iHemp Hour: The Art of the Plant with Joe & Victoria of Seven Leaf Genetics
For the hemp industry to mature, it all starts with the seed. The genetics behind the plant determine everything from its cannabinoid profile and terpene expression to its ability to survive a windy day or a wet autumn. In this insightful episode of the iHemp Hour, Blaine Becktold sits down with Joe and Victoria from Seven Leaf Genetics, a Vermont-based company dedicated to the craft of breeding high-quality, stable hemp genetics.
The episode also features the latest on the caregiver controversy from Mike Brennan and a host of important dates and calls to action for the Michigan hemp community.
The Main Event: Breeding for Success
Joe is a lifelong “plant guy” with degrees in botany and soil sciences who began experimenting with hybridization back in the early 90s. He was drawn to hemp breeding because, unlike the THC market, it was a world of untapped potential.
“To my mind, you know, no one was really playing with the high CBD strains,” Joe explained. “They haven’t all been highly hybridized 10 times over… that’s what’s going on in the THC market, there’s no real true strains out there anymore, really.”
Here are the key takeaways from their masterclass in genetics:
- Focus on the Craft Farmer: Seven Leaf Genetics specializes in feminized seeds for the “cut flower” or smokable market, catering primarily to craft farmers working with 5 to 30 acres.
- Genetics Must Match the Climate: A strain that thrives in Texas won’t necessarily survive in the Upper Peninsula. For a climate like Michigan’s, Joe stresses the importance of breeding for specific traits: cold tolerance, early finishing, and botrytis (mold) resistance.
- Structure is Key: It’s not just about the chemistry; it’s about the physical plant. Victoria highlighted a crucial, often-overlooked factor: wind. After seeing a farmer lose acres of 12-foot-tall plants in a storm, they began breeding for a shorter, bushier structure where plants can support each other in a row.
- The Importance of Stability: The goal of a breeder is to create a uniform crop. Joe explained the painstaking process of “backcrossing” a plant over multiple generations (F1, F2, F3, etc.) to stabilize the genetics. “When you’re buying five thousand seeds,” he says, “that’s what you want… an even crop.”
- Have an End Game: Joe and Victoria are passionate advocates for responsible farming. The first question they ask any potential client is, “Where do you intend to sell it?” They’ve seen the heartbreak of farmers who invest everything into a crop without a buyer lined up. As Victoria put it, “It was heartbreaking. I mean, these people took out loans on their freaking farms.”
Michigan Hemp & Cannabis News Roundup
- The Caregiver Fight: Mike Brennan reported on the legislative push by large cannabis companies to limit the state’s legacy caregivers, who were the pioneers of Michigan’s medical market.
- Virtual Cannabis Job Fair: A free, virtual job fair is being held this Saturday, June 12th, for those looking to enter Michigan’s booming cannabis industry.
- Call to Action: The US Hemp Roundtable is urging everyone to contact their U.S. Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act to create a legal pathway for CBD as a dietary supplement.
- Certify Your Acres! The deadline for all hemp growers to certify their 2021 crop with the local FSA office is July 15th.
- Save the Date: The 2022 Midwest iHemp Expo is officially on the calendar for January 21st and 22nd at the Lansing Center.
This Week’s Recipe:
With berry season upon us, learn how to whip up a delicious and healthy Strawberry and Hemp Seed Smoothie!
This episode is essential listening for any grower who wants to understand why good genetics are the foundation of a successful harvest.