Hemp will hog attention as we study fiber and grain

The industrial hemp project called Agronomic Influences on Fiber & Grain builds on a previous hemp project led by Dr. Jan Slaski at InnoTech Alberta. These trials were built on the knowledge we gained from the first projects and on questions that arose the first time around.  

The industrial hemp project combines seeding rate and seeding date trials that were separate in the first project. The fertility trial is to see if we can optimize yield and timing. In the Perfectly Placed hemp trial we will look at safe rates of liquid P and compare a precision planter to an air drill in another trial.  

In the last industrial hemp project, we recommended the following: several online tools generated using the knowledge and information gained during the course of this project. A notable example is the Hemp Production eGuide developed by the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance. The information and knowledge generated in this study will support the ability of producers to successfully manage hemp crops for grain and fiber in Alberta and elsewhere. 

The project had three trials grown in three locations each in 2019, for a total of nine trials. Farming Smarter in Lethbridge, InnoTech in Vegreville and SARDA in Falher, AB grew hemp fertility trials (20 treatments), rate x date trials (18 treatments) and variety trials (15 treat ments) for a total of 636 plots. During the season, technicians collected data on emergence, flowering and maturity, heights, male/female ratio, fibre yield and grain yield.  

This project is two trials with these objectives: in the fertility trials, look at optimizing yield and timing of crops. In the perfectly placed trials look at safe rates of liquid phosphorus and compare the precision planter to the air drill. In general, we want to learn the results of the combined seeding rate and seeding date trials.  

This project just began so we don't have any results yet, but we are working on it. Check our project pages in 2022 to get the full results (I know that's a long wait but it's a long process).