The corn earworm can cause serious damage to outdoor hemp grown for smokable flower and CBD production in Oregon. Here's what hemp growers need to know to identify, monitor and control the corn earworm.
Govinda Shrestha |
Aug 2022 |
Article
Photos A & B by C.M. Ocamb, and photo C by T.A. Bates, OSU. (Cropped from original)
Powdery mildew has surfaced as a challenge for Northwest hemp growers. Powdery mildew coats the leaves of hemp plants and leads to a decline in quality. Here's what hemp growers can do if powdery mildew turns up.
Cynthia M. Ocamb |
Aug 2022 |
Article
Credit: Jenifer Cruickshank, OSU (Cropped from original)
Using spent hemp biomass — what's left over after the extraction of cannabinoids — as feed for livestock has shown some promise in early research. There's good protein content but palatability might be an issue.
Jenifer Cruickshank |
Jul 2022 |
Article
Photo A by G. Shrestha; photos B and C by C.M. Ocamb, Oregon State University. (Cropped from original)
Hemp is susceptible to fungal pathogens that induce wilt disease that can kill plants. The fungi that cause the disease can survive for years and are easily spread. But there are steps growers can take to prevent it.
Drought has become a fact of life for farmers throughout the West. For hemp growers, careful planning for where, when and what to plant can result in a crop that will thrive despite dry conditions.
Hemp growers need to monitor their fields regularly for adult beet leafhoppers, which can transmit the beet curly top virus. Although data for hemp is scarce, management techniques used to protect other crops are advised.
Hemp plants are susceptible to disease, especially at the early stages of development. Hemp growers can promote healthy plants by using high-quality seed and avoiding soil that is wet, dense or poorly drained.
What is the optimum number of hemp plants per acre? The answer depends on what it's being grown for. Fewer plants produce more prized colas or clusters of buds, while denser plantings yield more extractable cannabinoid.
In response to industry concern, Gordon Jones, OSU Extension agriculture faculty in Jackson and Josephine counties, conducted a harvest-time study at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center.