Socially disadvantaged farmers including those in the hemp industry are in line for new debt-relief funds in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan of 2021. The legislation, which passed in the U.S. Senate Saturday and awaits changes and a final vote in the House, directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make payments to Black… Continue reading New US economic stimulus bill allocates $4 billion in debt relief for farmers of color
Category: USDA
New USDA confirms looming nationwide hemp rules
The nationwide hemp rules are taking effect March 22 as planned, with no additional delay or review because of the changed administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA gave notice Monday that the rules have been reviewed and are cleared to take effect as planned. The USDA was giving the hemp plan a… Continue reading New USDA confirms looming nationwide hemp rules
USDA wants new hemp production data from farmers
Federal agriculture officials plan to collect hemp acreage and production data from thousands of U.S. farmers in the coming months. The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a notice in the Federal Register late last month, requesting permission to gather data about hemp production from the White House. Though the type of data USDA is after… Continue reading USDA wants new hemp production data from farmers
‘People expected me to fail’: Black female hemp farmers discuss disparity in the industry
Jillian Hishaw (Editor’s note: This story is part of a recurring series of commentaries from professionals connected to the hemp industry. Jillian Hishaw is an agricultural strategist and former U.S. Department of Agriculture Adjudicator of the Office to the Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights. She’s now Founder & CEO of Family Agriculture Resource Management Services… Continue reading ‘People expected me to fail’: Black female hemp farmers discuss disparity in the industry
Hemp producers: USDA preparing for 2022 Census of Agriculture with sample content tests
Hemp farmers may have seen something new in their mailboxes this winter, as federal agriculture officials prepare for the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which will include hemp farmers for the first time. Over the last two months, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service sent “content tests” to a sample of 36,000 producers… Continue reading Hemp producers: USDA preparing for 2022 Census of Agriculture with sample content tests
Tom Vilsack confirmed in Senate as new US Secretary of Agriculture
Three weeks after clearing his Senate agriculture committee hearing, the full Senate voted 92-7 Tuesday to confirm Tom Vilsack as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack, an Iowan, served in the same role for all eight years of the Obama administration, and oversaw the USDA during passage and implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, which… Continue reading Tom Vilsack confirmed in Senate as new US Secretary of Agriculture
Hemp in US animal feed is one step closer to fruition
In the United States currently, humans can eat foods made from hemp – yet we can’t legally eat meat or eggs from animals that have eaten hemp. But with recent action by the Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC), a Fort Collins, Colorado-based nonprofit seeking to gain federal approval for hemp and its byproducts as a source… Continue reading Hemp in US animal feed is one step closer to fruition
Montana lawmakers mull plan to separate hemp, marijuana production
Montana is considering a new requirement that medical marijuana growers keep their operations confined to indoor environments, leaving the outdoors for hemp production only. A state Senate committee Thursday heard from hemp and marijuana growers on the bill that aims to prevent cross-pollination between hemp and marijuana, the (Helena) Independent Record reported. The bill would… Continue reading Montana lawmakers mull plan to separate hemp, marijuana production
8 things to consider when selecting seed-propagated hemp genetics for field planting
Hemp farmers have a number of choices and sources for the varieties they will plant in 2021. But if they’re electing to use seed-propagated varieties, there are several criteria that growers should consider in selecting genetics. Jeremy Klettke, founder, CEO and head plant breeder at Davis Farms of Oregon in Portland, outlined basic requirements growers… Continue reading 8 things to consider when selecting seed-propagated hemp genetics for field planting
Are hemp plant breeders ramping up on utility patents to protect novel varieties?
Hemp genetics companies have been actively pursuing patents to protect their intellectual property after years of work to develop novel genetics. But despite intellectual property protection that became available after the U.S. legalized hemp production in 2018, some companies are still opting for more expensive and more comprehensive plant utility patents for the highest level… Continue reading Are hemp plant breeders ramping up on utility patents to protect novel varieties?
USDA creating hemp germplasm collection, funding lab to study plant breeding
Dionne Toombs Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture say they’re studying ways to boost hemp production and profitability for growers, and are collecting the first national statistics on domestic hemp production to be ready by next year. But Dionne Toombs, director for USDA’s Office of the Chief Scientist, gave no indication this week at… Continue reading USDA creating hemp germplasm collection, funding lab to study plant breeding
New USDA hemp rules: Find out what you need to know to succeed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked off 2021 with the release of federal regulations that will govern hemp production going forward. Find out the key elements of the new rules with a free webinar with leading industry professionals who will provide an overview of what hemp operators need to succeed. There is still time to… Continue reading New USDA hemp rules: Find out what you need to know to succeed
USDA coronavirus relief to hemp farmers on hold – for now
Hemp farmers getting federal pandemic assistance will see those payments frozen because of the changed administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that payments under the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program are on hold “until further notice” — though interested farmers can continue applying through Feb. 26. The latest round of coronavirus… Continue reading USDA coronavirus relief to hemp farmers on hold – for now
Senate to consider new ag chief Tom Vilsack
The Senate Agriculture Committee talks to an experienced hemp regulator Tuesday when it considers the confirmation of Tom Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack, an Iowan, is President Joe Biden’s nominee and served in the same role for all eight years of the Obama administration. He oversaw the USDA during passage and implementation of the… Continue reading Senate to consider new ag chief Tom Vilsack
Chart: Making sense of USDA’s new rules for disposing of hot hemp
(Editor’s note: This comes from Hemp Industry Daily‘s free updated USDA Final Hemp Rule report, available for download here.) The mishmash of U.S. hemp rules is on its way out. More than two years after Congress made hemp a legal agricultural commodity, farmers finally have one national set of rules for growing it – instead of a confusing,… Continue reading Chart: Making sense of USDA’s new rules for disposing of hot hemp
USDA official touts hemp rules as ‘fair, consistent, science-based’
A top official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture praised the agency’s work on hemp this week, putting into doubt any plans to make additional changes. Sonia Jimenez, deputy administrator for the Specialty Crops Program in the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, talked up the rules in a newsletter the agency sends to farmers. “The work… Continue reading USDA official touts hemp rules as ‘fair, consistent, science-based’
USDA: Final hemp rules aren’t on hold — but new administration will review
Nationwide hemp rules released in the closing days of the Trump Administration aren’t on hold, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But the agency will be reviewing all programs implemented by the previous administration, as is common when there is a new president. USDA spokesman Matt Herrick told Hemp Industry Daily in an emailed… Continue reading USDA: Final hemp rules aren’t on hold — but new administration will review
Biden transition leaves hemp operators wondering about new USDA rules
Farmers still making sense of long-delayed nationwide rules for growing hemp in 2021 and beyond got another wrinkle Wednesday when the incoming administration of President Joe Biden ordered a “freeze” on new regulations. The memo instructed federal agencies — including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees hemp production — to consider additional 30-day comment… Continue reading Biden transition leaves hemp operators wondering about new USDA rules
Hemp industry advocates dish reactions on USDA final hemp rules
Federal agriculture rulemakers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture released final hemp production rules on Friday, in the final days of the Trump Administration. Changes to the final rule were based on public comments from farmers and industry members about interim hemp rules released in 2019 and are set to take effect on March 22.… Continue reading Hemp industry advocates dish reactions on USDA final hemp rules
NIHC chairman appointed to board advising U.S. on trade policy
The chairman of the National Industrial Hemp Council, Patrick Atagi, will serve on the U.S.’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts. Members of the committee provide guidance and recommendations on trade policies to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “It’s an honor to… Continue reading NIHC chairman appointed to board advising U.S. on trade policy
USDA, Interior tapped for new interagency subcabinet to more effectively manage wildfires
After wildfires ravaged the West Coast in 2020, scorching millions of acres of land and damaging businesses and crops, including countless farms and businesses in the cannabis industry, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior will lead a new Interagency Wildland Fire Subcabinet, focused on wildfire management. According to the USDA, the Executive Order on… Continue reading USDA, Interior tapped for new interagency subcabinet to more effectively manage wildfires
USDA gives hemp farmers breathing room on THC, testing, but retains DEA requirement
Hemp producers will have more breathing room under newly released rules on the federally mandated THC levels before they are declared criminally negligent, with the margin of error increasing from a total of 0.5% to 1% THC. Hemp farmers and testing agents will also have more time to harvest plants after testing, with the harvest… Continue reading USDA gives hemp farmers breathing room on THC, testing, but retains DEA requirement