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

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

Hemp Association to Join Western Farm Show in 2021

Carrie Muehling

A partnership between the Missouri Hemp Association and the Western Farm Show will see those groups working together in 2021. “We understand that a lot of our attendees, the row crop farmers, are indeed future hemp producers, so we see the correlation there. Our show has been about education, so we see this as a great opportunity to provide this …

Audio, Farm Shows, hemp, Western Farm Show

Soil Health Key for Hemp Production

Carrie Muehling

Much like traditional row crops, soil health is also very important when growing industrial hemp, according to David Yoder with BigYield.us. “We’re really big on soil health,” said Yoder. “What we’re seeing is, the hemp product is going to look a lot like corn, as far as your nutrient levels. So we’re basing a lot of our information and knowledge …

Audio, hemp, Soil

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