What We've Learned in Growing Regenerative Hemp
Title: What We’ve Learned in Growing Regenerative Hemp
Presenter: Steve Groff
Steve Groff, a farmer from Cedar Meadow Farm, discusses regenerative agriculture and hemp cultivation. His definition of regenerative practices include:
- cover crops
- minimal soil disturbance
- plant diversity
- year-round living roots
- soil coverage
He describes regenerative agriculture as mimicking nature and working in harmony with it to build healthier soils and stronger food systems, while bringing ecosystems back to life.
Inside Steve Groff’s Regenerative Hemp System
Steve discusses his journey in regenerative agriculture, focusing on soil improvement and hemp cultivation. He shares his success in reducing soil erosion, increasing organic matter, and decreasing fertilizer and pesticide use. Regarding hemp, Steve challenges conventional wisdom, finding that hemp can be planted earlier and deeper than commonly believed, especially in no-till systems. He emphasizes the importance of soil cover and early planting to outcompete weeds, reducing the need for herbicides. His approach involves continuous experimentation and adaptation to local conditions. For instance, he shared how his team has successfully fit hemp into a 30+ year no-till and cover crop system — a truly regenerative model that prioritizes soil health, sustainability, and productivity.
Hemp Planting With Cover Crops
Steve discusses their preferred method of using a multi-species cover crop that winter kills, allowing them to plant hemp directly into the dead cover crop in early spring without using herbicides. They emphasize the importance of equipment and experience when planting into heavy cover crops, showing examples of their roller crimper and specialized planter. The farmer also mentions plans to build a specialized hemp planter for the next growing season, aiming for closer row spacing than their current 15-inch setup. They note that no-till organic farming is possible but can be challenging, especially with late planting.
Image credit: Steve Groff
Precision Hemp Planter Development
Steve plans to build a precision planter with 4-inch row spacing for hemp, which could potentially reduce seeding rates by 20-30%. He explains the importance of proper seed placement in regenerative agriculture systems with cover crops, emphasizing the need for clean cuts and consistent seed depth. The farmer also shares his experience hosting non-farmers on his farm to educate them about regenerative agriculture and hemp cultivation, highlighting hemp’s suitability for this farming approach.
Regenerative Agriculture Education and Progress
Sharing the message of regenerative agriculture and inspiring others to do the same is important to Steve. He encourages attendees to take every opportunity to educate consumers about soil regeneration and nutrient-dense food production. He emphasizes that improving soil health is an ongoing journey for him, and while progress has been made, there is still much to learn about nutrient density and soil management. He suggests that more research is needed to develop crop varieties specifically for regenerative systems and to better understand the complexities of soil health and nutrient density in food.
Note: Presentation ends at 50:09 and followed by Q&A
Nutrient Density Meter Development Update
The group discusses the development and potential of nutrient density meters for food quality assessment. Chris Macquet mentions that his team is close to producing a low-cost, effective device for comparing nutrient densities in supermarkets. Helen asked Steve whether the market is recognizing his higher quality food production and whether it commands a higher price. Steve shares his experience with a major US supermarket chain and will start supplying 22 stores of a major supermarket chain in about 2 weeks. He will host a visit from the supermarket team in August. This indicates a growing demand for high-quality, sustainably produced food led by consumer demand and the impact of COVID-19 on people’s interest in food quality.
Future Proof Farm Discussion
Steve discusses his book “The Future Proof Farm: Changing Mindsets in a Changing World,” which challenges farmers to adapt to future trends. He suggests downloading the PDF from his website stevegroff.com as the easiest way to access it. Link temporarily not available.
Steve is active on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, where he can be found as @covercropcoach. The group expresses interest in following Steve’s work with his organic research group and thanks him for the informative presentation.
Steve Groff The Future-Proof Farm: Changing Mindsets In A Changing World
The Future-Proof Farm by Steve Groff is a compelling call to action for farmers and consumers alike. As demand grows for nutrient-dense, responsibly grown food, Steve warns farmers: adapt or risk being left behind.
Drawing on over 30 years of experience, he shares how regenerative practices like no-till and cover cropping can build soil health and market resilience. With insights from consulting for major brands like Wrangler, Steve shows how agriculture must evolve to meet future demands.
This book is both practical and inspiring—a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of farming, food, and the planet.
