2.1.1 Contract cultivation for 'short fibres'

A common practice consists in establishing a contract for the cultivation for short fibres between the farmer and the processor; the buyer gives guidance to the farmer on the cultivation and takes charge of the harvest. The farmer engages into a multi-year cultivation plan and agrees to a contract with a seed supplier and a buyer (often the same operator). The supplier recommends the seed that can have the desired yield and suits the soil and climate conditions. Desired yield is expressed both in tonnes per hectare and quality of the various components; for example, fibre length and fineness as demanded by the buyers of the fibre along the value chain.

Preferably, the grower contacts the buyer before January so that the seeds can be ordered on time.

Currently (2023), the maximum distance over which hemp straw can reasonably be transported to a processing plant is about 60 km. Late varieties are grown closer to the factory, early varieties further away so that harvesting machines can be used efficiently. Methods to separate the bast fibres and shives further away from the factory are being developed. This would allow to transport the higher value fibres over larger distances to a facility for further cleaning; the shives are then used locally.