By Olivia Drake
Hemp is a great crop to grow. It doesn’t need as much maintenance as other popular crops and has a strong resistance to pests. Hemp is easy for farmers to work into their crop rotation and continues to prove itself as a profitable choice.
There is one thing, though, that can derail a hemp crop — the plants’ THC levels.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. In the majority of the United States, growing and selling hemp is legal so long as the crop’s THC levels are 0.3 percent or below. Any hemp containing more than this becomes classified as marijuana. It makes the crop illegal without a proper license and requires the farmer destroy the plants. This is why it’s so important to continually check the THC levels of your hemp crop.
Alabama testing requirements
Alabama is one of the many states where hemp is legal to grow and process. With the proper licensing, anyone can essentially become a hemp farmer. That said, there are certain testing requirements that must happen before harvesting a hemp crop.
When growing hemp in Alabama, it’s important that the ADAI test the crop 15 days before the expected harvest date. This allows ADAI to check if the THC levels are below 0.3 percent. If the test comes back within the legal limit, then a farmer in Alabama has 14 days to harvest. If the THC level comes back above 0.3 percent, then the entire hemp crop gets destroyed.
THC testing at home
Knowing how THC levels work helps make it easier to regulate them. In the last month of growing, hemp plants can double their THC levels. A farmer should regularly check their crop to keep tabs on THC levels using both government and personal inspections.
THC level tests typically work by taking several samples from a hemp crop and running them through various scientific trials. This allows the crop’s component levels to get accurately checked.
One of the best tactics for testing hemp is with the use of liquid chromatography. This method isolates, identifies, and measures the extracted components of the hemp plant. A farmer can use this testing technique at home to routinely check the content of their hemp crops. Other ways farmers can test the THC levels in their crops are through made-to-order testing kits and services.
Start growing hemp today
Interested in becoming a hemp farmer? Arbor Vita8 is here to help! We are the best choice in the Southeast for seed sales, hemp harvest support, processing, and more. Our goal is to help you succeed in the hemp business by providing you with the products and services you need throughout the entire process. We strive to be your partner and provider for all your hemp needs. Contact Arbor Vita8 today to learn more about how we can help you succeed in hemp.
