RFA Ethanol Podcast

USDA Announces Final Rule on Hemp Production

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the final rule regulating the production of hemp in the United States. “With the publication of this final rule, USDA brings to a close a full and transparent rule-making process that started with a hemp listening session in March 2019,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Greg Ibach. “USDA staff …

Cannabis, hemp, USDA

CIRB Hemp Perspectives

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the most timely sessions at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau annual meeting last week was Hemp Perspectives, moderated by CIRB Executive VP Michael Torrey. The session offered a look at the volatile world of the new U.S. hemp industry through the eyes of a processor, a farmer and an insurance provider. Steve Bevan, president of GenCanna Global, …

Audio, Cannabis, CIRB, Crop Insurance, hemp

Crop Insurance Update from USDA RMA at CIRB

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Martin Barbre gave an update to Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) members during their annual meeting last week. One of the big topics of discussion was the recently announced availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. “We’re trying to get to a level where we can insure producers’ …

Audio, Cannabis, CIRB, Crop Insurance, USDA

USDA Announces Hemp Crop Insurance Details

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA has announced the availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. A pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) provides coverage against loss of yield because of insurable causes of loss for hemp grown for fiber, grain or Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage protects against losses …

Cannabis, hemp, USDA

Hemp Classic Speaks to ‘Hungry’ Audience

Carrie Muehling

The 2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic provided some key information to an audience Missouri Hemp Association Executive Director Bill Cook described as “hungry” when it comes to learning more about the hemp industry. “I think the big thing that stood out to me is that we have a pretty wise and cautious group of producers that are very …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Unifying the Voices for Industrial Hemp

Carrie Muehling

The U.S. Hemp Growers Association is unifying state and regional hemp associations, while looking to engage the farmer base that is already producing hemp or looking to do that in the near future. “We see ourselves as advocates for the hemp farmer and those that are wanting to learn,” said Doug Edge, who serves on the U.S. Hemp Growers Association …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Legal Diligence Important for Hemp Farmers

Carrie Muehling

Farmers looking to experiment with industrial hemp production have a lot of legal factors to consider, according to Joel Cape of Cape Law Firm. “The thing that has caught my attention is aside from the fact that this is a brand new industry – the production practices are brand new – there are a lot of unknowns,” said Cape, who …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Students Learning More About Hemp Industry

Carrie Muehling

The co-founder of Missouri Students for Hemp Education and Research is helping other students to network within the industry and learn more about hemp production and policy. “Hemp is one of those things where you can’t just see it as a drug. There are a lot of other industrial benefits to it, too, and that’s always fascinated me on how …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Hemp Farmer Now Processing, Bottling Local Oil

Carrie Muehling

What began as an opportunity to diversify a traditional row crop operation by growing hemp has been a learning experience and much more for Luke Poindexter and Poindexter Family Farms. “We are traditional row croppers. We have lots of machines that do most of the work. This was quite different. A lot more manual labor. A lot more walking your …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp

Top Questions About Growing Industrial Hemp

Carrie Muehling

Potential hemp growers still have lots of questions about the product, how to raise it, and what the market looks like. James Bennett of Yeoman Farmers Brand presented on that topic at the 2020 Heart of America Agricultural Hemp Classic in Independence, Mo. Bennett, who is a hemp grower himself, said the question he gets most often is what to …

Audio, Cannabis, hemp