Abstract

Hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of Cannabis sativa L. The crop is one of historical importance in the U.S. and is reemerging in worldwide importance as manufacturers seek hemp as a renewable and sustainable resource for a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. The fiber has high tensile strength and can be used to create a variety of goods. Hemp stalks contain two types of fiber: bast and hurd. The bast fibers are the long fibers found in the bark layer of the hemp stalk and are best suited for applications like textiles, nonwovens, rope, insulation, bio-composites for vehicles, and paper. The hurd fiber comprises the woody core of the stem and is suited for building materials, such as hempcrete and particle boards, animal bedding materials, and absorbents.

For decades, U.S. entrepreneurs have been importing hemp fiber from China and Eastern Europe. Therefore, industrial hemp is poised to be a “new” cash crop and potential market opportunity for Vermont farms. It is also versatile and suitable for rotation with cereal grains, corn, and other grasses. To help farmers succeed, agronomic research on hemp is needed, as much of the historical production knowledge for the region has been lost. Once hemp is mowed it must “ret” or rot in the field. This microbial process decomposes the glues that bind the outside bast fiber to the internal hurd core. The goal of this trial is to document the retting process to create guidance for farmers on when the retting process should be complete. If the hemp fiber is allowed to ret too long, the fiber may be too low quality for most applications. During this trial, we evaluated duration of retting on hemp fiber yield and quality.

Keywords

UVM, University of Vermont, Vermont

Publication Date

6-2025

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