National Hemp Association

11 hours ago

"Federal agriculture officials will delay the requirement that all THC testing on hemp crops must be performed at laboratories registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

And food and drug regulators say it’s a “fool’s errand” to get people to stop taking over-the-counter CBD.

Greg Ibach, undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, told members at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) meeting in Arlington, Virginia, that the USDA and DEA have reached an agreement to remove the requirement for hemp farmers to have their crops tested in DEA-registered laboratories in 2020.

“We were able to reach an agreement (with DEA) that we are going to be able to provide some relief from the laboratory certification process for this crop year,” Ibach said.
“DEA will still expect states to work with their laboratories to try to achieve certification for the 2021 crop year,” he added.

The DEA requirement was included in the interim final rule for domestic hemp production that the USDA released Oct. 31.

“This about-face by the USDA means that farmers can continue to use their trusted local and regional analytical testing labs to ensure compliance with USDA rules,” Josh Schneider, CEO of San Diego-based young plant producer Cultivaris Hemp, told Hemp Industry Daily.

“Getting rid of this ridiculous DEA testing requirement is a step in the right direction by the USDA,” he added. “Hopefully this means that the USDA has come to their senses and will be making better and smarter rules going forward.”

hempindustrydaily.com/usda-drops-dea-testing-requirement-while-fda-acknowledges-demand-for-cbd/ ... See MoreSee Less

USDA drops DEA hemp testing requirement for 2020, while FDA acknowledges demand for CBD

(This story has been updated to add more details about the changes and add reaction from disappointed advocates.) Federal agriculture officials will delay the requirement that all THC testing on hemp crops must be performed at laboratories registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. An...

National Hemp Association

2 days ago

www.witf.org/2020/02/25/hemp-growers-fight-federal-limits-weather-thieves-for-a-stake-in-a-projec... ... See MoreSee Less

Hemp growers fight federal limits, weather, thieves for a stake in a projected CBD boom | WITF

(Georgetown, Del.) — Mike Spray says neuropathy in his feet used to cause so much pain, he routinely had sleepless nights. When he discover […]

National Hemp Association

1 week ago

//For many farmers, 2019 was the first year of growing hemp, since it became legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. In addition to the normal challenges of farming, hemp growers have had to deal with a different kind of problem: theft.// ... See MoreSee Less

Farmers Lose Out As Thieves Mistake Hemp for Marijuana

For many farmers, 2019 was the first year of growing hemp, since it became legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. In addition to the normal challenges of farming,

National Hemp Association

2 weeks ago

"Federal agriculture officials have introduced two crop insurance programs for hemp, both designed to protect farmers growing the new commodity from damage during natural disasters.

But the programs have tight deadlines and limitations on who is eligible.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newly available Multi-Peril Crop Insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program both provide a much-needed safety net for hemp farmers.

But the March 16 deadline to sign up is fast approaching – and farmers must have a current hemp production license and a buyer contract in place before they can qualify.

The timeline is further complicated by fact that the USDA has so far approved only six state and seven tribal hemp production plans, while 14 states will keep their current rules under the 2014 Farm Bill."

hempindustrydaily.com/hemp-farmers-should-act-fast-to-sign-up-for-new-usda-crop-insurance-options/ ... See MoreSee Less

Hemp farmers should act fast to sign up for new USDA crop insurance options

Federal agriculture officials have introduced two crop insurance programs for hemp, both designed to protect farmers growing the new commodity from damage during natural disasters.But the programs have tight deadlines and limitations on who is eligible.

National Hemp Association

3 weeks ago

//As the hemp industry grows, producers face the challenge of cultivating a crop that has received comparatively little scientific study, and that can become unusable — and illegal — if it develops too much of the psychoactive chemical THC.

In a new study, Cornell researchers have determined that a hemp plant’s propensity to “go hot” — become too high in THC — is determined by genetics, not as a stress response to growing conditions, contrary to popular belief.// ... See MoreSee Less

Genetics, Not Field Conditions, Makes Hemp ‘Go Hot’

As the hemp industry grows, producers face the challenge of cultivating a crop that has received comparatively little scientific study, and that can become unusable — and illegal — if