Farming hemp has been rapidly expanding over recent years. Mostly because it’s a dynamic and lucrative crop demanded at a high rate. Despite the fact that growing hemp is an enormous undertaking, hemp crops are being cultivated by many farmers due to their profitability and fast growth. It’s no surprise that after the legalization took place in some states, people became interested in farming hemp more than ever.
Colorado was the first state to open, with the hemp industry, a new frontier of possibilities for farmers. In 2013, they legalized hemp growing and guaranteed farmers the right to legally cultivate up to 75,000 acres per year. The event started building worldwide awareness about a relatively unknown business until then. It also placed Coloradans at the forefront of hemp farming and extraction in the United States.
From then on, different states began a significant industry expansion. Putting systems in place to establish hemp farming under a legal spectrum. However, up to now, not all of them have made the jump to legalization. More than nine states haven’t allowed it. Today, industrial hemp farms in Colorado are a trendy business. If you are interested in the hemp business, keep reading and learn the basics about what it takes to grow hemp in Colorado.
Industrial Hemp Farms in Colorado
Colorado has been leading the hemp industry for many years. Its success is largely attributed to the 7 years of experience with a hemp breeding program. Hemp farming is fully controlled in Colorado. It requires an active certificate that authorizes an individual to farm hemp on a designated land area. Nowadays, there is no limit of acreage permitted. But farmers have to pay a fee for each acre or square meter farmed. This certificate expires every 365 days and the business or sole proprietor should create a new application for the renewal process.
What Does It Take to Farm Industrial Hemp In Colorado?
The Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Program regulates the hemp farms in Colorado. Particularly, this program administers a certified seed program. This certification has to do with the fact that the THC limit cannot overpass 0.3% at harvest. If it does, the plant becomes marijuana under the law and has to be destroyed. Finding a suitable seed that is certificated for low THC content can be an overwhelming task because only a small number of seeds with low THC are produced in Colorado.
There is a wide range of seeds recommended for industrial hemp farming, from organic raw seeds, Manitoba harvest seeds, Hulled hemp seed, to hemp Hearts, Navitas and hemp food seeds. However, to import hemp seeds, farmers need a registration and import permit from the DEA.
How to Grow Hemp in Colorado
Becoming a hemp farmer in Colorado is relatively easy but there are a few requirements the new farmer should follow. If you have been asking yourself how to grow hemp in Colorado or how industrial hemp farms work there, pay attention to the information ahead.
Initial Requirements
The initial requirements for farming hemp are the same for grain or fiber production. However, permissions and certificates will be slightly different according to the purpose. To start an industrial hemp farm in Colorado, the new farmer will need:
- Registration Fee. Online application is possible.
- CDA Approved Certified Seed
- Total Capital For The Project
- Farming Equipment
What Are the Challenges Hemp Farmers Face?
Despite legalization and supportive laws for farmers, to be successful in the hemp industry, it requires more than just knowing how industrial hemp in Colorado works. Farming hemp requires more effort than people believe, and it goes beyond the harvest being successful. Some of the latent challenges that hemp farmers face are:
- Hemp Crop Insurance
- Hemp Testing
- Hemp Shipping
There are a lot of signs that indicate that the hemp industry continues being young. Anyhow, hemp is becoming a new crash crop around the world and Colorado is leading the process thanks to its years of experience supported by a successful industrial hemp oversight program regulated by the CDA. When people think about starting a hemp business to meet different demands like food, CBD, medicines and so on, Colorado is the place that first comes to their minds. We hope now you will know why. If you would like to know more about hemp farming, visit the Colorado Agriculture Directory.
