Advantages of Hemp crop for Agriculture

Introduction
Hemp is deemed to have significant benefits to agricultural sustainability. The plant is less vulnerable to changes in weather and other environmental conditions as compared to other crops such as cotton. The inference of this is that there is a greater likelihood of farmers generating profit from their investment with the cultivation of industrial hemp and have the ability to grow a significant amount of the crop in a comparatively small acreage (Miller, 2015). Secondly, industrial hemp crops are beneficial in soil enrichment. The growth pattern of the hemp product naturally generates soil with additional nutrients. Owing to the reason that the dense leaves hinder sunlight, there results in a small number of weeds growing amongst the industrial hemp crops. Furthermore, the deep roots of the plant aid in the provision of nitrogen together with other minerals to the earth and at the same time diminishing the salinity of the groundwater together with decreasing topsoil erosion. Most of all, hemp is suitable for compositing in farming other crops such as soy and wheat (Miller, 2015).
As a commodity, hemp can offer sustainable solution to consumers and farmers. In the contemporary, unsustainable crop growing, linked with high input-high impact crops is an international issue. In addition, the utilization of non-renewable resources has been associated with global climate change and a decrease in both the amounts of water and quality of air in the environment. Moreover, increasing populaces and incessantly increasing resource demand makes the exhaustion of non-renewable resources unavoidable taking into account the prevailing dependency (Harris, 2002). Industrial hemp is cost-effective for crop rotation. The key benefit is that it facilitates sustainable agriculture. Industrial hemp makes an ideal rotation crop owing to the aforementioned aspects but also for the reason that there is a huge market for the plant in the United States and therefore farmers will be able to run sustainable businesses. In recent years, the growing of industrial hemp has been legalized and this has prompted increased cultivation of the crop. The main objective of this literature review is to ascertain what impact if any Hemp is having on sustainable agriculture in North America over the last three to five years.
Impact of Hemp on Sustainable Agriculture in North America
Akin to any other industry, the economics surrounding hemp has a key role in ascertaining the impending market shares that any products derived from hemp may have. This takes into account the native economics for the farmers and also the global markets for exportation and importation. From a local perspective, the economics of hemp farming comprises of the expenditures and profitability to the farmer, to the local community in its entirety and the accessibility of infrastructure to facilitate the transportation, processing, and manufacturing of hemp products. Recent reports regarding hemp growing in North America have indicated considerable profits to the farmers and their community (Lin, 2005). From an environmental perspective, owing to its resiliency, hemp is considered to be a natural approach to cleaning up soil pollution. This is for the reason that it facilitates the absorption of carbon dioxide as it grows and develops through natural photosynthesis. In addition, hemp can be employed as a form of fabric within the textile industry. This is because not only does the crop necessitate smaller land for growing compared to other crops such as cotton, it is also durable and can be manufactured into different colours.
Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil continue to be utilized in raw materials in huge corporations, including The Body Shop, Ford Motors, and also Patagonia, in the production of a wide range of products. Nonetheless, majority of hemp product manufacturers are enforced to import hemp seed, oil and fiber from agronomists situated in Europe, China and Canada. This is for the reason that American farmers and proscribed by legislation from growing this sustainable crop that necessitates low input. Statistics indicate that in the 2012 fiscal year, the valuation of the American hemp industry was $500 million in yearly retail sales and growing for all hemp products (Yonavjack, 2013).
Hempseed production has been comparatively thriving and successful in Canada. There are several claims and assertions that industrial hemp could substantially transform the American economy in a beneficial manner. However, it is imperative to bear in mind that there has more often than not been unwarranted eagerness and interest for diversification and newfangled crops. Whereas there is seemingly good potential for growth and expansion of the hemp industry within North America, this has also been the very same instance for several other crops in the past five decades. There have been exceedingly expectant claims for crops broadcasted as having significant potential, but a small number of them have in fact attained such potential (Cherney and Small, 2016).
Hempseed has significantly more potential as an oilseed crop than as a source of fiber. This benefit has largely been perceived in North America. Notably, Canada has grown to be the chief nation of hempseed production from the time the industrial crop was reintroduced in the nation in 1998. The nutritional benefits of hempseed and hempseed oil are rapidly attaining recognition in North America, and there is a rapid increase in sales of these hempseed products. Taking into consideration that majority of hempseed is at the present moment grown for human consumption, and the seed and oil have restricted shelf life, domestic production is beneficial to evade rancidity preceding any kind of consumption. In addition, there is a fast growing market for organically-produced foods in North America, and organic accreditation of hempseed from outside North America is challenging (Fike, 2016).
The fundamental necessity of the oilseed hemp industry takes into account the development of cultivars that generate high yields in order to increase the competitiveness of hempseed as compared to other oilseeds. The current level of production of oilseed hemp stands at approximately 1 to 1.5 tonne for every hectare under proper climatic conditions. Nonetheless, this is yet to be an adequate level for the crop to be an intense rival to major oilseeds. Imperatively, a mean throughput of at least 2 tonnes for every hectare will be essential for the transformation of hempseed into a major oilseed, an objective that is in fact attainable. In the contemporary setting, losses of about 30 percent of the seed output are frequent and therefore enhancements in harvesting know-how ought to also add to greater yields. Hemp food products cannot evade their niche market position and status up until the price of hempseed intensely competes with that of other oilseeds, especially sunflower and flax seeds (Johnson, 2018).
Despite the fact that the hempseed industry infrastructure has been in position in North America and specifically in Canada for a period of about 15 years, its stability might be significantly rivaled and contested against by American hempseed production in the forthcoming periods. In the event the United States starts producing hempseed, possibly almost 30 states will project generating a profit on hemp by retailing to the adjacent states. The inference of this is that it might take almost a decade for the industry in North America to come to terms with to the new-fangled pattern. The ambiguity in harvests, production outlays, harvesting and processing equipment, and production features will all increase the risk of hempseed production in the United States, up until it becomes a standard crop (Fortenbery and Mick, 2014).
Hemp has had a significant impact on sustainable agriculture in North America for the past three to five years. In particular, farmers in the United States started growing industrial hemp in 2014 subsequent to its legalization in almost five decades. According to Cooke (2018), in spite of the issues of legality, the market for industrialized hemp products such as body care products such as lotions and soaps, edible items such as hemp seeds and hemp milk in addition to industrial products such as auto parts and building and construction materials, had been in existence even prior to the legislation. For instance, in the 2013 fiscal year, the sales of these products surpassed the $581 million mark. Subsequently, after numerous years of proscription, a provision in the 2014 farm bill endorsed growing hemp under a stringent set of circumstances, permitting farmers to benefit from the demand for hemp products. Since then, farmers in America have been trialing with the crop in an endeavor to set the basis for a vibrant localized industry. In fact, the success level of integrating hemp is seen in the growth of the industry to $688 million by 2016 (Cooke, 2018).
The recent growth in the U.S hemp industry is an indication of effective integration of hemp into sustainable agricultural practices. Statistics indicate that the total revenue for the hemp industry in America was $820 million. Notably, out of this figure, $190 million emanated from hemp-derived CBS products while $137 million emanated from hemp food products. The chart below illustrates the gradual increase in sales for the past three years subsequent to the Farm Act and also the projected increase in sales for the next five years (Hemp Business Journal, 2017).
In 2017, the U.S hemp industry experienced a growth of 16 percent in spite of the sustained local legal and regulatory difficulties. This was strengthened by the remarkable growth in the hemp-derived CBD classification that grew from a market group that did not exist three years ago. Projections indicated that the market is expected to hit the $billion dollar mark in 2018. With the expectation of the removal of legal and regulatory obstacles in addition to education in industrial hemp spreads, it is estimated that the industry will grow to up to $1.9 billion in the next five years with an annual growth rate of 14.4 percent (Hemp Business Journal, 2017).
Naturally, hemp is resistant to majority of the pests and therefore does not necessitate pesticides or herbicides. By incessantly circling the hemp, it guarantees a field that is free of weed for the next crop to be planted. Substantial reductions in chemical use can be attained by going back to agricultural rotation. A fitting instance can be showed by the hemp grown in rotation with wheat in farms in England has given rise to a 20 percent rise in wheat output, devoid of any corresponding rise in chemical or energy inputs. In North America, specifically in Ontario, it is demonstrated that hemp grown in rotation with soybeans gave rise to a decline in the infestation of cyst nematode by around 50 percent to 75 percent, thereby diminishing the need for chemical pesticides (Kerr, 2018).
It is imperative to note that one of the major restricting factors in sustainable agriculture takes into account the absence of rotation crops that are profitable. Notably, hemp could generate quite an amount of profits. Based on research studies undertaken in farms positioned in Kentucky and Wisconsin, it is suggested that profits generated from hemp for every acre could surpass majority of other crops. The widespread root system of hemp together with the dwindling leaves in the field give rise to better soil tilth. In addition, hemp necessitates fertilization because of the major consumption of nitrogen. Owing to the reason that hemp grows very fast and has an extensive root system, it may be beneficial in the removal of excess nitrogen fertilizer from field, and a result generate a reduction in agricultural overflow problems. In farms where nitrogen is the restricting factor to growth in crops, hemp necessitates approximately 50 percent of the nitrogen fertilizer as corn (Kerr, 2018).
50 percent of all of the pesticides employed in America are linked with cotton. Taking this into consideration, hemp can act as a substitute for the numerous uses of cotton. At the present moment, farmers are experiencing losses in planting wheat, corn and soybeans. For instance, in the state of North Dakota in America, farmers have been generating greater revenues by retailing wheat straws to the board plants as compared to retailing the wheat grain. Taking this into consideration, hemp can make a substantial difference in the agronomic calculation. Owing to the bulk and weight of the fiber, local processing facilities will be forced to be constructed adjacent to the farms. This can also help in solving the problem of unemployment by providing new jobs for rural areas in America (Kerr, 2018).
Tofan, Paduraru and Toma (2016) demonstrate the benefits of hemp in facilitating sustainable agriculture, especially in the textile industry. Natural hemp fibers play a pivotal role in zinc remediation of aqueous solutions. Notably, a hemp waste material emanating from the textile industry has been substantiated to be a largely efficacious material in the removal of zinc from diluted aqueous solutions. The outcomes of the study by Tofan et al. (2016) are significant so as to show that regenerated hemp could be utilized for the removal of zinc metal from sources of water devoid of the threat of the sorbent coming to be another source of zinc pollution for the environment. Furthermore, this ensures that the soil is not harmed and therefore this facilitates sustainability in cultivation.
The 2014 Farm Bill legalized hemp cultivation and therefore facilitated its continuance in America. In essence, the law necessitated states to institute a licensing process and also that the crop of an individual farmer ought not to surpass more than 50 acres. The inclusion of hemp into agriculture has shown signs of improving. For instance, in the 2017 fiscal year, the total hemp harvest in America was approximately 25, 713 acres. This figure is twice the acreage that was harvested in the preceding year. Farmers have also started to integrate hemp farming with the cultivation of alfalfa, which is one of the most prevalent crops in the nation. In addition, farmers are seeing benefits with statistics indicating revenues of $90,000 for every acre (Weiser, 2018).
In accordance to Roszell (2018), the lack of knowledge and proficiency is limiting the integration of hemp into sustainable agriculture. With a novel Massachusetts policy sanctioning the commercial production of sun-growing agricultural hemp within the state, there has been a rise in interest in the farmers in assimilating agricultural hemp into their farm businesses. Without a doubt, hemp is a dynamic soil builder, enhancing the health of the soil and acting as an advantageous addition to cash crop rotations. Contemporary application of agricultural hemp comprise of bio fuels in addition to eco-friendly constituent substitutes for plastics as well as concrete. The strongest prevailing market for hemp lies in the production of medicinal CBD oil, which can be utilized as a remedy for numerous health problems (Roszell, 2018). Notably, distilled CBD oil can retail for thousands of dollars for every kilogram and can generate revenues exceeding $100,000 for every acre. Nonetheless, the knowledge gap within the region regarding crop production from the simple hemp agronomy to seed sources and expectations for harvest quality has come to be a major challenge for local farmers with the endeavor of assimilating hemp into their agricultural practices. What is worse, agricultural hemp producers are more restrained as compared to the more extensive agricultural community regarding sharing knowledge (Roszell, 2018).
Conclusion
The production of hempseed has been comparatively prosperous in Canada. There are several claims that industrial hemp could positively change the economy of the United States in a largely beneficial manner. Industrial hemp is one of the new yearly field crops with a comparatively extensive assortment of adaptation across North America. In 2014, the approximated 2013 United States market for hemp food and body care products amounted to $184 million, an approximated increase of 24 percent over the preceding year. With the inclusion of industrial products such as building materials, paper as well as auto parts, this figure increased to over $581 million. In the three year period since legalization, this figure has risen to about $688 million. Notably, hemp has had a major impact on sustainable agriculture in North America for the past three years. In Ontario, the cultivation of soybeans with hemp as a crop rotation resulted in a reduction in cyst nematode infestation to almost 75 percent thereby diminishing the need for chemical pesticides. In addition, the growth of hemp in rotation together with wheat has resulted in a 20 percent rise in the yield devoid of the need for additional chemical or energy. Furthermore, 50 percent of all the pesticides that are utilized in the United States are linked with the cultivation of cotton. However, this is not the case with hemp, which can act as a substitute for several uses of cotton. Regenerated hemp has been utilized for the removal of zinc metal from sources of water devoid of the threat of the sorbent coming to be another source of zinc pollution for the environment Furthermore, this is beneficial for agriculturalists in North America who have shown that profits generated from growing hemp for every acre surpasses the profits generated from most other crops. One of the major problems that have been experienced in recent times is the loss of money faced by corn, wheat and soybeans farmers. However, hemp is making a significant change to this particular issue. Specifically, in North Dakota, the farmers have been generating greater revenues by retailing the wheat straw to a particle board plant than from selling the grain demonstrating that can make a difference in the agronomic equation.
References
Cherney, J. H., & Small, E. (2016). Industrial hemp in North America: production, politics and potential. Agronomy, 6(4), 58.
Cooke, C. (2018). Hemp is on the Horizon. Will it Change the Game for Farm Country? Civil Eats. Retrieved from: https://civileats.com/2018/03/06/hemp-is-on-the-horizon-will-it-change-the-game-for-farmers/
Fike, J. (2016). Industrial hemp: renewed opportunities for an ancient crop. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 35(5-6), 406-424.
Fortenbery, T. R., & Mick, T. B. (2014). Industrial hemp: opportunities and challenges for Washington (p. 19). Working Paper Series—School of Economic Sciences.
Hemp Business Journal. (2017). The U.S. Hemp Industry grows to $820mm in sales in 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.hempbizjournal.com/size-of-us-hemp-industry-2017/
Johnson, R. (2014, February). Hemp as an agricultural commodity. Library of Congress Washington DC Congressional Research Service.
Kerr, A. (2018). The Environmental Benefits of Using Industrial Hemp. Retrieved from: http://www.andykerr.net/hemp-environmental-benefits/
Lin, T. (2005). Sustainable Development: Building a case for Hemp. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 4(3), 1-16.
Miller, A. (2015). Legalizing weed: 4 agricultural benefits of industrial hemp cultivation. Newsmax. Retrieved from: https://www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/legalizing-weed-hemp-agricultural/2015/12/01/id/704145/
Roszell, C. (2018). Farmscale Hemp Production for Flower, Grain & Oil. NOFA MASS. Retrieved from: https://www.nofamass.org/articles/2018/10/farmscale-hemp-production-flower-grain-oil
Tofan, L., Paduraru, C., & Toma, O. (2016). Zinc remediation of aqueous solutions by natural hemp fibers: batch desorption/regeneration study. Desalination and Water Treatment, 57(27), 12644-12652
Weiser, M. (2018). COULD HEMP BE A LIFELINE FOR STRUGGLING FARMERS? Pacific Standard. Retrieved from: https://psmag.com/environment/hemp-is-the-future-of-agriculture
Yonavjak, L. (2013). Industrial Hemp: A Win-Win For the Economy and for the Environment. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/05/29/industrial-hemp-a-win-win-for-the-economy-and-the-environment/#4aa3a835289b