Contributed by Ember Haynes
Like most Alaskan gardeners, I usher in each new year with seed catalogs briming with promises of abundant blooms and detailed lists of carefully diagramed garden plans.
Be it growing flowers, hay or potatoes; the almanac is nearby, and close attention is paid to weather forecasts, rainfall and temperature predictions.
A set of unique plant enthusiasts are also planning their 2021 crops for Alaska's first full-year of legal hemp production.
Last year, my husband and I were able to see our dream of growing hemp to fruition and successfully participated in Alaska's inaugural hemp program. The success of our maiden hemp crop is a victory for home gardeners and believers of sustainability. We do not consider ourselves farmers in the typical sense of the word; we did not plant large acreages or utilize heavy equipment. Under Alaska's hemp program, we were able to sustainably grow hemp on our five acres. Off to a slow and unsure start, we were late getting our soil prepped and even later planting seeds into the ground. Despite all the ups and downs the year threw at us, we grew and harvested our first hemp crop in the 2020 season. We look forward to applying all that we learned last season for an abundant crop this fall that will sustain our family needs and provide for the future.
Almost all 50 states have industrial hemp programs now, which is great to see. When Alaska legalized high THC cannabis back in 2014 (allowing for personal growing and retail sales), hemp was still considered federally illegal and not allowed to be grown in Alaska even though what de fines hemp is less than .3% THC. Although our state now has a legal hemp program, it is considered a regulated crop and a license is required to grow hemp.
Contrary to what many might say, the Alaska Hemp “Industry” does not need to start out large and on a commercial scale.
Hemp has been sown, cultivated and harvested by hand or small-scale farming for years. Small-scale farming of hemp is totally possible....
“But then there’s no one mode of hemp that fits every region. With its broad palette of fiber, seed and energy applications, hemp provides a wide agronomic tent that works from cottage industry to big ag.”
Ryan Lo Flin actually harvested his first hemp crop by hand, not first choice but possible non- the-less!
Although hemp currently is regulated with a license, growing hemp does not have to be complicated or expensive. If an Alaskan chooses to grow low THC cannabis at home, they have that option. All hemp is cannabis although not all cannabis is considered hemp.
Alaska's Industrial Hemp program is accepting applications for the 2021 year. Licenses are available for growers, processors and retail sales through the Division of Agriculture.