One of the biggest complaints that hemp producers in the U.S. and elsewhere have had is how laborious and time-consuming harvesting hemp is. These farmers may soon have a reason to smile once an invention by a German electrical engineer becomes available outside Europe.
Heinrich Wieker, the brain behind Henry’s Hemp Harvester (HHHarvester), took four years to develop his unique machine that is geared at addressing the needs of small and medium scale hemp growers.
He explains that the harvester uses a patented stripping mechanism to sever the stem while simultaneously stripping the flowers from the plant. The stalks remain in the hemp field while the flowers go into a container or bag. The harvester can also shake the hemp plant in order to extract its seeds if the farmer had grown a variety intended for seed.
The HHHarvester is designed to harvest hemp that has been grown outdoors, so indoor growers or those cultivating in greenhouses may have to wait a little longer for a piece of equipment that is intended for them.
One factor that hemp farmers will find particularly attractive about this harvester is that it is unbelievably affordable. At just $55,400, Henry’s Hemp Harvester is a good deal for farmers who cannot even dream of buying the existing hemp combine harvesters that currently go for $665,000. Only large-scale producers can afford these massive machines, and that was why Wieker set out to design an answer to the needs of small and medium scale farmers.
During testing, the HHHarvester managed to complete an impressive 4-5 hectares of hemp a day, yet the machine is modular and can be configured to harvest even more by widening the coverage area during each pass of the equipment. The harvester can accommodate up to six harvesting units, so you would be well-advised to procure additional units if you want to cover more ground each day.
For now, Wieker is focusing on selling his machine on the German market and within Europe, but he also plans to get distributors in the U.S. and elsewhere in due course. He has opted for this phased approach since he self-financed the entire project and wants to take gradual steps in taking the equipment into new markets.
The machine can be customized to suit the unique needs of each farmer, so Wieker’s approach of going slow makes more sense until he has a good understanding of the general trends in the needs of farmers.
Experts believe that 12 months isn’t a long time to wait before North American farmers can start using the HHHarvester, so hemp industry actors like The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) and MCTC Holdings Inc. (OTC: MCTC) are probably glad that mechanization is gradually becoming possible in hemp farming.
About HempWire
HempWire (HW) is a dedicated information provider focused on (1) aggregating hemp-related news, (2) issuing HempNewsBreaks designed to update investors on the latest developments in the hemp market, (3) enhancing corporate news releases, (4) providing full-service distribution and social media offerings to public and private client-partners and (5) designing and implementing all-inclusive corporate communication solutions. HW is strategically positioned within the rapidly expanding hemp sector with a team of journalists working to help a growing roster of public and private companies reach a wide audience of investors, consumers and members of the media. We leverage a vast network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets to deliver unparalleled visibility, recognition and content to the hemp industry. HempWire (HW) is where HEMP news, content and information converge.
To receive instant SMS alerts, text HEMPWIRE to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information please visit https://www.hempwire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the HempWire website applicable to all content provided by HW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.hempwire.com/Disclaimer
Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with HW? Ask our Editor
HempWire (HW)
Denver, Colorado
www.hempwire.com
303.498.7722 Office
[email protected]
HempWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.
