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Hemp Fact Sheet
Hemp is now produced in China, Russia and other member states of the CIS, India, Nepal, Hungary,
Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine,
Syria, Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, France, Switzerland, Holland, Britain, Canada, throughout
South-East Asia and South America, Tasmania, Victoria and other states of Australia, but...
NOT YET GROWN IN NEW ZEALAND!
HEMP FIBER
Hemp fiber, made from the stalks of the cannabis sativa plant, is the longest, strongest and most
durable natural fiber known. Unlike it's cousin marijuana, Hemp contains no THC and is suitable
for apparel, accessories, upholstery and building construction, with higher quality yarns
constantly being developed. Hemp cloth can be dyed using current techniques for natural fibers.
Hemp screens out around 95% of harmful UV-rays, and has excellent breathability and humidity
absorbtion qualities. Paper made from the inner stalks (hurds) will not yellow or go brittle
with age; it also needs no bleaching and may be recycled more times than wood pulp-based paper.
The cultivation of hemp requires very few fertilisers or pesticides and so is better for the
environment than nearly any other crop. Hemp is ecologically sustainable and actually conditions
the soil where it grows. We can expect to see more natural-fibers in use and a movement away
from synthetic fibers as concern for the environment grows.
- Hemp produces between three and five tons per acre.
- A total yield of 3.5 tons/acre with a 25% fibre content yields 1750 lbs of fibre and tow.
- Between 25 - 50% of this (440 - 875 lbs) can actually be spun into a textile-grade yarn.
- A cloth spun of number-10 hemp yarn, similar to a jeans denim, weighs about 400g/m2.
- One acre yields between 500 and 1000 square meters of this fabric.
- One million pairs of jeans would require only 2000 - 4000 acres.
HEMP SEEDS
Hemp seed oil contains many fatty acids essential to human health, and a high proportion of
amino acids in ratios appropriate for human consumption. The seed could substitute for meat in
much the same way as soybeans do, and is the highest natural source of edible protein. Hemp seed
oil can be used to make most things now made by petro-chemical industries (including powering
cars).
- A typical seed crop yields 20 to 30 bushels per acre, or about 900 to 1300 lbs per acre.
- Wholesale prices for hemp seed in the USA vary between 20c - 90c per pound. (NZ 30c - $1.40)
- Farmers would therefore gross between US$375 - $1200 (NZ$575 - $1850) per acre.
- Pressing seeds for oil usually yields 25% oil by weight, therefore 14 - 21 gallons per acre.
- Hemp seed oil currently sells for between US$50 - $100 per gallon (NZ$77 - 153).
- Gross Income per acre would therefore be between US$700 -$2100 (NZ$1076 - 3230).
- (source: Ed Rosenthal, 1995)
New Zealand farmers can expect a net income of at least $800 per acre per year. (NZ Hemp
Industries Association). In comparison, New Zealand farmers are now earning $300-350/acre for
sheep, $250/acre for cattle, and $330/acre for wheat (NZ Federated Farmers).
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