I was born in Pennsylvania and grew up on the Treasure Coast. I used to go to my family's in Lancaster Farms when I was a kid. My grandpa, who raised me, received a lung cancer diagnosis at this time.
I saw him suffer and eventually use cannabis to get his chemotherapy effects under control. He was eating and sleeping better because of cannabis, which made me wonder about the amazing advantages of the plant.
Then, around 10 years ago, I became a member of a Michigan-based caregiver collective that grew medical marijuana. Later, as regulations in other states changed, I relocated to Narvon so I could participate in the recreational market. I gained knowledge on large-scale cannabis farming in Narvon. I eventually returned to Pennsylvania because of the unstable market.
I received my MBA and began working at Cleveland Clinic when I first moved to Pennsylvania. Then the epidemic hit, and the hemp and cannabis industries in Pennsylvania started to thrive. It seemed like the ideal time to give it another shot. So I gave up working for a corporation, took a risk, and bought a Hemp Farm.
What are you currently doing in the hemp sector?
I now work with farmers and sustainable hemp methods to produce hemp oil. I established the Lancashire hemp, which is made up of conventional and organic businesses of various sorts, ranging from small-scale hobbyists to massive industrial farmers.
The Hemp Farms are dispersed throughout Pennsylvania. It's an amazing group that shares the same goal. Everybody wants to produce hemp at the lowest cost while maintaining the finest quality.
What difficulties did you encounter when you initially began growing hemp in Pennsylvania?
Although the first few seasons were difficult, that is how I came to understand the procedures and standards that lancashire hemp today follows. Pennsylvania is special because we can grow all year round, but how to grow the crop in the summer is the toughest obstacle.
Pennsylvania's high temperatures and excellent soil conditions complicate the procedure because hemp is a sensitive plant. For instance, the sandy soil in Pennsylvania is particularly porous, which reduces the ability of the soil to hold nutrients. Another problem is weeds, which can breed pests and diseases.
Unfortunately, the majority of chemical corporations instruct farmers to put pesticides, heavy metals, and other dangerous substances to the soil to enrich it and ward off pests. Yes, those techniques are effective, but they also harm the land, plants, and individuals who consume them.
Mold is a significant problem for hemp growers in humid environments. Regrettably, alleged authorities advise hemp producers to wash moldy plants with acidic treatments to solve the issue. But that is a grave error. This procedure, which I attempted, had a negative impact on the product's quality.
In Hemp Farm, it's crucial to balance costs with revenue and market size. Fortunately, farmers don't need to use dangerous chemicals to harm the soil in order to grow strong plants. I mix conventional and organic ingredients to increase quality and lower expenses. My favorite term to use is "synganic."
My sustainable cultivation and quality control techniques heavily rely on microbes. I employ bacteria created in a lab here on the South Pennsylvania coast.
These particular microbe combinations are made specifically for our soil type. The mixture is natural and effective as a replacement for hazardous elements like nitrogen and phosphorus that contaminate the soil and streams.
I adhere to a rigorous timetable while applying organic biologicals throughout the crop cycle to control weeds and mold. The bacteria boost nutrient uptake, enhance soil quality, and boost plant immunity so they can fend off pests and illnesses. I've been able to avoid substantial crop loss as a result.
What steps should hemp farmers take to prevent mold when it has already appeared?
By removing the contaminated areas, you can reduce the amount of mold on the field if you catch it early. The remainder of the plant can still be used in this manner.
You cannot, however, safely reduce mold after harvest while still preserving the health of the plant. Unfortunately, you'll have to toss out the crops completely and accept the loss once mold grows in your dry area.
Hemp and marijuana contaminated with mold can have serious short- and long-term health effects. Therefore, risking injury to your end-user by attempting to salvage a degraded crop after harvest is simply not worth it.