Hi @dillydilly
Exciting times ahead, maybe @hemptons can give some more insight as they have dealt with loads of hemp farmers.
Harvesting for Cbd vs seed an fiber?
Really depends on what license you can get and how much you willing to invest. All of it can be done at home if you just doing it for R&D, depending on your state/county laws. I know fibre can be extracted with very basic machinery as per my post here.
Autos vs regular?Best strains?
Really depends on what you decide to grow, best strains for oils would be strains with a high tricome and CBD count. Best strains for seed would be varieties that grow fat seeds, and the best for fibre would be long tall varities that produce long stretch fibres.
USA has a long history of hemp, so you might be able to access good quality seeds locally. However most countries import their seeds from Eastern Europe/France, as they have long used hemp for what its worth.
Best cultivation methods?
With regards to hemp and your background, I see outdoor in soil as the best method.
How to project profits?
Not to sure, and you would have to do alot of market research. I know China is producing most of the worlds fibre, 300 tonnes plus ( I think ), so it would be hard to compete.
Any good place to start reading up and studying?
With the changes in legislation and renewed interest in hemp. It might be good to start looking locally, see if any other farmers are doing it, look for local farmer associations that are investing in farmers wanting to trial hemp.