A system and method for optimizing flexible material handling for decorticated agricultural biomass. The method including: receiving decorticated components of the decorticated agricultural biomass, the decorticated components including bast fibre and hurd; analyzing one or more mechanical characteristics of the bast fibre; determining if the bast fibre is above a predetermined quality threshold based on the analyzed mechanical characteristics; where the bast fibre is above the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for cutting, and cutting the bast fibre into one or more lengths; and where the bast fibre is below the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for blending, and blending the bast fibre and hurd in determined proportions.

A method for processing hemp to form a dry hemp product including cannabinoid oil comprises steps of: (i) cutting hemp plants growing in a field between about 85 days and about 120 days after seeding, such that the hemp plants include at least one of leaves and flower buds but are free of seed; (ii) drying the hemp plants to a prescribed moisture content of about 5% to about 15%, by leaving the hemp plants in the field to air dry; (iii) shaking the hemp plants to shear said at least one of the leaves and the flower buds from stalks of the hemp plants so as to form separated stalks and said at least one of the leaves and the flower buds which are not deformed; and (iv) screening the separated stalks and the leaves and/or the flower buds so as to be separated from one another.

A method for processing hemp to form a dry hemp product including cannabinoid oil comprises steps of: (i) cutting hemp plants growing in a field between about 85 days and about 120 days after seeding, such that the hemp plants include at least one of leaves and flower buds but are free of seed; (ii) drying the hemp plants to a prescribed moisture content of about 5% to about 15%, by leaving the hemp plants in the field to air dry; (iii) shaking the hemp plants to shear said at least one of the leaves and the flower buds from stalks of the hemp plants so as to form separated stalks and said at least one of the leaves and the flower buds which are not deformed; and (iv) screening the separated stalks and the leaves and/or the flower buds so as to be separated from one another.

A method for processing hemp to form a dry hemp product including cannabinoid oil comprises steps of: (i) cutting hemp plants growing in a field between about 85 days and about 120 days after seeding, such that the hemp plants include at least one of leaves and flower buds but are free of seed; (ii) drying the hemp plants to a prescribed moisture content of about 5% to about 15%, by leaving the hemp plants in the field to air dry; (iii) shaking the hemp plants to shear said at least one of the leaves and the flower buds from stalks of the hemp plants so as to form separated stalks and said at least one of the leaves and the flower buds which are not deformed; and (iv) screening the separated stalks and the leaves and/or the flower buds so as to be separated from one another.

A method for isolating bast bark and wood bodies from a bast plant stem (18), whereby the bast plant stem (18) is formed internally by an essentially cylindrical wood body (9), and the wood body (9) is radially covered by a bast bark (3c) containing bast fibers, and is connected to the bast bark (3c) via a meristem tissue (11), which intends that the bast bark (3c) is separated by means of a tensile force (Fz) from the wood body (9), or at least from a constituent part of the wood body (9) through the division of the meristem tissue (11).

A method for isolating bast bark and wood bodies from a bast plant stem (18), whereby the bast plant stem (18) is formed internally by an essentially cylindrical wood body (9), and the wood body (9) is radially covered by a bast bark (3c) containing bast fibers, and is connected to the bast bark (3c) via a meristem tissue (11), which intends that the bast bark (3c) is separated by means of a tensile force (Fz) from the wood body (9), or at least from a constituent part of the wood body (9) through the division of the meristem tissue (11).

A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks is disclosed. The method and system use an entirety of the whole hemp stalks in producing the particulate hemp such that the particulate hemp comprises both bast fiber and shire of the original whole hemp stalks. Additionally, hemp crumbs or crumbles may be processed from whole hemp stalks, or from particulate hemp which is larger than the hemp crumbs such as hemp pellets. The hemp crumbs may be formed by crushing the hemp pellets.

A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks is disclosed. The method and system use an entirety of the whole hemp stalks in producing the particulate hemp such that the particulate hemp comprises both bast fiber and shire of the original whole hemp stalks. Additionally, hemp crumbs or crumbles may be processed from whole hemp stalks, or from particulate hemp which is larger than the hemp crumbs such as hemp pellets. The hemp crumbs may be formed by crushing the hemp pellets.

This application provides, at least in part, a fiber refining machine and a method of using the same. The fiber refining machine includes a fiber feeding assembly, a rotary brush assembly and a rotary cutter assembly. The fiber feeding assembly comprises a feeding nip formed between a rotatable roll a nose bar and configured to feed a fibrous material through the nip. The rotary brush assembly includes a wire wheel positionable downstream of the feeding nip and configurable to comb the fed fibrous material to remove connective tissue and/or resinous coating therefrom and to separate the combed fibrous material into individual fibers. The rotary cutter assembly includes at least one rotatable knife and a stationary anvil, the rotary cutter assembly configurable to receive and cut the separated individual fibers into predetermined lengths.

A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks is disclosed. The method and system use an entirety of the whole hemp stalks in producing the particulate hemp such that the particulate hemp comprises both bast fiber and shire of the original whole hemp stalks. Additionally, hemp crumbs or crumbles may be processed from whole hemp stalks, or from particulate hemp which is larger than the hemp crumbs such as hemp pellets. The hemp crumbs may be formed by crushing the hemp pellets.