At IND HEMP, our commitment to supporting American hemp growers begins with better data. That’s why we’ve established a multi variety field trial at our DeBordes location in Fort Benton, Montana, to answer key agronomic and processing questions that move the industry forward.

Planted May 2, 2025, this west-to-east lineup brings together a mix of grain and fiber varieties:
Bialobrzeskie (fiber), CFX-2 (grain), Rak (grain), Verve Hybrid (grain), Finola (grain), NWG Hybrid (grain), NWG OP (grain), Jurrasic (fiber), and Anka (fiber).

What We’re Looking For

This isn’t your average trial. We’re looking at the full picture of how these varieties grow, how they harvest, and how they process. Because performance in the field is only half the story.

In the field, we’re watching:

• Stand vigor & drought tolerance
• Flowering dates & plant height
• Yield and harvestability

Post harvest, we’re digging into:

• Grain varieties: oil recovery, dehulling efficiency, and processing yield
• Fiber varieties: harvest index, bast/shiv ratios, and fiber quality

We’re also running a retting trial using microbials to test how they impact breakdown speed and final fiber quality.

The Setup

This trial was no tilled into durum wheat stubble, planted with a disc drill on 7.5” rows, at a 1” depth. Post-plant, we applied Sonalan for early weed control, giving these genetics the best chance to show us what they’ve got.

Harvest Windows

• Fiber varieties will be cut in August, with baling in October
• Grain varieties are slated for September harvest

Why It Matters

Choosing the right variety can make or break a season. This trial is about giving growers and processors real data from real conditions. What thrives in Montana’s climate? What delivers consistent yields? What processes well? We’re answering those questions so you don’t have to guess.

Follow along this season as we share updates and insights from the DeBordes trial. 

#HempFarming #HempAgronomy #IndustrialHemp #HempFieldTrial #RegenerativeAgriculture #HempInnovation #MontanaGrown #FiberHemp #GrainHemp #AgResearch #Hempindustry