About Hemp Farming

Embarking on the journey of hemp farming is not just a commitment to a crop; it's a pledge to sustainable agriculture and a deep understanding of a plant with vast potential. Whether you're a seasoned farmer exploring new avenues or a newcomer intrigued by the world of hemp, this guide is your compass to navigating the policies, processes, and best practices of cultivating hemp.

 
 

Home Office License

Cannabis is categorised as a Class B controlled substance, making it illegal to supply, produce, or import without a valid Home Office licence. The Home Office (HO) Policy outlines that  licences may be granted, for the cultivation of industrial hemp with a low Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.

THC must be below 0.02% and only the non-controlled parts of the plant can be used under this policy.

Home Office licences are typically valid for three growing seasons, equating to a maximum validity period of three years.

You can Apply for a HO license Here

 

The Growing Process

  • Crop Establishment

    The optimal drilling period for hemp is between late April and mid-May.

    A clean seedbed with adequate moisture and warmth are important.

    Hemp can be grown organically with all of the crops nutrient requirements being supplied by the soil. Previously applied FYM/compost or incorporated over-winter cover crops will be beneficial.

    Grown conventionally, a starter fertiliser can be applied at drilling plus up to 125kgN/ha after crop emergence.

    Growing

    Hemp can be grown without any pesticides or herbicides in the UK.

    Hemp is very competitive at suppressing weeds at an early stage and once the crop canopy is complete, later weed growth is minimal. There are no current pests of hemp in the UK.

  • Hemp is typically harvested between August and October, with timing dependent on seed variety and flowering stages.

    Harvesting the crop for fibre involves cutting the crop at the base of the plant. The cut crop then undergoes a 4-6 week retting (conditioning) process on the soil before baling.

    For a seed crop, a conventional combine harvester is used. Speed, header height and drum speed is adjusted to crop conditions.

    In compliance with Home Office regulations, only the hemp seed or stalk may be harvested, while all other plant parts must be destroyed on-site.

  • There are a variety of options of Hemp seed which can be grown in the UK.

    First you need to decide what you are growing for; seed, fibre, or seed and fibre. At present we are not allowed to grow for flower or leaf in the UK.

    Once you have determined the crop then check out the EU Common Catalogue of Plant Varieties; EU Plant Variety Database, which gives you the list of legal hemp seeds available under 0.2% THC

  • Hemp is a versatile crop which has the ability of adapting to its climatic environment, growing from Siberia to South Africa! Ideally, well drained, loamy soil is most beneficial. But the deep tap roots are also useful for improving the quality of land.

    The BHA is facilitating domestic data collation in order to highlight the positive impact on soil health to present tangible evidence across a variety of soil types.

    If you are growing hemp, please do contribute to this database as the information is useful to develop agronomic knowledge in the UK and Ireland.

When Considering Hemp Farming

The 3 year “Low-THC Industrial Hemp” Growers License fee costs approximately £600 (inc enhanced DBS check) but then there are other inputs including; land, seed, fertilizer N PK, security, agri-services (land prep, sowing, maintenance, harvesting), storage etc. 

These are all subjective costs which vary significantly!

Start Up Costs

There are domestic decortication processors on farms in the Central & North of England. These facilities have the potential capacity for processing much more, but market demand needs to increase. We also need to create new markets for hemp materials and get people buying domestic hemp products.

The Alliance is dedicated to helping this fledging industry thrive by partnering with other associations to see where we can be of mutual benefit.

Hemp Market

With Low-THC Cannabis (Hemp) still regulated as a controlled drug, generally, the regular financial system is not prepared to risk facilitating trade in “illicit goods”.

However, there are payment gateway providers who are more willing to bear the risk of facilitating transactions based on the reliance of the customer in upholding their legal responsibilities. There are a range of business services available for law abiding hemp and CBD businesses from a growing number of providers.

Payment Providers