Let the pollination begin

Growing for seed production is a great way to grow hemp. Hemp seeds have a semi-dense core called the “hemp heart.” This hemp heart has a variety of uses. First and foremost it can be used as a food source for both human and animal consumption. Hemp hearts contain some of the highest levels of protein per gram when compared to other grains. It is nutrient dense and contains high amounts of important things like iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. They have a texture somewhere between quinoa and a small nut. You can buy them at your local grocery store and try them for yourself!

As a farmer of hemp seed for consumption, it is important for you to properly prepare yourself to maximize seed production in your crop as well as properly “clean” that seed once the season is over. Material separation is extremely important in this process. At the end of the year, you must separate the dried non-seed material (like the flowers) and the stem. It is important that you understand proper harvesting techniques. Start by drying the material to make seed separation more efficient. Then, use a material separation machine to separate your seed from the undesirable material. That waste product can be sent to an extractor to extract desirable oils and cannabinoids. Then you take that separated seed and extract the hemp hearts out which, once cleaned of shell material, can be sold for human or animal consumption.