Hemp (Grain/Fiber)

Cannabis sativa L.

fiberannual Zone 4–9

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) for grain and fiber is an annual crop suitable for Zones 4-9, grown for seed/oil and bast fiber from the stalk. Requires well-drained loamy soils, moderate precipitation, and 100+ frost-free days; dual-purpose varieties common.

24/30

Crop Snowflake Score

Gross Revenue

$794

/acre

Net Return

$248

/acre

Price Trend

stable

Establishment Cost

$546

/acre

Crop Insurance

Available

Years to Production

years

Overview

Growing Season

Plant: May to early June (after frost risk) – May to early June (after frost risk)
Harvest: Fiber: Aug-Sep; Grain: Sep-Oct – Fiber: Aug-Sep; Grain: Sep-Oct
Frost-free days: 100+
GDD (base 50°F): 100

Yield

Typical yield: 3.97 tons or lb/acre
Productive lifespan: 1 years

100%

Market Fit

5/6

Active Regional Buyers

Established crop with known regional buyers

Price Trend Stable/Up

Price stable over past 3 years

Supply Below Demand

Regional supply roughly balanced with demand

Multiple Buyer Channels

Limited market channels; primarily single outlet

Value-Added Potential

Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products

Market Growth Projected

Strong market growth projected

Market Channels

farmers_market · Hempseed food products occasionally sold at farmers markets by processor-partnered growers. Raw grain or fiber rarely move at this channel. Regulatory signage often required.

wholesale · Primary channel: forward contracts with grain cleaners/pressers or decortication (fiber) processors. Contracts typically specify variety, moisture, THC compliance test results, and delivery timing. Processor scarcity in some regions can shift viability toward limited. Grower cooperatives aggregate volume to negotiate with processors — increasingly important for fiber where decortication capacity is concentrated — providing price discovery and shared logistics.

direct_to_consumer · Packaged hemp hearts, hemp seed oil, and whole seed sold via farm stand, online, and mail-order. Requires FDA-compliant labeling and hemp license compliance; oil products need cold-press infrastructure.

retail · Packaged hemp food products (hearts, protein, oil) in natural-food stores and co-ops. Requires GMP-compliant processing, shelf-stable packaging, and compliant labeling. Competing with established national brands.

Climate Fit

6/6

Hardiness Zone Match

Region's hardiness zone within crop range (4.0-9.0)

GDD Sufficient

Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (2500)

Precipitation Compatible

Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs

Frost-Free Season OK

Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (100 days)

Chill Hours Met

Chill hour requirement N/A for this crop type or met by default

Climate Trend Favorable

Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region

Soil Compatibility

Soil Texture

loam (ideal)silt_loam (ideal)sandy_loam (ideal)clay_loam (suitable)silty_clay_loam (suitable)sandy_clay_loam (suitable)loamy_sand (suitable)sand (marginal)clay (marginal)silty_clay (marginal)

Drainage

well_drained (ideal)moderately_well_drained (suitable)somewhat_excessively_drained (suitable)somewhat_poorly_drained (marginal)excessively_drained (marginal)poorly_drained (poor)very_poorly_drained (poor)

Infrastructure Fit

5/6

Equipment Compatible

Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted

Storage Available

Dry/ambient storage sufficient; commonly available on farms

Irrigation Compatible

Low water needs or rain-fed viable

Field Layout Suitable

Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop

Labor Availability

Labor needs manageable with existing farm workforce

Processing Proximity

No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping

Storage Requirements

Ambient dry storage (grain)

Temperature

40–60°F

Humidity

50–65%

Max Storage

365 days

Cold storage (hulled/dehulled grain)

Temperature

32–40°F

Humidity

50–60%

Max Storage

365 days

Frozen (hemp oil/kernel)

Temperature

-10–0°F

Max Storage

730 days

Baled fiber (dry storage)

Temperature

32–90°F

Humidity

?–65%

Max Storage

1095 days

Finance Fit

4/6

Revenue Above Average

Gross revenue ($794/acre) below regional average

Input Costs Acceptable

Annual operating costs ($390/acre) within typical farm budgets

Payback Period OK

Annual crop; returns in first season

Insurance Available

Federal crop insurance available

Revenue Per Labor Hour

Mechanized crop; good revenue per labor hour

Grants/Subsidies

No specific subsidy programs identified

Economics Breakdown

Avg Price/Unit	$0/$/lb
Gross Revenue/Acre	$794
Annual Operating Cost	$390/acre
Establishment Cost	$546/acre
Total Input Cost	—/acre
Net Return/Acre	$248
Revenue/Labor Hour	—
Crop Insurance	Available

Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)

Risk Fit

4/6

Manageable Pest/Disease

Low pest/disease pressure; manageable with standard IPM

Market Diversified

High dependence on single buyer or volatile niche market

Low Establishment Risk

Low establishment risk; quick to establish or low upfront investment

Climate Resilient

Moderate climate resilience for the region

Regulatory Burden Low

Significant regulatory and compliance requirements

Diversifies Portfolio

Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture

Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.

Nutritional Yield

Nutrition data pending.

Research agents will profile Hemp (Grain/Fiber) against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem service data pending.

The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:

No registered buyers for this crop within 50 miles.

Data Sources

Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.

Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.

Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie

21 tracked changes across 6 data categories