This article discusses how hemp grows clean CBD flower in toxic soil
The biggest CBD news stories from this week are here:
- A new study has found that hemp cleans the toxic soil and grows a clean flower rich in CBD.
- The USDA has declared that hemp will qualify for a new crop insurance pilot program in 2020.
Research: Hemp Grown In Polluted Soil Produces More CBD
One study shows that hemp grown in polluted soil increases the CBD concentration and can yet be appropriate for human consumption.
The Study
The researchers from Penn State Harrisburg took six cultivars (a selectively grown plant variety), half of which were intended to be cultivated for fiber and seed.
On the other hand, the other half were meant for CBD production.
Each cultivar was cultivated in two types of clean soil (PRO-MIX HP Mycorrhizae High Porosity Grower Mix and Miracle-Gro Potting Mix) and two types of polluted soil.
Besides, every plant cultivar in each soil was cultivated in two different conditions: outdoors and in a greenhouse.
The hemp cultivated in clean soil produced 1.08% and 1.6% CBD content, whereas the hemp grown in the contaminated soil produced 2.16% and 2.58% in the outdoor and greenhouse environments, respectively.
According to researchers, the CBD concentration in floral buds grown in mine land 1 soil in both outdoors and in the greenhouse was higher than that of the floral buds grown in Miracle-Gro in both environmental parameters and in the field, which can be inferred due to the heavy metal stress.
According to an article from Leafly, the hemp flower does not contain the heavy metals absorbed by the hemp cultivars cultivated in polluted soil.
Sairam Rudrabhatla, a biology professor at Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg and one of the lead authors of the study, told Leafly, “We observed the metal absorption in the leaves and removal from the soil but not in the floral buds.”
THC levels rose in one strain of the hemp.
What Does This Means For The Hemp-Derived CBD Industry
The increase in purity and concentration of the hemp flower in polluted soil may have significance for CBD’s commercial production.
Nevertheless, it is discovered that CBD products obtained toxic soil may not suitable for most of the CBD customers.
Chris Boucher, co-founder of the Hemp Industries Association and CEO of Farmtiva, said that most of the consumers are afraid of the hemp grown in toxic soil. “That’s the problem I see. They are banging the drum right now: ‘If you don’t use organic source material for CBD, it is going to be toxic and harmful.’”
USDA Launches Crop Insurance Pilot Program For Hemp In 2020
In the 2020 growing season, selected hemp farmers will have access to crop insurance.
The USDA announced a pilot insurance coverage for hemp growers from specific counties in the following 21 states: Wisconsin, Virginia,, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Oklahoma, North Dakota, North Carolina, New York, New Mexico, Montana, Minnesota , Michiganand, Maine, Kentucky, Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, California, and Alabama.
Martin Barbre, RMA Administrator, said, “we are pleased to provide services to certain hemp growers in this pilot program. In the coming crop year, we look forward to getting feedback from the growers, since this is a pilot program.”
Under 508(h) Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI), the program offers Actual Production History coverage, which protects growers against yield reduction due to natural disasters.
Coverage is for hemp grown to obtain grain, fiber, or CBD oil.
Only those producers are eligible for the insurance who comply with all federal, state, or tribal regulations, have cultivated hemp for at least one year, and have a contract to sell the hemp.
Furthermore, farmers must be part of a pilot program mentioned in the 2014 Farm Bill or a program approved under the USDA’s 2019 interim final rule to be eligible for the insurance.
The USDA’s hemp rules have been under review since it was published in October 2019.
Legislators have sent numerous letters requesting the department to consider specific amendments.
The USDA also declared that hemp could be insured under the Nursery Value Select pilot crop insurance program and the Nursery crop insurance program starting in 2021.
