In South Carolina, hemp cultivation began with promise for The Hemp Mine, especially in 2018 and 2019. However, regulatory shifts created significant hurdles. "That first year, we were excited to grow smokable flowers," Allison Justice, PhD, founder and CEO of The Hemp Mine, explains. "We had the SC Grown sticker, and things looked good. But months later, the Department of Agriculture issued a letter stating that anything unprocessed—like flowers—was illegal."
The recall process hit farmers hard. "Law enforcement even got involved to remove flowers," she says. Meanwhile, stores filled their shelves with out-of-state products, leaving local growers in a bind. Today, smokable products remain off-limits for South Carolina farmers, but THCa flowers are commonplace in stores. "It's frustrating," she admits. "Farmers like us are stuck in a backward system while others profit."
Amid these obstacles, The Hemp Mine decided to shift focus. "Last year, we didn't plant. We had enough oil stockpiled and opted to prioritize breeding instead."
This season, however, a last-minute request from an Australian partner led to a unique opportunity. "They needed a specific variety," Allison says. "We had to act fast. By July, we mapped everything out using a photoperiod schedule."
The gift of timing
A few years ago, The Hemp Mine worked on a unique research project to map photoperiods across the United States to help hemp and cannabis growers better plan their crops and make the most of the sunlight. Following that map, a grower could time a specific variety to match its light needs to what nature would naturally provide.
And timing was indeed crucial for The Hemp Mine this year. With South Carolina's first freeze typically around November 15, the company worked backward to ensure harvest readiness while meeting Australia's 0.3% THC compliance. That's where photoperiod manipulation and knowledge were key. "We used LED spotlights and streamlights in the field, ensuring the plants received just enough light to stay in the vegetative stage. That allowed us to control when flowering began."
Dealing with an unusual climate
South Carolina's climate presents its own set of challenges. "In the regular growing season, heavy bud set happens during July and August, the hottest time of the year. You've got to deal with heat stress, hurricanes, and caterpillars," she says. "Caterpillar damage is especially tough. Organic pesticides and viruses help, but they're expensive and only reduce damage by about 20%."
To counteract this, The Hemp Mine adjusted planting schedules, avoiding the peak caterpillar and heat seasons. "This year's crop looked better than ever. We've been fortunate to avoid issues like Hop Latent Viroid and major fungal pathogens." All of that ensured a bumper crop, and the recently completed harvest met the expectations of both the Australian partner and Allison's. "The harvest went absolutely great," she remarks. "In such a challenging market, we have still been able to succeed thanks to our prior experience and knowledge of the varieties we grow and how to manipulate metabolite concentrations through photoperiodic planning."
Expanding research
Beyond outdoor crops, The Hemp Mine has been expanding their CEA research efforts through Dr. Justice's founded Cannabis Research Center & Coalition. For instance, they have been further investigating photoperiod and light spectrum. "We tested the green light with Catch Master to see if it breaks photoperiod indoors. It turns out green light does influence photoperiod, just at a much lower level than other lights," she explains.
Ultimately, The Hemp Mine aims to use research to benefit other farmers. "Let us do the failing for you," Allison says. "We're focused on precision and sharing insights. Farmers face enough challenges without having to reinvent the wheel. Even as the South Carolina hemp market remains restrictive, we continue to find opportunities to innovate and contribute to the broader industry."
