{"id":1621,"date":"2019-08-30T09:37:37","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T15:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2019-08-30T09:39:29","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T15:39:29","slug":"hemp-happenings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/agriculture\/hemp-happenings\/","title":{"rendered":"Hemp Happenings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Industrial hemp is popping up on Boulder County Open Parks & Space agricultural properties. What exactly is hemp, and why now?
\nThe federal farm bill definition of \u201cindustrial hemp\u201d means a plant of the genus Cannabis and any part of the plant, whether growing or not, containing a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than three-tenths of one percent (0.3 percent) on a dry weight basis.
\nIndustrial hemp, also called hemp, is the same species as marijuana (Cannabis sativa) but has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol or CBD, which decreases the psychoactive effects. Hemp is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products.<\/p>\n

Plant of Many Uses<\/h2>\n

Different end uses are typically produced with different genetic strains bred to deliver specific outcomes. Hemp genetics are designed to produce or optimize end uses like CBD vs. fiber. The fiber, seeds, and oil can be made into hundreds of products.
\nThe stalks produce an outer ring of bast fibers and an inner ring of hurd fibers that are made into paper, textiles, fabrics, rope, canvas, carpets, twine, cord, and building products, among other things.
\nThe leaves, flowers, and seeds can be processed into CBD for food products, oils, gels, tinctures, capsules, salves, fuels, paints, and lubricants.<\/p>\n

Cultivation<\/h2>\n

Hemp cultivation techniques vary based on what plant parts are going to be harvested. Hemp is an annual broadleaf that grows quickly. In Boulder County, farmers grow hemp primarily for CBD production. Hemp is planted from seed or transplanted into the field. Some producers choose to plant into black plastic for weed barrier, others plant directly into the soil with no weed barrier. Irrigation techniques vary as do seed sources, planting spacing, planting density, weeding methods (mechanical or manual), and harvest methods (again, mechanical or manual).<\/p>\n

Another Kind of Gold Rush<\/h2>\n

The hemp industry in Colorado has been described as \u201cThe Wild West\u201d or a modern day \u201cGold Rush.\u201d Anyone growing hemp or looking to enter the industry is encouraged to very carefully vet all business relationships. More information can be found in the press release from Colorado State University Industrial Hemp Production: A Risk Assessment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hemp Through History<\/h2>\n

The legal history of hemp is long, complicated, and surprisingly difficult to uncover. For thousands of years people cultivated hemp and used the plant for many purposes.
\nSome highlights:<\/p>\n