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Getting Ready for Harvest

Harvest season is approaching. Are you ready?

Harvest is one of the most important parts of your hemp season. It is the culmination of the hard work you put into your season, so having a plan for harvest is equally important.

What is your plan?

Start with the basics. When will you be harvesting your hemp? Set a date as your goal to have your hemp harvested. This date may vary depending on your genetics, but can be estimated based on compliance testing in the last few weeks of your grow. After receiving your compliance test, you have up to 30 days to harvest.

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Where will you dry your material?

After harvesting your hemp, the next step is drying it down so that it can be sold. Drying your hemp is an important step that needs to be done correctly to maintain a high quality product by the end. Drying can be done many ways and at different rates, but a controlled drying will help preserve the integrity of your hemp’s cannabinoids and terpene profile. It is important that the place you choose to dry your hemp has plenty of air flow with controlled temperature (60-70ᣞF) and humidity (45-55%). Hanging your hemp can be the best use of space, however drying racks can also work. The goal is to get your hemp down to between 10-15% moisture to prevent mold growth in storage or cure. Depending on your method, your hemp may reach optimal moisture in 5-14 days. Monitor the flowers and stem moisture throughout to keep track of how quickly the plants are drying

How will you store your material?

After drying your material, where will you be storing it? Will you be selling it for biomass or smokable flower? For some, you may finish the drying process and have a place to sell it for biomass and your hard work is finished. For others, you may be holding on to your material in which case the way you store the dried hemp is important. Be sure to keep it in a controlled environment in containers or bags that minimize the further reduction in moisture. Keep light away from the flower to preserve the cannabinoid profile. If you are selling smokable flower, a curing process is recommended. If so, trim your flower and place in airtight containers for 2-4 weeks. Introduce oxygen to the flowers a few times per week by opening the container. Curing will help bring out the flavor profile within your flower, creating a refined, terpene rich product.

 

If stored properly, you may be able to increase the lifespan of your dried hemp material for months or a year. However, the faster you can sell it, the better.

Now it’s time to sell.

It’s best to have an outlet for your flower, biomass, or other hemp product before you even begin to grow. But it doesn’t always work out that way. If you’re coming into harvest and not already signed on with a buyer, look into Hemp Benchmarks for insight. This is a good source for information on the market trends and outlooks. It’s helpful to know what buyers are interested in and what other growers have experienced or are experiencing alongside you.

Checking in with your local markets by reaching out to dispensaries and other retail locations is a good first step. Once you choose the best route for you and connect with a buyer, remember to discuss written contracts and their outlets to ensure your product holds value.