Why is it Important to Grow Hemp Organically?

Organically grown hemp is grown from organic hemp seeds, which have not exposed to, treated with, or modified by any substance. Organically growing hemp involves working with nature to get the best yields. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are five standard farming practices for organic certification

1. Organic farmers should use organic seeds and planting stocks to protect the integrity of the plans.
2. Crops that are grown in good soil (fertile soil) easily resist disease, tolerate insects, and survive drought.
3. For pest, weeds, and disease, organic farmers should use prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression to prevent outbreaks.
4. Organic farmers should rotate plants over time to interrupt insect lifecycles, prevent soil-borne diseases, build organic matter, prevent soil erosion, fix nitrogen levels, and increase farm biodiversity
5. Organic farmers should not use prohibited pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers in their fields. They should also ensure that organic plants do not come into contact with conventionally-grown crops.

Organically growing hemp can be relatively easy because it is naturally resistant to pests; meaning that it can be grown without using pesticides or herbicides. Other than being pest resistant, hemp has other advantages:

1. Organic farming practices for any crop, including hemp, are safer for the environment. By preparing good soil for organic farmers i.e. adding compost, animal manure, or green manure; farmers improve the soil even in the long-term.
2. Organic hemp improves the fields for the next crops. Because pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals are not used when organically growing hemp plants, the chemicals do not end up in the soil or water. Other than being sustainable, hemp is, therefore, an excellent crop for rotation.
3. When chemicals are used on crops, the products derived from these plants can cause harm to consumers. Products from organically grown hemp are pure, without any harmful substances, and therefore suitable for human consumption.
4. Without the impurities from toxins and other chemical contaminants, oil from organically grown hemp has a better flavor profile which is cleaner and more distinct. This makes it great for use in foods, tinctures, and medication.
5. Organically grown hemp has over 60 cannabinoids and over 400 chemical entities. However, hemp that is grown in contaminated soil can lack some of the cannabinoids, making it less potent than hemp grown in clean and fertile soil.

Hemp plants clean the soil through phytoremediation (absorbing heavy metals and other toxic substances), and it is a great advantage! However, organically grown hemp should not be grown on toxin-filled soil because products derived from hemp that is grown in toxin-filled soil contain traces of toxins and heavy metals.