Oregon is among the first states to have authorized hemp cultivation in 2009. After the 2014 Farm Bill, it was also among the first states to begin several pilot programs, setting up comprehensive license and certification processes for farmers growing cannabis plants in the area. This means that much of the mess surrounding the young industry at the moment is mitigated in this state.
Aside from this, several other reasons make Oregon an excellent state for hemp cultivation.
Oregon Part of the Emerald Triangle
The Emerald Triangle is a region located between Northern California and Southwestern Oregon. As its name would suggest, this is the largest cannabis plant producing region in the United States. In the Californian part of the triangle, cannabis cultivation has been taking place since the 1960s, with the industry boosting its productivity after the passage of California Proposition 215 in 1996, legalizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Since then, growing cannabis plants (hemp being one of them) is considered a way of life in the Emerald Triangle, with almost everyone in the region being directly or indirectly reliant on the business.
As such, Oregon has also become a well-established network of hemp growers and processors in the country. In addition, a new testing regime was introduced in 2017. The law requires that all hemp producers give their products the same amount of testing as marijuana.
This means that all hemp-derived CBD products sold in Oregon will carry labels guaranteeing their CBD content, in the same fashion as marijuana products having THC-concentration labels. As a result, all hemp products will have food-grade quality and will be tested for pesticides and contaminants, positioning Oregon for potential national dominance on the hemp market.
The Pacific Northwest Climate and Soil
The Pacific Northwest also provides optimal growing conditions for hemp. The plant is well adapted to temperate zones and will grow under a wide range of environmental conditions. That said, it grows best in daily mean temperatures of 60° and 80° F, but it will endure some variations as well. It can also grow in relatively low temperatures with young seedlings tolerating some degree of frost.
In terms of soil types, hemp prefers slightly acidic soil with a pH balance somewhere between 6 and 7. It also does best in loose, well-drained loam soils with high fertility and abundant organic matter. As it so happens, forest floor organic soils in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest are loosely-textured, pH-balanced, and nutrient-rich, perfect for hemp-growing. And together with precipitation coming in from the Pacific Ocean, Western Oregon, in particular, is best positioned for hemp production.
A Growing Need For Fiber In The Region
With the decreasing availability and rising prices of local wood fiber in the region, there is an ever-growing commercial interest for alternative fiber sources in the Pacific Northwest area. Industrial hemp for fiber is a viable source of raw material for a wide range of industrial products ranging from paper to composite wood products and other uses in the manufacturing process.
Root Origins proudly sources its seeds from Southern Oregon and works with seasoned hemp farmers. If you want to learn more about our hemp production and partner Orion Hemp Company, do not hesitate to contact us or visit www.OrionHemp.co
