MJ Biz have the story
Oregon’s sun-grown cannabis cultivators are experiencing one of the best harvests they’ve had in recent memory.
Thanks to a sunny, hot summer, cannabis flower is reaching its full potential, and outdoor growers have encountered little mold.
“A good season is judged by limited rainfall and continued warm days, which we’re having,” said Obie Strickler, founder and CEO of craft cannabis cultivation company Grown Rogue in Central Point.
“This is a huge improvement compared to last year, which was pretty wet – you end up with mold.”
Harvest data
Last year, growers in the state harvested nearly 5.4 million pounds of sun-grown marijuana, up slightly from 2022 but down from the 6.4 million pounds harvested in 2021, according to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC).
Complete data for this year’s harvest is not yet available, but so far, growers have produced 2.3 million pounds of marijuana, according to the OLCC.
Most farmers stage their strains to finish throughout the month because they don’t have enough dry space to accommodate a whole crop at once.
“We really try to diversify our genetics not only for their flavor profiles but also for finishing times,” said Rhea Miller, co-founder and CEO of Millerville Farms in Cave Junction.
“We’re ultimately seeking out genetics that are resilient for our weather.”
Outdoor cannabis strains
Millerville Farms doubled its drying space to 4,000 square feet in 2018; it fills the space at least twice during harvest season.
Although the weather dictates much of what genetics Miller chooses to grow, she said she has a soft spot for more sensitive strains such as Purple Wreck, an indica-dominant hybrid of parents Purple Urkle and Trainwreck that don’t always hold up to Oregon’s climate – even when the state is having perfect weather for cannabis crops.
“It’s just a gorgeous plant,” said Miller, a second-generation grower. “It’s just a very soft-tissued bud that’s very fragile.
“It looks like it wants to continue growing and swelling, but it can get riddled with mold overnight, so it gets harvested first.”
Fewer wildfires
Oregon cannabis farmers also benefited from a less severe fire season than in years past, when smoke permeated the farm’s flower, Miller said.
“It all had a bunch of ash in it, and it was a complete loss,” she said.
Most growers don’t have contracts with manufacturers because pricing isn’t determined until the harvest across the state is complete, Strickler said, adding that most contracts have a price associated with them.
“There’s tremendous volatility in the outdoor market,” she said.
