and fractional. This has left the vast majority of commodity producers seeking to include industrial hemp in their crop rotation at best mildly successful and at worse a failed industrial hemp producer. Every commodity crop producer that we know is looking for another crop to add into the rotation for both economic and soil sustainability purposes. Industrial hemp fiber and grain cultivars are that other crop, but the resources for success just aren't there yet.
AST Genetics was able to carry out a comprehensive comparative yield planting density trial to provide valuable data to commodity producers. The project also enabled us to to document and provide a production plan that utilizes cover crop and no-till planting in hemp production. The project design consisted of a field trial with the three variant planting densities of 15 lbs per acre, 25 lbs per acre and 50 lbs per acre each planted with 3 foot walkways as separation in 10'X 100' rows. It was our approach to utilize production methods and equipment that most commodity or hay producers have readily available on the farm or easy access to through a local extension office.
It was identified through this research project that 25lbs per acre is the optimal planting density of industrial hemp to optimize grain and fiber yield. The yields produced at this planting rate superseded those of both 15lb and 50lb per acre yields of grain and fiber when utilizing the methods and procedures documented in the trial.
We had 13 registrants for our field day that were emailed a copy of the production plan and research findings titled "2024 SARE Trial Project Overview/Summary/Findings: Determining Optimal Planting Density of Industrial Hemp in Cover Crop". Three recipients are on the processor side of the industry and will be distributing the information to producers that produce industrial hemp for them to process. The aforementioned report has been uploaded to the 2024 SARE Research page on our website where the progress photos are also located. This document will continue to be utilized to educate farmers and industry stakeholders that we encounter. AST Genetics is honored to provide information that aids in producing lasting economic value and increased quality of life to commodity producers and the industrial hemp industry by conducting this research.
Project objectives:
The AST Genetics contribution to solving this problem is to determine, document and distribute the optimal planting density and best practices used in the production of a high performing hemp dual-purpose hemp variety when planted into a burned down cover crop with a no-till seed drill. Below is an overview of our trial plan.
Duration- 200 days
Variety planted- AST 530
Planting densities- 15lb, 25lb, 50lb
Data Collection:
Emergence Rate- 21 days after planting.
Photo documentation- Plot development photos will be taken every 30 days of the project and organized into a timeline relative to each plot.
Seed yield- Each plots seed will be dried, cleaned and weights recorded.
Fiber Yield-Each plots fiber yield will be recorded
Field Activity:
Cover Crop-A red clover cover crop will be broadcast planted
Burn Down-The cover crop will be chemically terminated 3-5 before planting the industrial hemp seed
Soil Nutrients-Soil nutrient tests will be taken and granular fertilizer mix prepared. Granular fertilizer will be furrow applied at planting.
Planting- A Great Plains no-till seed drill will be utilized to drill AST 530 seed at 15lb, 25lb, and 50lb in four separate replicates on 7.5" centers.
Irrigation- No irrigation will be used on this project.
Harvest- A Wintersteiger plot combine will be utilized to harvest the grain from the plots. A John Deere sickle bar will be used to cut the stalks and a John Deere square baler utilized to bale the stalks.
Seed Processing- Seed will be dried and cleaned using a Metra 200 grain cleaner
Overview:
The trial will begin in January of 2024 with the broadcasting of red clover crop seed at a rate of 10 pounds per acre. The cover crop is a sustainable way to add nitrogen and other nutrient matter to the soil therefore reducing nutrient input requirements at planting. It is also a sustainable method of weed mitigation prior to planting of the industrial hemp seed. The clover field will be chemically burned down with ethalfluralin in early May and the industrial hemp seed planted three to five days later. Ethalfluralin is an EPA approved herbicide for industrial hemp fiber and grain production when
used as a preemergent. We will plant and apply fertilizer in four separate five by fifty plots per planting density for a total of 12 plots using the Great Plains no-till seed drill. Each plot will be separated by a three foot walkway. Plots will be utilized to collect data and conduct field days throughout the growing season and harvested in the late fall when moisture levels in the plants are appropriate. Harvest will be done in two stages. The seed will be cut with the plot combine and a reel header. The fiber will be cut within a week of the seed cut. It will be retted in the field and baled for transport to our farm to be weighed on a floor scale. The seed will be cleaned on our farm with the Metra grain cleaner and each plots yield will be weighed.
Upon completion of data entry, we will produce a comprehensive report to serve as a best practices guideline for producing industrial hemp including a recommendation of optimal planting density based on the trial data.
Objectives:
- Determine if fifteen, twenty five or fifty pounds per acre is
the optimal planting density for fiber and grain production. - Document soil preparation, planting, harvest and post harvest
processing procedures utilized. - Equip producers with knowledge and resources by hosting field
days and distributing a comprehensive report upon project
completion to attendees of field days and other interested
producers.