In the ever-evolving world of commercial cannabis cultivation, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success.
At CannMed 2024, industry veterans Michael “BigMike” Straumietis and Jack Whipple shared groundbreaking insights on cannabis cultivation strategies. These strategies help commercial operations increase output and efficiency while producing higher-value cannabis that commands premium prices in the market
Straumietis — affectionately known as BigMike for his commanding presence and 6’7” stature — is the founder and CEO of Advanced Nutrients. Since 1983, BigMike has overseen the cultivation of millions of cannabis plants, driving innovation in the field.
Jack is the author of the CCI Black Book and a leading authority in growing premium cannabis at scale. He’s directly optimized more than a million square feet of canopy for maximum terpenes, cannabinoids, and output.
Drawing on decades of rigorous scientific research and hands-on experience, these cultivation experts presented strategies that are transforming the profitability of forward-thinking commercial cannabis operations.
Their presentation offered a roadmap for cultivators looking to maximize yields, enhance product quality, and significantly boost profitability.
Let’s dive into the key takeaways from this illuminating discussion, focusing on strategies that can transform commercial cannabis operations.
The Cornerstone of Success: Quality and Yield
As experienced cultivators know, the bedrock of any thriving cannabis operation is the consistent production of high-quality, high-yield crops.
At CannMed 2024, Jack Whipple reinforced this principle, stating,
“Quality and yield are the two things that ultimately dictate the ROI of your bottom line.”
To improve these crucial factors, BigMike and Jack emphasized:
- Team Training and Intellectual Property: Ensuring the entire cultivation team is well-trained and has access to necessary intellectual property.
- High-Quality Inputs: Using premium substrates and nutrients, recognizing that cutting costs in this area often leads to subpar results and lost profits.
Â
They also discussed the trend towards combining synthetic and organic inputs to increase yield, quality, and marketability.
With these foundational elements in place, let’s explore the three key strategies presented for revolutionizing commercial cannabis cultivation:
1. Rethinking Team Structure and Incentives:
One of the most impactful strategies discussed was the importance of treating your cultivation team as business partners rather than mere employees.
BigMike emphasized,
“The director of cultivation, the head cultivator, and cultivators should be looked at as business partners because they are controlling the quality of the product that is going to go out to the marketplace.”
Implementing a strategic profit-sharing or bonus structure based on performance can dramatically improve crop results.
Jack Whipple shared a compelling example:
“At two pounds per light per harvest, the team would get $1,800 in bonuses. Fast forward to three and a half pounds per light per harvest, the team gets an $18,000 bonus.”
While this might seem like a significant expense, the return on investment is substantial. In this case, the company netted an additional $200,000 per room per crop cycle for that $18,000 bonus — an 11-fold ROI.
This strategy not only motivates your team but also encourages self-management and a culture of excellence, leading to increased efficiency and productivity across the board.
2. The Science of Nutrients — A Game-Changer for High-Cannabinoid Cannabis Cultivation:
As the cannabis industry matures, a critical issue remains:
Most “cannabis” fertilizers on the market are simply repackaged general agricultural products.
As such, these products fail to meet the unique nutritional needs of cannabis plants, leading to suboptimal results for commercial growers.
Issues with Generic “Cannabis” Nutrients Include:
- Lack of scientific validation for cannabis-specific efficacy
- Improper nutrient ratios
- Excessive phosphorus which can cause toxicity
- Inadequate cation-anion balances, creating unfavorable root zone conditions
- Insufficient chelation, leading to pH fluctuations and nutrient lockout
- Low quality raw materials
- Failure to address the phase-specific nutritional shifts throughout the crop cycle
Â
These shortcomings significantly hinder the profitability of commercial cannabis operations.
Growers often experience lackluster yields, diminished potency, and suboptimal terpene concentrations. The result is cannabis that struggles to stand out in an increasingly saturated market, leading to slower sales and lower prices per pound.
Ironically, in an attempt to improve profitability, many operations resort to cost-cutting measures in their nutrient programs. This approach often backfires, as nutrients are a critical factor in plant performance and overall crop success.
“Instead of focusing on price-per-gallon,” said BigMike, “businesses could significantly increase their bottom line by focusing on RESULTS-per-gallon — on RETURN on investment.”
Recognizing that the industry lacked cost-effictive fertilizer options designed specifically for cannabis, Advanced Nutrients has developed science-backed solutions explicitly tailored for commercial cannabis cultivation.
The culmination of 25 years of cutting-edge cannabis research, the groundbreaking Cultivator Series represents a significant leap forward in cannabis nutrition.
Key Benefits of the Cultivator Series:
- Unrivaled price point makes it the most cost-effective solution on the market — commercial growers can transition to it without increasing their fertilizer budget
- Seamless integration — if you’re already using a 3-part system you can switch over without complex adjustments to your current growing regimen
- Optimal ratios of macro, secondary, and micronutrients
- Precisely calibrated phosphorus levels, avoiding toxicity and nutrient lockout issues common in other products
- Ideal cation-anion ratios, crucial for maintaining the acidic rhizosphere in which cannabis thrive
- 8th generation advanced chelation technology, ensuring optimal nutrient availability and pH stability
- Formulation that addresses the phase-specific nutritional needs as plants transition from vegetative to generative growth
- Minimal salt accumulation for cleaner, more efficient nutrient delivery
- Premium raw materials from Advanced Nutrients’ strategic partner Haifa in Isreasl, the global leader in pure inputs for specialty plant fertilizers
- Built on 25+ years of cannabis-specific research
- Backed the 100% Money-Back Grower Guarantee
Â
Despite its advanced formulation, the Cultivator Series remains competitively priced for commercial scale operations, providing a cost-effective solution for cultivators seeking top-tier results.
This innovative approach to cannabis nutrition is rooted in Advanced Nutrients’ rich history of research and development.
The company’s commitment to cannabis-specific science and innovation is longstanding, unparalleled, and evident in every aspect of product development.
Advanced Nutrients was among the first three entities worldwide to receive a license to cultivate cannabis for research purposes.
While the other license holders focused on pharmaceutical applications, Advanced Nutrients — in collaboration with Sofia Technical University and a team of PhDs — dedicated its efforts solely to enhancing the factors crucial for successful commercial cannabis cultivation:
- Terpenes
- Cannabinoids
- Yield
Â
This unique focus has resulted in 55 industry firsts and positioned Advanced Nutrients at the forefront of developing science-backed solutions tailored specifically for commercial cannabis operations.
Growers in over 120 countries now rely on Advanced Nutrients to maximize crop performance.
Impact of Advanced Nutrients Data-Driven Commerical Protocols:
- Terpene production can increase from the industry standard of 1.5-2% to 3-5%
- Cannabinoid production can increase by up to 25%
- Yields can increase by half a pound to over a pound per 16 to 20 square feet of canopy
Real-World Results with Advanced Nutrients in Commercial Cannabis:
(Links are included to each company’s fertigation protocol.)
- Cookies Maywood realized an extra $400/lb and added over $5.5M/yr to their bottom line
- Flower of Life in Flint, Michigan boosted yield by an entire pound for every 16 sq ft of canopy and consistently secures pound prices in the top 5% of their market, adding over $2.1M/yr to their bottom line. Notably, Flower of Life achieves these impressive results using a synganic protocol, demonstrating the effectiveness of this innovative approach
- Multi-country operator Tikun Olam increased yields by 25% and raised flower value significantly, adding over $35M/yr to their bottom line
Â
These results underscore the potential of implementing advanced fertigation protocols.
It’s crucial to note that none of these outcomes were achieved using salts alone.
Instead, they’re the product of comprehensive nutrient SOPs that go beyond basic salts, incorporating biostimulants and biologicals to unlock the full genetic potential of the cannabis plant.
This holistic approach to plant nutrition is key to achieving the kind of transformative results that can significantly impact your bottom line as it’s done for Cookies Maywood, Flower of Life, and Tikun Olam.
Since its inception in 1999, Advanced Nutrients has been the go-to choice for craft cultivators and cannabis cup winners focused on growing the highest-quality cannabis possible — growers willing to pay a premium for superior flower.
Evolving to Meet the Needs of Commercial Cultivators
In recent years, as the industry has grown, Advanced Nutrients has adapted its offerings for large-scale operations, providing streamlined, easy-to-use nutrient systems tailored to commercial growers.
By leveraging economies of scale, these systems remain extremely cost-effective without compromising on quality.
This commitment to both excellence and affordability is exemplified in Advanced Nutrients’ simplified, yet powerful Biggest Bang for Your Buck nutrient protocol, consisting of the Cultivator Series, Big Bud®, Bud Factor X®, and Voodoo Juice® Plus.
The recipe delivers superior results at a highly competitive price point for commercial operations. It’s simple to integrate, clean to run, and comes with a money-back guarantee that you’ll see better results than you’ve ever achieved at this price point.
3. Education and Training — The Key to Consistency:
The importance of ongoing education and training cannot be overstated in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry. Resources like the CCI Black Book and specialized training programs can help cultivators stay at the forefront of best practices for high-yield cannabis cultivation.
BigMike shared an anecdote about a recent biology graduate who, after studying the CCI Black Book for just one week, was able to successfully manage a grow operation, producing world-class cannabis using Advanced Nutrients products.
Conclusion — The Path to Ultra-Premium Cannabis at Scale:
The strategies BigMike and Jack shared at CannMed 2024 offer a clear path to producing ultra-premium cannabis at scale.
By focusing on team structure, nutrient optimization, and ongoing education, commercial cultivators can significantly increase yields, enhance product quality, and boost profitability.
The key to success in this competitive industry lies in treating your cultivation process as a science, your team as partners, and your inputs as investments rather than expenses.
By implementing these advanced cannabis cultivation strategies and practices, you can position your operation to produce greater yields of terpene-rich, high-cannabinoid cannabis that distinguishes itself in the market and commands premium prices.
To revolutionize the results of your cannabis cultivation operation, reach out to our team of experts at Advanced Nutrients to learn how we can help you implement these strategies and achieve unprecedented success in your facility.
