Fiber and hurd are two different products
Bast fiber is the strong, long fiber in the outer layer of the stalk. It goes into nonwoven mats, insulation, composite panels, paper and pulp, and—after further refining—textiles. Hurd (also called shiv or core) is the light, absorbent woody interior. It is used for animal bedding, the aggregate in hemp-lime (hempcrete) construction, absorbents and lightweight fillers.
Most stalks yield more hurd than fiber by weight. A buyer of one is often negotiating with a processor that also needs a home for the other, so it pays to ask whether a supplier sells both.
How stalks become fiber and hurd
- Harvest and retting. Stalks are cut and usually left in the field so natural moisture and microbes loosen the fiber from the core (dew retting).
- Baling and storage. Dry, retted stalks are baled and stored out of the weather.
- Decortication. Machines break the stalk and separate bast fiber from hurd.
- Cleaning and grading. Fiber is opened and cleaned. Hurd is screened by particle size and dedusted for its end use.
Retting quality, moisture at baling and the decortication line all change what you receive. Two suppliers with the same acreage can deliver very different material.
Specifications to request
For fiber: fiber length range, cleanliness (percentage of hurd or shive remaining), moisture content, retting level, bale format and weight, and lot-to-lot consistency.
For hurd: particle-size distribution, dust or fines content, moisture content, residual fiber content, packaging (bags, totes, bales or bulk) and available volume.
For both: a sample from the actual lot, a crop-year and origin statement, and documentation that the crop was grown under a licensed hemp program.
U.S. supply at a glance
According to USDA’s National Hemp Report, U.S. growers harvested 21,693 acres of hemp for fiber in the open in 2025, producing about 67.3 million pounds with a production value of about $13.5 million. Fiber is now the largest outdoor hemp use by harvested acreage.
Hurd and fiber are bulky and low in density, so freight can be a large share of delivered cost. Sourcing near a decortication facility usually matters more than the farm’s location.
Quick checklist for suppliers
- Fiber grade, length, cleanliness, moisture, processing method and bale size
- Hurd particle size, moisture, dust content, packaging and volume
Ask for material specifications, samples, lead times and available quantities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hemp fiber and hemp hurd?
Hemp fiber (bast) is the long, strong fiber from the outer layer of the stalk, used in nonwovens, composites, insulation, paper and textiles. Hurd is the woody inner core, used for animal bedding, hempcrete, absorbents and fillers.
What is decortication?
Decortication is the mechanical process that breaks hemp stalks and separates the bast fiber from the woody hurd. Cleaning and screening steps then grade each material for its end use.
What should I ask a hemp hurd supplier?
Ask for particle-size distribution, dust and fines content, moisture content, residual fiber, packaging format, available volume, a sample from the actual lot, and documentation that the crop was grown under a licensed hemp program.
How much hemp fiber does the U.S. produce?
USDA’s National Hemp Report estimated that 21,693 acres of hemp grown in the open for fiber were harvested in 2025, producing about 67.3 million pounds.
Sources
Sources reviewed November 14, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal, engineering or purchasing advice.