Assessing the feasibility of hemp for fiber production in the northeastern United States

Industrial hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of Cannabis sativa L. grown for multiple end-uses including oil, fiber, and grain products. Industrial hemp was once an important crop in the United States prior to being banned from production under The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 (Williams & Mundell, 2021). During the second World War, industrial hemp was identified as a critical product, due to difficulty in sourcing fiber for packaging, rope, and other key products and, as such, was commercially grown domestically. The 2014 farm bill once again paved the way for domestic production of hemp (Renee Johnson, 2018). The 2018 farm bill further directed the USDA to establish a national regulatory framework for hemp production in the United States. These rules were completed in early 2021 and took effect on Mar. 22, 2021. 

Hemp production represents a new crop and market opportunity for New Jersey farmers with 2020 being the first season that production was legal in the state under the New Jersey Hemp Farming Act (New Jersey Department of Agriculture, 2019). There is interest from producers related to the feasibility of hemp production in New Jersey as it is grown for a wide variety of consumer and industrial products (Cherney & Small, 2016). Additionally, industrial hemp may fit nicely with existing crop rotation practices of other field crops and has been reported to result in returns that are similar to other traditional field crops (Thompson et al., 1998). 

Natural fibers from plants such as hemp may provide the potential to enhance New Jersey agriculture and provide economic benefits for a wide variety of industries in the state. Both established and emerging industries may benefit from natural fibers while potentially benefiting the environment (Cherney & Small, 2016; Johnson, 2018; Schumacher et al., 2020). Hemp contains two general types of fibers: bast and hurd. Bast fibers develop in the outer stem of the plant and represent the long fibers that are ideal for making textiles, bio-composites, and insulation. The inner core of the stem contains the hurd fibers, which are shorter but ideal for use of plant-based filler in industry and the development of products like hempcrete and other green-building materials. Hemp fibers can be used to make a wide variety of products such as paper, high quality textiles, animal feed and bedding, bioplastics, and green building materials like hempcrete and hemp-based insulation (Williams, 2019).

Since hemp is a relatively new potential crop, New Jersey producers have many questions related to production, including cultivar selection, insect and disease management, and many other agronomic considerations. In recent years, there have been several studies conducted to evaluate hemp as a potential crop (Darby et al., 2018; Walker, 2015) with a great deal of emphasis focused on the economic feasibility of hemp grown for various end-uses (Hanchar, 2019). Although there is interest and speculation related to hemp production, there has been limited research conducted in the northeastern United States, and none in New Jersey, to quantify the feasibility of hemp production. Agronomic research on hemp is a critical first step to develop appropriate extension recommendations as well as to gain an understanding of the suitability of this crop for New Jersey production. 

In 2019, a team of Rutgers University faculty coordinated efforts to research hemp production in New Jersey. The “Rutgers Hemp Team” consists of faculty with expertise in agronomy, plant pathology, genetics, and laboratory analysis to investigate the potential to produce a quality, legal crop for various end products.

Field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons in Pittstown, NJ to evaluate 10 hemp fiber and dual-use cultivars. The study consisted of two key components: (1) the development of agronomic practices and production practices for fiber hemp production and (2) laboratory evaluation of the quality parameters for industrial uses of fiber hemp. Specific objectives of the research were to:

• Identify appropriate varieties for commercial hemp fiber production in New Jersey agricultural production.

• Measure agronomic traits, including stem diameter, plant height, time to flowering, and biomass yields.

• Evaluate both bast fiber and hurd fiber characteristics using a variety of techniques to assess tensile strength, durability, and overall fiber quality. 

• Develop best management practices to enhance the yield and quality of hemp fiber production in New Jersey for commercial and applications.

Agronomic evaluation study

Field experiments were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Clifford and Melda Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, NJ to evaluate fiber hemp cultivars. Ten cultivars, including fiber, dual-use, and grain varieties, were evaluated (Table 1). The test field consisted of a Quakertown silt loam, 2–6% slope (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludults). Land preparation consisted of chisel plowing, followed by opposite passes with a heavy disc, cultipacking, and rolling to prepare a firm seedbed. Sonalan HFP herbicide (ethalfluralin) was applied at 2.0 pt/ac pre-plant incorporated for weed control. Fertilizer was applied pre-plant at 125-0-25 lb/ac broadcast.