Hemp: possibilities for cultivation and use Depending on the variety, hemp grown for fibre and seed can reach heights of 2.5 to 4 metres (Photo: FiBL, Hansueli Dierauer). Although some people differentiate between agricultural hemp and Indian hemp, botanically they are the same plant. It's the cultivation methods and above all the varieties used that make it a classic agricultural crop, or one that falls under the Narcotics Law. The decisive criterion is a maximum THC content of 1% (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the cannabinoid responsible for hemp's psychotropic effects. Hemp contains nearly a hundred other cannabinoids, including CBD (cannabidiol), which is said to have sedative and anxiolytic properties. It is also said to act on many different systems in the body, and is of undoubted therapeutic interest. Hemp's distinctive scent is due to organic compounds known as terpenes. Terpenes are also said to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties. So it's hardly surprising that hemp is attracting a great deal of interest in the medical world. Predisposition to organic farming For hemp CBDA row spacing of 0.5 to 1.5 metres is recommended. Hemp (Latin name: cannabis sativa L.) is an annual dicotyledonous plant. It is originally a dioecious plant, meaning that males and females are found on different plants. The male plants pollinate the females, and the females bear the seeds. If they are not fertilized, they form inflorescences, commonly known as "heads". Monoecious plants (also known as hermaphrodites) are available on the market, with both male and female flowers on the same stem. Hemp prefers medium-heavy soils that are well irrigated but free from stagnant water and compaction. Optimum pH is between 6 and 7.5. Hemp has no particular requirements for the previous crop, and thanks to its taproots, it makes a good cultural precedent. We recommend a minimum interval of 3 years between hemp crops. The plant is undemanding and hardy, botrytis being the main disease affecting it. Fibre and seed hemp require no weed control, thanks to sufficiently dense sowing. As a result, this crop lends itself particularly well to organic cultivation. Hemp can be grown for its fiber, seed or unfertilized female inflorescences (where the cannabinoids are concentrated - in the case of legal cannabis, this is CBD). The cultivation process thus differs according to the final use of the product. We won't deal here with the illegal production of cannabis for narcotic purposes. Quality fiber Due to CBD hemp's low sowing density, weed control is of great importance. Several careful weedings are often necessary. In Switzerland, the hemp fiber industry is virtually non-existent, in contrast to France and Germany in particular, which have redoubled their efforts in this area in recent years. Hemp's fibers are found in its stalks, so we aim for a dense crop with as many long stalks as possible. To extract the fibers - the filasse - the stalks must be left in the field for 2 - 3 weeks and turned over regularly. During this retting phase, rain and light break down the pectins that bind the fibers together. Once the filasse has separated from the lignified parts (the chenevotte), the plant mass can be pressed into bales and stored for the extraction and spinning processes. In the past, shives were used as bedding, and today they are used as insulation in buildings. Hemp fiber is of good quality and can be used for a wide range of applications (rope, clothing, twine, paper, molds for the automotive industry, etc.). A very rich oil To produce hemp oil, the seeds, known as hempseed, are harvested as soon as they are hard and begin to fall. The oil pressed from the seeds contains virtually no cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.). Commercially available CBD-containing oil is produced from the buds of CBD-rich varieties. Seeds are harvested using combines that have been slightly modified to pick only the tops of the plants. The fibers wrap easily around the drum and can cause jams, resulting in considerable loss of time. For the same reason, it's also very difficult to shred hemp straw. For the time being, domestic production of hemp oil is still confidential, and most of the oil or seeds to be pressed are imported. However, some mills offer hemp oil from seeds produced in Switzerland (e.g. Berner Ölmühle, online price Fr. 155.-/liter). Under our organic farming conditions, we can expect a seed yield of 800 to 1000 kg/ha with an oil yield of 30 to 35%. The oil is highly nutritious, rich in protein and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Hemp oil can also be used as a fuel (it was even used by Rudolf Diesel to create his famous engine, long before the advent of the eponymous fuel), in paints, varnishes, inks and cosmetics. It should be noted that it is possible to harvest the stalks for textile purposes after the seeds have been threshed. However, since harvesting takes place later, fiber quality is lower. Seedless heads rich in CBD Legal over-the-counter cannabis  The production of legal cannabis buds is much more delicate, as the aim here is to have female-only plants. The aim is to obtain Christmas tree-shaped plants that produce a large number of unfertilized inflorescences. To achieve this, we need to prevent the male plants from pollinating the females, so that the latter do not produce seeds, hence the need to eliminate the male plants and avoid the proximity of other hemp fields. Note that the final objective is to obtain 1 - 2 plants/m2, which makes this low-density crop highly susceptible to slugs, erosion and weed proliferation. Weed control is necessary and involves careful weeding, repeated regularly. For the time being, CBD-rich varieties are not included in the "Catalogue of Hemp Varieties" published by the OFAG (Federal Office for Agriculture), and are reserved for "in-door" cultivation (under lamp), subject to authorization. Some farmers, however, have started field production with agricultural varieties with a lower CBD content. There are still a few unknowns, notably concerning the CBD and THC concentration of these field-grown products, as it would seem that the levels of these two substances can vary according to weather conditions. Organic hemp is particularly popular with legal cannabis consumers, as it obviously contains no pesticide residues. " http://www.bioactualites.ch/cultures/grandes-cultures-bio/weitere-ackerkulturen/chanvre.html, 08.08.2017 "