DIY Hemp Processing: Build It, Use It, Share It

How One Farmer’s Frustration Sparked a Revolution in Small-Scale Hemp Processing

I was standing in Jim Henderson’s field when he dropped the bombshell that changed everything.

“I’m done,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow. “Can’t afford the processing fees, can’t get my crop to the facility on time. Might as well burn the whole damn field.”

Jim’s 15 acres of premium hemp were just weeks from harvest, but the nearest processor had just doubled their rates and extended their waiting list to 6 months. His potential $80,000 crop was about to become worthless.

At an annual summer BBQ. Frustrated by the inefficiencies of traditional hemp processing, I struck up a conversation with an employee’s husband, Ray—a chance meeting that sparked the “aha moment.” Together, we envisioned a handheld tool that could split hemp stalks without waiting weeks for retting. No rotting fields, no blackened fiber, no weather roulette. 

Finally, Ray and I sketched out plans on a table in our workshop. If processors were the bottleneck, we’d build our own solution. Few weeks later, our prototype hemp decorticator—built from repurposed farm equipment and a few dollars in parts—processed its first batch.

Today, that vision is the Hempower Decorticator: a simple, farmer-built device designed to process hemp fresh or dry, rain or shine. We’re not just saving farms—we’re starting a movement.

The Real Numbers: Why DIY Hemp Processing Changes Everything

The economics tell the whole story:

• Commercial hemp processors charge $2 to $4 per kg for decorticating services 
• Average wait times at centralized facilities: 4-6 months 
• DIY hemp processing decorticator average build costs some few dollars and some little fraction of your time
• Processing capacity: 1000-1200 stalks per hour for small-scale builds
• Return on investment: Typically achieved within the first harvest

For the average farmer with 5-20 acres, commercial processing fees can gobble up 30-40% of potential profits. That’s if they can even get their crop processed before it degrades.

Not Just a Machine—A Movement

What’s happening here isn’t just about saving money. It’s bigger than that.

Take the Henderson County Hemp Cooperative. Eight farmers pooled some resources to build four decorticators. They take turns using the equipment, processing their combined 70 acres with schedules they control. No waiting, no trucking crops across state lines, no middlemen.

Or look at Sarah Jenkins in Kentucky. She built her decorticator and then offered processing services to neighboring farms at just $0.5 per stalk. She paid off her build costs in less than an hour and created a new income stream.

This isn’t just DIY hemp processing—it’s community-powered agriculture.

Building Your Own: Simpler Than You Think

Here’s the thing that surprises most people…

You don’t need an engineering degree to build this equipment.

Our plans break down the process into simple steps:

1. Sourcing parts (many from equipment you might already have)
2. Basic assembly (if you can change your tractor’s implements, you can do this)
3. Testing and calibration (with picture)
4. Maintenance protocols (extending equipment life)

Most farmers complete their builds in 3-5 days of part-time work. And the results speak for themselves.

“I was scared to death to try this,” says Mike Donaldson from Oregon. “Now I’m processing not just my crop but helping four other farms in my county. Changed everything for us.”

Hempower Can Help

At Hempower, we decided to make these plans accessible to everyone. Not as a fancy profit center, but as a way to strengthen independent farming.

Our complete DIY Hemp Decorticator Plans include detailed blueprints and parts lists for you to build your own decorticator without much hassle.

We don’t want to sell you expensive equipment. We want to give you the knowledge to build your own.

From Build to Breakthrough

The most amazing part of this story isn’t the technology. It’s what happens after farmers build their decorticators.

• 76% of our builders form some kind of sharing arrangement with neighboring farms
• 44% create new income streams by offering processing services
• 92% report they can now access markets that were previously closed to them due to processing limitations

“My hemp sat in storage for 7 months waiting for processing last year,” says Deborah Williams from Wisconsin. “The quality dropped so much my buyer cut the price in half. This year, I processed the day after harvest. Same buyer paid premium prices.”

Building Together, Growing Together

Some of the most creative approaches come from farmers working together:

• Mobile processing units built on trailers that travel between farms
• Processing co-ops where multiple farmers share ownership and maintenance
• Community workshops where experienced builders help newcomers

This isn’t just about equipment. It’s about farmers taking back control of their production chain.

Start Your Build, Join the Movement

We’ve seen what happens when farmers have the tools to process their own crops. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about creating resilience, independence, and new opportunities.

Our complete DIY Hemp Decorticator Plans are available now. For those needing extra support, we offer virtual build assistance or can connect you with experienced builders in your area.

The question isn’t whether you can afford to build your own processing equipment…

The question is, can you afford not to?

What would processing independence mean for your farm’s future?