Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast

This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we're talking about wipes. And diapers. And makeup pads. And all the other throwaway hygiene products we barely think about — but use every day. Most of these single-use items are made from plastic. Why? Because plastic is cheap, consistent, and engineered to run smoothly on fast-moving machines. But that convenience comes at a cost: landfill waste, microplastic pollution and a total disconnect from the land. But what if we could change that? What if the raw material for these essential products didn't come from oil — but from agriculture? From the hemp fields, even? This week, we talk to Jason Finnis from Bast Fiber Technologies, a company working to make that shift real — using hemp fiber to replace plastic in nonwoven hygiene products. Our guest is Jason Finnis, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Bast Fiber Technologies, a clean-tech fiber company with operations in North Carolina and Germany. Jason's been working to bring hemp fiber into hygiene and personal care products for more than 30 years — not as a novelty, but as a high-performance alternative to synthetic materials. We talk about: • The massive and often invisible role of nonwovens in our daily lives • The hidden microplastics in wipes, pads and tampons — and why it matters • Why hemp fiber is a smart material for hygiene: absorbent, soft and compostable • What BFT looks for in hemp fiber: long, clean and consistent • The importance of regional supply chains and local farm partnerships • How consumer pressure, brand demand and European policy are aligning to create real momentum Jason shares his journey from selling hemp out of a VW bus in the '90s to helping build a future where everyday products are cleaner, greener and made from plants, not petroleum. Learn More: Bast Fiber Technologies https://www.bastfibertech.com Global Hemp Fiber Summit – July 10–11 at NC State University https://hempinitiatives.com/fiber-summit Thanks to our sponsor: HEMI – The Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative Learn more at HempInitiatives.org Produced by Eric Hurlock and Justin Berger

On this episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we take a look at the fight for industrial hemp's future — from grassroots advocacy to global certification and the ongoing struggles farmers face in the banking system. Act 1: Virginia Hemp Month – Reclaiming the Word "Hemp" Joe Domino and Scott McStacy of the Virginia Hemp Coalition join the show to talk about their efforts to officially recognize June as Virginia Hemp Month. With events ranging from hempcrete building workshops and beekeeping demonstrations to film screenings and brewery gatherings, Virginia is building momentum to reclaim the word hemp for fiber, grain, and industrial uses — and to separate it from cannabinoids and cannabis. Learn more: Virginia Hemp Month virginiahempmonth.com Virginia Hemp Coalition https://www.vahemp.org/ Act 2: Responsible Hemp Standard – Certification for Fiber Hemp Eric Singular returns to introduce the Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS) — the first global certification system for the industrial hemp fiber supply chain. RHS brings traceability, transparency, and verified responsible practices to every stage of hemp fiber production, from cultivation to cottonization. This certification gives brands and textile mills the confidence to source truly sustainable hemp fiber for apparel, textiles, and home goods. Learn more: Responsible Hemp Standard responsiblehempstandard.com Act 3: Banking Headaches on Brush Mountain In our final segment, we head back to Brush Mountain in Centre County, PA, where bison farmer and hemp grower Herb Grove tells how his local bank abruptly canceled his accounts — simply because he held a legal hemp farming permit. His story is a stark reminder of the outdated financial roadblocks still facing hemp farmers nationwide. Thanks to our Sponsors! • IND Hemp — indhemp.com • King's AgriSeeds — kingsagriseeds.com • Forever Green / KP4 Hemp Cutter — hempcutter.com Don't forget the Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit in Raleigh, NC — hosted by NC State and NIHC this July

This week on the show we reconnect with Chad Rosen, founder and CEO of Victory Hemp Foods, who was first on the show back in the summer of ‘21 when I drove the Lancaster Farming National Hemp Tour RV right up to Victory Hemp's grain bins in Carrollton, Kentucky. When I was there 4 years ago, Victory was processing batches, roughly 20,000 lbs a month, but they just put in a new processing line that lets them do 120,000 pounds of hemp hearts per month, a sixfold increase. But that's not all. The new production line features “patented processing technology” that Rosen said, “delivers cleaner flavor, higher yields for us in the plant, and functional formats that really meet the expectations of major food manufacturers." “We are a food ingredient manufacturer. That's the core of what we do,” Rosen said. Hemp heart protein and oil are the core of Victory's business, but the new processing technology also allowed Victory to launch value-added ingredient formats like puffs, crisps, clusters and textured proteins. “We've evolved beyond hemp hearts,” Rosen said. “The idea is to maximize the economic and nutritional value of the hemp seed.” Victory's products appear in a wide range of consumer foods, from gluten-free Texas toast to meal replacement shakes and post-workout smoothies. But you'll have to read the ingredients to find hemp. “We see a lot more traction with the customers that don't advertise hemp on the front of the box,” Rosen said. “What they advertise is transparent supply chains or protein boosts or omega-3 claims.” This low-key marketing strategy reflects lingering stigma—and regulatory confusion—surrounding hemp-derived products. Rosen is optimistic but realistic about the hurdles still facing U.S. hemp grain farmers. “We have to do a lot of the heavy lifting up front and on the back end to guarantee farmers are going to be able to compete,” he said. On this episode you can expect to hear where hemp food ingredients are going, how Victory Hemp Foods is scaling production, and what it will take for U.S. farmers to meet future demand. Also on the show, we touch on Hemp History Month, the upcoming NIHC Global Hemp Fiber Summit in Raleigh, and how hemp can bring manufacturing back to small-town America. Learn more about Victory Hemp Foods: https://www.victoryhemp.com Register for the NIHC Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit in Raleigh, NC (July 15–17): https://globalhempfiber.textiles.ncsu.edu Listen to the National Hemp Tour Interview with Chad Rosen from July 2021:https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/hemp/podcast/national-hemp-tour-victory-hemp-foods-carrolton-kentucky/article_2fa4d0a4-dff8-11eb-a4cf-039276633421.html   Thanks to our sponsors! HEMI – The Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative https://hempinitiatives.org Americhanvre Cast Hemp – Leaders in sustainable hempcrete construction https://americhanvre.com

The hemp event of the summer is taking place in Raleigh, North Carolina, July 15-17. It's the Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit, hosted by the Wilson College of Textiles, in conjunction with the National Industrial Hemp Council. This week on the Hemp Show, we'll talk to the lead organizer of the event, Guy Carpenter. Unlike other events focused on industrial hemp, this summit centers squarely on hemp fiber and the industries that are growing up around fiber: textiles, apparel, denim, upholstery, non-wovens, construction, hempcrete, insulation, acoustic panels, automotive, biocomposites, door panels, dashboards, paper, packaging, bioenergy, bioplastics and more. Just don't expect cannabinoids, CBD, Delta-8, hemp-derived intoxicants, or any discussion of the floral side of cannabis. According to Carpenter, this event is all about building the fiber industry. "If you have any interest whatsoever in starting a business in our industry and figuring out how to make it work and also figuring out what are the starting points, what are the roadblocks, what are the opportunities … this is the place to be,” he said. The three-day event will include panel discussions with industry experts, as well as field trips to NC State hemp fields, local manufacturing centers and the largest and newest hemp processing facility on the East Coast, recently opened by Biophil Natural Fibers in Lumberton, North Carolina. Carpenter said the summit will cover “everything from seed to decortication … whatever type of segment of the fiber you want to use, we're going to have people here who are experts at it." Carpenter has dedicated his life to natural fibers. He's worked in fashion and apparel, international textile manufacturing, and policy development. After the Army and the Peace Corps, his professional journey in the apparel industry took him all over the world, eventually studying hemp fiber production in China. His vast industry knowledge is a pivotal resource as his home state of North Carolina ramps up hemp for textiles. He brings an unmatched experience and credibility as the organizer of the summit. Carpenter said this event follows in the tradition of the Montana Hemp Summit, hosted by IND Hemp in previous years, which means the summit will be less of a celebration of hemp and more of a working session to move the industry forward, and the people who attend are the people building the industry. “They're not just out there promoting hemp for its magical powers or its halo of goodness… but figuring out ways to make money from it,” he said. “This is the place to be." Also this week, we read a few hemp excerpts from USDA's 1913 Yearbook. Register for the NIHC Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit here: https://www.globalindustrialfibersummit.com Read the USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, 1913 — Chapter on Hemp by Lyster Dewey: https://archive.org/details/yearbookofusdept1913unit/page/282/mode/2up News Nuggets Texas Legislature Moves to Ban THC Hemp Products https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-house-thc-hemp-senate-bill-3-ban/ Moldova Plants First Legal Hemp Fields https://hempgazette.com/news/moldova-hemp-fields-hg2123/ Germany Introduces Hemp Flower Tax Stamps https://hemptoday.net/german-hemp-flower-stamps/ Texas Poultry Farm Transforms to Hemp Cultivation https://www.publicnewsservice.org/story/texas-farmers-move-from-poultry-to-hemp/a83734-1 Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP https://www.indhemp.com Forever Green – Distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter https://www.hempcutter.com National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org

This week's episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast unfolds in three acts, each exploring a different facet of the growing hemp industry — from a café built on hemp-based food, to a hands-on construction training, to a linguistic deep dive into the meaning of the word hemp. Act 1: A Hemp Café in Mount Pleasant The show begins with a conversation with longtime hemp entrepreneur Cindy Amick, whose new endeavor is the Planet Hemp Café, which opens June 7 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. The café aims to showcase the full potential of hemp in everyday life  —from food and drinks to menus, uniforms and even countertops. The menu centers on edestin protein derived from hemp hearts and used to create hemp-based meats, cheeses, dressings and baked goods. The café is designed to be a prototype for a future franchise model, with plans to expand into Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, using American-grown hemp throughout its operations. Act 2: Learning Hempcrete, the Hands-On Way In early May, Americhanvre Cast Hemp hosted a hempcrete workshop at its headquarters in Barto, Pennsylvania. Attendees traveled from around the country to train on the Ereasyy spray-applied hempcrete system, an innovation originally developed in France by Damien Baumer, who was the lead instructor at the workshop. The event highlighted both the technical capabilities of the spray system and the growing interest in hemp-based construction solutions nationwide. Act 3: Reclaiming the Word “Hemp” The final act explores the evolving — and sometimes confusing — definition of the word hemp. Drawing from historical texts like Jack Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes," the 1913 USDA Yearbook, and a 1938 Popular Mechanics article, the segment makes a compelling case: historically and agriculturally, hemp has always referred to the fiber and grain parts of the cannabis plant, not the flower or its resin. The episode argues that lumping intoxicating cannabinoids under the hemp banner dilutes its meaning and undermines the emerging fiber and grain sectors. As host Eric Hurlock puts it: “If everything is hemp, then nothing is hemp.” Learn more: Planet Hemp Café http://planethempcafe.com/ Americhanvre https://americhanvre.com/ USDA Yearbook 1913 – Hemp by Lyster Dewey (PDF) https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43743691/PDF Jack Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" https://jackherer.com/thebook Popular Mechanics (1938): “New Billion-Dollar Crop” https://hempology.org/PM1938Article.html News Nuggets: Ukraine opens major hemp processing facility https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2025/05/19/ukraine-launches-largest-industrial-hemp-processing-plant University of San Diego study: Hemp vs. cotton https://digital.sandiego.edu/ksb-sscm/10 Victory Hemp Foods expands Kentucky operations https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/28149-victory-hemp-foods-adds-processing-capacity Calendar Events June 20 – PA Fibershed tour at Buck Mason Mill https://pafibershed.org/events/buckmasontour June 26–27 – NIHH Hemp Building Workshop – IL https://nihh.org/ July 15–17 – Global Hemp Fiber Summit – NC https://globalhempfiber.textiles.ncsu.edu/ Thanks to our Sponsors HEMI – Hemp Education & Marketing Initiative https://hempinitiatives.org/ Bish Enterprises – FiberCut Harvester https://bishenterprise.com/

This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock wrestles with a question at the heart of the industry: What is hemp? The term has become increasingly diluted and controversial — especially in light of smokable flower and intoxicating cannabinoid markets, i.e. THC-a flower, Delta-8, etc. Lately, Eric has been saying that if you're growing floral hemp, maybe you're not actually a hemp farmer. But he might be wrong and this week he goes on a journey to find out. On this show, Eric speaks with three trusted voices on the cannabinoid side of the conversation to help untangle the confusion: Joe Ullman of Atlas Seed, Ben Davies of Wild Fox Provisions and Jeremy Klettke of Davis Hemp Farms. Together, they explore the cultural history, legal definitions and evolving market forces that have transformed how we use — and misuse — the word hemp. From fiber and grain to cannabinoids and regulation, this episode digs deep into the meaning, the consequences and the potential for redefining the future of the hemp industry. Learn More: • Joe Ullman – Atlas Seed • Ben Davies – Wild Fox Provisions • Jeremy Klettke – Davis Hemp Farms Topics Covered: • The origin and historical meaning of "hemp" • How the 2018 Farm Bill broadened the definition • The rise of THCa flower and "intoxicating hemp" • The conflict between cannabinoid and fiber/grain sectors • Regulatory confusion and COA loopholes • The cultural baggage of the word "hemp" • The role of education, infrastructure, and language in shaping the industry Hemp Sponsors: • IND HEMP — Building real infrastructure for American hemp • King's AgriSeeds — Call Sarah Mitchell for seasonal seed needs (717-687-6224) • Forever Green — Distributor of the KP4 hemp cutter Questions or comments? Email: podcast@lancasterfarming.com This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Eric Hurlock and Justin Berger. © 2025 Lancaster Farming Newspaper, part of the Steinman Communications family.

This week's episode is a little different—just a quick teaser while we finish up next week's show, which dives into the meaning of the word “hemp” and who gets to claim it. Host Eric Hurlock has been on a journey talking to people in the cannabinoid space—like Jeremy Klettke, Joe Ullman, and Ben Davies—to sort through some big questions about language, identity, and the hemp plant. In the meantime, we don't want to leave you empty-handed. So here are a few instrumental tracks that Eric Hurlock has recorded over the years—music you've probably heard behind the podcast, but now without all the talking! Thanks for listening and for your patience.

This week on the Hemp Podcast we're looking at the 2025 Hemp Report from the USDA. The annual report attempts to provide a snapshot of the hemp industry, which, according to the report, is valued at $445 million — up 40% from last year. That sounds amazing, but what the numbers actually show is two completely different stories about two completely different industries: industrial hemp, i.e., fiber and grain, and floral hemp, i.e., cannabinoids, medicinal and recreational products and smokable hemp flower. As usual, the floral side of things takes up a lot of the conversation. After all, 85% of the $445 million industry was on the floral side, and people like to see that kind of growth. But numbers on the fiber and grain side tell a much more interesting and complicated tale. So we're digging into the numbers, while also contemplating the existential question: Are you really a hemp farmer? Host Eric Hurlock offers the hot take that maybe if you're in this for cannabinoid extraction — regardless of the THC content — you are not a hemp farmer. You are a cannabis grower. Historically, the word “hemp” has meant the crop you grow for industrial purposes. However, the 2018 Farm Bill opened up a legal loophole that has had major consequences for the meaning of the word “hemp,” which has led to confusion in the industry — especially among lawmakers and regulators who continue to think hemp is essentially just low-key weed. It's time to reclaim the word hemp for the real hemp industry: fiber and grain. Let's call floral hemp what is is: low-THC cannabis. Questions or comments? Leave Eric Hurlock a message: 717-721-4462 Read the report yourself: https://data.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Idaho/Publications/Census_Press_Releases/2025/HEMP.pdf Thanks to our sponsors IND HEMP Forever Green, distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter Americhanvre National Hemp Association  

They say hemp has 25,000 uses — but today, we're focusing on just one: nonwovens. In this episode, Eric and Sophia dive into a hidden-yet-ubiquitous part of our daily lives with guest Mattie Mead from Hempitecture. From car door panels to carpet padding, nonwovens are everywhere — and mostly made from petroleum-based plastics. But they don't have to be. Mattie explains how Hempitecture is scaling the use of natural fibers, like hemp, to reduce carbon emissions, create American manufacturing jobs and transform the built environment. This episode is a masterclass in sustainable materials, circular economy thinking and what it really means to make change from the ground up. Topics Covered: • What nonwovens are and how they're made. • Why nonwovens are a huge opportunity for hemp. • The story of Hempitecture's pivot from hempcrete to fiber-based products. • How American-grown hemp can displace petroleum-based materials. • What it means to be a manufacturing company rooted in agriculture. • New tech on the horizon: fiber fortification. • Investment opportunities in sustainable American manufacturing. Link to invest in Hempitecture on WeFunder This show is brought to by HEMI and the Goodness of Hemp What can industrial hemp do for your business? Find out at hempinitiatives.org Music by Tin Bird Shadow This show was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Sophia Kurzius, Justin Berger, and Eric Hurlock Copyright 2025

The NoCo Hemp Expo wrapped up its eleventh annual event last week in Estes Park, Colorado. The overall mood was optimistic, according to attendees, but there was an undercurrent of uncertainty and angst. The industry stands at a crossroads. Is it too dramatic (or melodramatic) to call it the battle for the soul of the industry? The word hemp means different things to different people, but for over a thousand years, the English word hemp meant one thing: the crop you farm at scale to produce raw materials for industry and food — ropes, sail cloth, paper, animal feed. But now, a quarter way through the 21st Century, the definition of hemp, some would say, has expanded, leading to new opportunities, while others might say the new definition of hemp has been co-opted and pejorative. In this episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock (with co-host Sophia Kurzius) gathers insights from 12 industry leaders, farmers, processors, advocates and policy experts to examine the defining issue of our time: the meaning of the word “hemp.” From Joy Beckerman's impassioned plea to protect the fiber and grain future of hemp, to Chris Fontes' nuanced defense of the cannabinoid market, this episode captures the friction and common ground shaping hemp's next chapter. And what's this we hear about executive orders coming soon that will redefine the hemp space even further? Plus, why you can't tell the story of hemp in America without talking about hemp on tribal land. Hemp is a game changer for Indigenous communities. Hempcrete, for instance, gives the people on reservations almost immediate access to addressing their housing needs in a way that was never available to them. "Hemp is achievable, it's circular, and the stories I hear from people in Indigenous communities are incredibly inspiring," said host Eric Hurlock. On this episode, you'll hear from: JJ Johnson – Founder of JJGro Kelly Burke – Director at Kifcure Joe Hickey – Co-founder of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Ken Meyer – Founder of Complete Hemp Processing Morris Beegle – Founder of NoCo Hemp Expo and WAFBA Joy Beckerman – Principal at Hemp Ace International Dionne Holmquist – Director at Makoce Agriculture Development Ken Elliott – Founder of IND HEMP Jean Lotus – Publisher of Hemp Build Magazine Chris Fontes – CEO of High Spirits Beverages U.S. Hemp Authority – Chris Fontes is President Andrew Bish – President of the Hemp Feed Coalition Bish Enterprises – COO Andrew Bish Greg Wilson – Founder of HempWood Topics Covered in This Episode Confusion over the definition of "hemp" Tension between cannabinoid and industrial sectors Misuse of the word “hemp” for intoxicating products Historical meaning and etymology of the word hemp Short-term profit vs. long-term industry building Cannabinoid products dominating policy conversations Farmer-focused versus consumer-focused markets Executive order rumors and Farm Bill delays Regulatory clarity and safety for consumers Indigenous sovereignty and tribal hemp regulation Shifting public perception through language Need for strong fiber and grain infrastructure Caution about unchecked cannabinoid products GRAS status and feed approval for hemp grain The role of big companies (Ford, Tesla, etc.) in scaling hemp Climate, soil, and sustainability potential of hemp Integrity, transparency, and labeling standards Disagreements within the industry over goals and methods Shared values across hemp sectors despite conflicts The importance of unity and focusing on common ground Joy Beckerman's public stance against intoxicating derivatives The idea of a regulatory split between floral and industrial hemp Hemp's potential for rural revitalization Making hemp “boring” again to normalize it as a commodity Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP National Hemp Association Forever Green Production and audio engineering by Lancaster Farming Audio Team: Sophia Kurzius, Justin Berger and Eric Hurlock. Music by Tin Bird Shadow

In this episode, regenerative industrial hemp farmer Steve Groff returns for a candid discussion about the current state of hemp farming, innovation and industry challenges in Pennsylvania. Groff shares insights on the unexpected bureaucratic setbacks he's faced, his pragmatic approach to political and economic changes and exciting developments in precision planting technology aimed at revolutionizing hemp and flax cultivation. Despite encountering funding hurdles and project delays, Groff remains optimistic, advocating strongly for unity and honest collaboration within the hemp community. Topics Include: • The impact of political uncertainty and tariffs on hemp and produce farmers • Challenges with labor and government bureaucracy • Innovations in precision planting for fiber quality • The struggle and reality of securing funding • Updates on biochar experimentation • Status of regional hemp processing facilities • Strategies for moving forward amid industry setbacks Groff emphasizes a practical mindset and underscores the need for honest communication and cooperation within the hemp industry to achieve shared goals. Learn More: Steve Groff Hemp Katalyst Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP King's Agriseeds Forever Green Music courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow:  

When President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on the original American road trip in 1804, there weren't many roads, so they took boats. Up the Missouri River and into the great unknown. One of their tasks was to collect and catalog detailed information about the natural world as they made their way westward. When the expedition returned in 1806, the American explorers brought with them a collection of over 200 plant samples that Lewis meticulously cataloged and preserved.  The Corps of Discovery expedition ended in 1806, but for this collection of plants, the journey continued on. Through a series of accidents, oversights and plain dumb luck, these 222 plant samples ended up on the other side of the Atlantic for many years and were almost destroyed. Now the collection, known as the Lewis and Clark Herbarium, is housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University in Philadelphia. How it got there and why it took nearly 80 years is the topic of today's episode. We listen to Eric Hurlock's interview with Dr. Rick McCourt, botanist at the Academy of Natural Sciences and curator of the Herbarium. What You'll Learn • How Lewis & Clark's plant samples survived over two centuries of mishaps. • The role of Philadelphia as a hub of botanical science in early America. • Details on plant preservation techniques from the early 1800s. • The intriguing story of wild tobacco rediscovered after being presumed extinct. • Future research potential from ancient DNA preserved in plant specimens. Learn More: Lewis and Clark Herbarium Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University See Photos from the Herbarium Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP Americhanvre Cast-Hemp Ereasy Training May 7-10 Music by Tin Bird Shadow

This week on the Hemp Show, we talk with global hemp expert and co-founder of the Hemp Plastic Company, Paul Benhaim.  Benhaim takes us on a deep dive into hemp plastics — and why he believes scalability is more important than purity. We'll hear about the company and the process of turning hemp into objects like didgeridoos and car parts. Benhaim has been in the hemp industry for over 30 years, finding early success with a hemp health bar in Europe in the 1990s before moving to Australia where he founded the largest hemp food company in the Southern Hemisphere. Benhaim tells us about a trip to the Himalayas that inspired his research into communities, health, diet and — hemp.  "The science says it's the best thing for humanity and it leads to people being vibrant and healthy," Benhaim says. This experience led Benhaim to write the book "H.E.M.P.: Healthy Eating Made Possible."  Benhaim explains the 'endocannabinoids,' and the endocannabinoid system present in every living mammal.  “Our body is literally made for cannabis, hence the system being called the endocannabinoid system, which until relatively recently was never taught to doctors, never taught in medicine. An entire system was kind of ignored," says Benhaim. Resources & Links: ✅ Hemp Plastic Company ✅ H.E.M.P.: Healthy Eating Made Possible ✅ Interview with Exlinol's Gabriel Ettenson ✅ Cannabis Psychedelics   Thanks to our sponsors: ✅ IND Hemp – Family-owned hemp feed, food and fiber company bringing new opportunities to farmers and manufacturers across the U.S. ✅ Forever Green – Distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter Music by Tin Bird Shadow Topics covered in this conversation: • Paul's introduction to hemp and his early “aha” moment • The connection between food, community and vibrant health • Founding of Hemp Foods Australia and Elixinol • The story behind his first book: "H.E.M.P.: Healthy Eating Made Possible"  • How hemp led to broader interests in natural living, permaculture and traditional medicine • The endocannabinoid system: What it is and why it matters • Paul's thoughts on full-spectrum CBD vs. isolated compounds • Why he believes CBD is a separate industry from both marijuana and industrial hemp • Challenges with regulation and intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids (like Delta-8, HHC) • Global perspectives on hemp vs. the U.S. approach • Hemp's historical context and linguistic confusion around the word "hemp" • The scalability problem in hemp and why it's critical to solve • The evolution of hemp plastic and the story behind the hemp harmonica • Paul's current work with The Hemp Plastic Company • Technical details of making hemp plastic pellets for industrial use • Why end markets matter more than farming alone • Potential for hemp to scale up as a sustainable alternative in global manufacturing • Circular economies and local empowerment in Africa • Hemp opportunities in Thailand and Asia • NIHC and international cooperation in the hemp industry • Paul's involvement with the U.S. government and COP (climate talks) • Cannabis psychedelics: therapeutic uses and his new project • Meditation, dance and his personal approach to mindfulness • Reflections on the need for a new, cooperative paradigm in hemp and beyond

This week on the Hemp Show, we catch up with filmmaker Joel Caldwell and hempcrete builder Danny Desjarlais about the film "Green Buffalo." Coming off of a win for the short documentary category at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, "Green Buffalo" is making waves. Caldwell shares his experience on making the film within the limitations of the short documentary medium and how he was able to capture the resilience of the Lower Sioux in the film. "I had the light turned on as far as this massive solution," he says. "We can create carbon banks and live in healthier homes." Desjarlais explains how his crew is addressing the local housing crisis by rebuilding their community — one hempcrete home at a time. “I came into this as a conventional builder, trying to find the bad in hempcrete, and I keep getting proven wrong," says Desjarlais. Resources & Links: ✅ The Lower Sioux Indian Community ✅ Watch the Green Buffalo film from Patagonia ✅ Joel Caldwell's filmography, including The Issue with Tissue ✅ The International Hemp Building Symposium, October 3 – 5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community's hemp campus ✅ Hemp Clothing at Patagonia ✅ Watch Legacy Regenerated, a Patagonia film about North Carolina hemp farmer Patrick Brown Thanks to our sponsors: ✅ IND Hemp – Family-owned hemp feed, food, and fiber company bringing new opportunities to farmers and manufacturers across the U.S ✅ Forever Green – Distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter. Music by Tin Bird Shadow

This week on the Hemp Show, we head to Tucson, Arizona, where Micaela Machado of Old Pueblo Hemp Co. is leading a hemp-building revolution. She said she hopes “Tucson becomes a hub for natural building and specifically hemp. I think Tucson, Arizona, is right for building, for processing. We have all the right weather and lots of land to do it with.” Machado is a general contractor with a background in sculpture and landscape architecture, and she's bringing her deep passion for sustainability and natural building to the hemp industry. Her passion is fueled by a drive to provide healthier housing alternatives for people. New houses are often made from hazardous materials that emit dangerous chemicals into the home, she said. “Every night we're sleeping in these Tupperware airtight toxic containers. And so I think that opens people's eyes” to natural building materials, she said. We'll hear how she made the leap from sculpting concrete for zoos and aquariums to pioneering hemp construction in the Southwest. She shares her “aha” moment with hemp and how her work is transforming communities, from feature walls to full-scale commercial projects. Plus, we'll get the details on the Hemp Building Fiesta, happening March 28-30 in Tucson — a hands-on workshop featuring some of the biggest names in the industry, including Sergiy “Dr. Hemphouse” Kovalenkov, Danny DeJarlais from Lower Sioux, Mary Jane Oatman from the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and more. Also on the show, host Eric Hurlock gives the show's new guest host Sophia a crash coarse in building with hemp. Topics Covered: ✅ Micaela's journey from sculpture to hemp construction ✅ The origins of Old Pueblo Hemp Co. ✅ The unique challenges and opportunities for hemp building in the desert ✅ Tucson's first permitted hemp construction project ✅ The upcoming Hemp Building Fiesta — who's coming, what's happening, and why you should be there ✅ The future of hemp construction in Arizona Links & Resources: ✅  Old Pueblo Hemp Co. ✅  Hemp Building Fiesta Registration Thanks to our sponsors: ✅ IND Hemp – Family-owned hemp feed, food, and fiber company bringing new opportunities to farmers and manufacturers across the U.S. ✅ Americhanvre Cast Hemp – Providing educational resources and hands-on workshops for the hemp building community. ✅ Forever Green – Distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter. Music by Tin Bird Shadow

In this episode of the Lancaster Farming Hemp Podcast, we welcome back Morris Beegle, the founder of NoCo Hemp Expo and a leading advocate in the hemp industry. The conversation spans the globe as Morris shares insights from his recent travels to Africa, Asia, and South America, discussing the growing industrial hemp movement worldwide. From the first-ever Kenya Hemp Conference to a 12-story hempcrete hotel in South Africa, Morris provides a firsthand look at the developing hemp sector in Africa. The 11th annual NoCo Hemp Expo is in Estes Park, Colorado, this April. Morris gives us a preview of what to expect, from expert panels to industry networking opportunities. Plus, we touch on U.S. policy, market access programs, and the challenges facing the industrial hemp sector. Learn More • NoCo Hemp Expo 2025 – April 10-12, 2025, Estes Park, Colorado • European Industrial Hemp Association Conference – June 11-13, 2025, Berlin, Germany • Green Buffalo – A short documentary film on hempcrete housing at the Lower Sioux Indian Community • Hemp Building Fiesta, Tucson, AZ – March 28-30, 2025 Sponsors IND HEMP, in Fort Benton, Montana Forever Green, distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter Music Courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow

On this episode of the Hemp Podcast, we speak with Jeff Kostuik, of Verve Seed Solutions, aa Canadian Hemp Seed company based in Saskatchewan. Jeff joins us from the road—literally, from an airport—on his way to North Carolina for a meeting with a hemp processor. We'll hear about Verve Seed Solutions and the new varieties they are bringing to the hemp space this year. We will also talk about Donald Trump's impeding trade wars and what Canadian hemp businesses like Verve are doing to face the new realities. Topics Covered: How Verve Seeds genetics are distributed worldwide Increasing hemp seed yield by up to 190%  How U.S. policies are affecting Canadian farmers Navigating strict cannabinoid limits in poultry feeds Why more infrastructure is needed us US Hemp processing Learn more: Verve Seed Solutions     Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP KING'S AGRI-SEEDs AMERICHANVRE CAST-HEMP Music by Tin Bird Shadow

On this episode of the Hemp Podcast, we welcome back Geoff Whaling, chair of the National Hemp Association, for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of the hemp industry under the new administration. We cover the uncertainty surrounding the NHA's $19.8 million climate-smart grant, the impact of leadership changes in Washington, and the ongoing push for hemp as an approved food and animal feed ingredient. Whaling shares his insights on the Farm Bill negotiations, the role of key officials in the USDA, and why he remains optimistic about hemp's future despite political shifts. Topics Covered:
 The latest on the USDA Climate-Smart grant and its uncertain status
 Why Geoff sees opportunities under the new administration
 Key takeaways from his recent meetings in Washington, D.C.
 The push for federal recognition of hemp as animal feed
 How industry members can engage and advocate for hemp policy Learn more: Take the NHA Industry Survey https://nationalhempassociation.org/hemp-industry-survey/ National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org/ Congressional Research Service Hemp Update https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12278/7 Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP Forever Green Music by Tin Bird Shadow

On this episode we talk to Max Justice from Setas Mushrooms — the innovator behind MyCoffin, biodegradable coffins made of mycelium and industrial hemp. Justice is the co-founder and CEO of Setas Eternal Living, a company that offers people a sustainable end-of life solution — with aspirations to disrupt the death industry with affordable and sustainable options. For Justice, Setas Eternal Living was logical next step in his fungus journey. He and his wife started Setas Mushrooms on their farm in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, after discovering the healing power of mushrooms during his wife's illness. Fungus changed their lives forever. In this episode we'll hear about the process of making coffins from mycelium and hemp and how this product compares to traditional burial vessels. Compared to traditional caskets that will take centuries to breakdown, Justice's coffin will biodegrade in just a few years, making it a good option for green burial.   Learn More: Setas Eternal Living https://www.setaseternalliving.com/ Setas Mushrooms https://setasmushrooms.com/ Green Burial Council https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/ Watch the WGAL News Video https://www.wgal.com/article/south-central-pennsylvania-farm-grows-mushroom-coffins/63364893 News Nuggets Shapiro Administration Announces Recipients of the Nation's First Agricultural Innovation Grant https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2025-press-releases/shapiro-administration-announces-recipients-of-the-nation-s-firs.html The public is encouraged to submit written comments to HHS and USDA related to the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to inform the development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/public-comment-departments Unfazed and confused, Sutter County extends ban on industrial hemp despite grower push-back= https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article299400029.html Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP Americhanvre Kings Agriseeds Forever Green Music Courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow  

On this episode we check back in Chris Boucher, who was originally on the program in July of 2022. Boucher is a hemp industry OG. In 1990, he was first introduced to hemp by Jack Herer himself in, author of the book that jumpstarted the hemp movement in America, The Emperor Wears No Clothes. In 1994 Boucher was issued a permit from the USDA to grow fiber hemp in California, but his crop was destroyed before harvest by local drug enforcement agents. He was a founding member of the Hemp Industries Association and was part of the landmark case HIA vs. DEA that established the legality of CBD. But these days, Boucher's hemp endeavor is JuiceTiva, a cold-pressed hemp juice powder rooted in the nutritional potential of hemp leaves and flowers. Boucher shares his opinions of the state of hemp in California, which he says has the worst hemp regulations of any state in the union, citing Governor Newsom's recent banning of hemp products and the structure of the state and county agriculture departments. He describes a situation in California where the marijuana industry is battling the hemp industry for dominance in the intoxicating cannabinoid arena. Learn more: JuiceTiva California Hemp Program News Nugget   Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Freeze on USDA Climate and Equity Programs Thanks to our Sponsor IND HEMP and their awesome hemp product brands: All Walks Pet Products Hemptana Farm & Ranch Products

This week's guest on the Industrial Hemp podcast is Lucia Vignale, a third-year PhD student at Cornell University, where she studies plant breeding, genetics and pathology. “I'm interested in searching for, mapping, and characterizing new sources of resistance against hemp powdery mildew,” she said. Vignale earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in molecular biologist in her native Uruguay, and in 2022 she came to Larry Smart's hemp lab at Cornell on a Fullbright scholarship to pursue her PhD. Her passion for hemp is intertwined with her passion for science. There's so much that we don't know about hemp, she said, “so I want to answer questions. I want to solve problems.” She said with other crops like corn, cotton or soy, there is already so much research out there, so much is already known. But hemp, she said, “has been largely unexplored due to legal issues,” and the untapped potential excites her. “There's so many things that we can do and learn from it, and we are seeing that in person now with all the new products and applications that we can get from it, she said. One of her jobs in the Cornell hemp lab this year was to plan and execute the fourth annual hemp webinar series, which starts January 29 and runs biweekly until May 7. This year's webinar series will focus on hemp grain and will include presentations from hemp grain experts. (see full list below) The webinar series is free but registration is required. Go here to register: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0vJzjCiA0SLCOua 2025 Hemp Webinar Series Schedule January 29: IND Hemp, founding and mission – Morgan Tweet, IND HEMP February 12: Pathogens affecting hemp cultivation – Nicole Gauthier, University of Kentucky February 26: Hemp products as food ingredients – Chadwick White, Nepra Foods, Ltd. March 12: Screening of seed related traits in wide germplasm – Tyler Gordon, USDA-ARS March 26: Novel high oleic acid seed oil trait – Ian Graham, University of York April 9: Hemp seed meal as a feed ingredient in animal diets – Nathalie Trottier, Cornell University April 23: Best agronomic practices – Bob Pearce, University of Kentucky May 7: Hemp products as food ingredients – Kendra Meier, HPS Food & Ingredients Learn More about Cornell Hemp: https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu/ News Nuggets: 13th Annual International Hemp Building Association Symposium to Be Held at Lower Sioux Indian Community https://internationalhempbuilding.org/ https://lowersioux.com/hemp-program-and-housing-project/ Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP Americhanvre Kings Agriseeds Forever Green

Holtwood, PENNSYLVANIA—On this episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast, Lancaster Farming visits with Lancaster County hemp farmer Steve Groff to discuss his recent trip to China. Steve shares his observations from visiting China's expansive hemp supply chain, from farms to textile factories. With vivid descriptions and first-hand insights, Steve explains how the Chinese grow, harvest and process industrial hemp at an unparalleled scale. The conversation explores: • The differences between Chinese and American hemp farming practices. • China's advanced textile production, blending hemp with cotton and flax. • The challenges and opportunities of scaling the U.S. hemp industry. • Steve's key takeaways from China, including what the fledgling American  hemp industry can learn from their systems. Thanks to our sponsors! KP4 Hemp Cutter: Revolutionizing hemp harvesting with speed and efficiency. Learn more King's AgriSeeds: Supporting fiber and grain hemp growers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Learn more IND Hemp: A family-owned hemp food, feed, and fiber company in Fort Benton, Montana. Learn more

This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock speaks with filmmaker Jordan Berger from Sunflower Films in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Berger and his team are creating the documentary One Plant, that tells the story the cannabis plant. Fresh off the success of a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $65,000, Jordan discusses the process of funding, creating, and finishing a film. He provides insight into how the funds will be allocated, including editing, sound design, animation, and licensing music to bring the project to completion. The episode also highlights the challenges and rewards of documenting a growing industry and why this film matters to the hemp community and beyond. In This Episode Kickstarter Success: Learn how One Plant reached its fundraising goal and how additional funds will support production. Film Production Breakdown: Berger explains the technical aspects of filmmaking, from post-production to sound design and animation for educational segments. Behind-the-Scenes Stories: Memorable moments from the two-year filming journey, including interviews with hemp industry leaders and on-the-ground experiences. Impact of the Film: Why One Plant is more than a documentary—it's a tool to educate, inspire, and drive change in farming, manufacturing, and consumer behavior. What's Next for One Plant? With editing expected to wrap up by February 2025, One Plant will soon be submitted to major film festivals. While the film's public release is still months away, the team is planning a premiere event for supporters in the spring. Make a late pledge to the film: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oneplant/one-plant Watch the Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1tlMo1VtWA Hemp News Nuggets Hemp Fiber Research Funding: North Carolina State University receives a $667K investment for studies on harvest timing and environmental impacts on hemp fiber quality. PFAS Remediation with Hemp: A project in Maine demonstrates hemp's potential to clean up contaminated soil but highlights challenges in safe disposal of toxic biomass. Regulatory Battles in Texas: The state's hemp industry faces potential new restrictions as lawmakers seek tighter controls on intoxicating hemp products. Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP Mpactful Ventures Forever Green, distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter Music by Tin Bird Shadow

In this special Thanksgiving episode, hemp podcast host Eric Hurlock sits down with hempcrete builder Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast Hemp. Fresh off his return from the World Hemp Forum in France, Cameron shares insights from his whirlwind trip, including a tour of La Chanvrière's world-class processing facility and his participation on a global panel of hemp-building experts. The conversation explores the state of hemp construction globally and at home, covering key events like Greenbuild in Philadelphia and the Lower Sioux Indian Community's groundbreaking hemp projects in Minnesota. Eric and Cameron also reflect on Pennsylvania's bipartisan support for hemp and the industry's bright outlook for 2025. Episode Highlights: The World Hemp Forum: Cameron discusses his time in France, including his tour of La Chanvrière's innovative robotic processing systems and his reflections on French leadership in hempcrete construction. Greenbuild 2024: A behind-the-scenes look at showcasing hemp building materials at one of the largest sustainability events in the U.S., and the unexpected challenges of staying true to green values. A Year in Review: Federal investments, grassroots movements, and key milestones for industrial hemp in 2024, including $75 million in government funding for the industry. Lower Sioux & The Green Buffalo: Highlights from Patagonia's new short film documenting the Lower Sioux Indian Community's inspiring work with hemp. Looking Ahead: A hopeful conversation about the growing demand for bio-based materials and the role of hemp in creating healthier, more sustainable communities. Support the Kickstarter for One Planet Film Patagonia's The Green Buffalo Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A15X3-FFEXw This Thanksgiving, we're reminded of the resilience, passion, and community that drive the hemp industry forward. Thank you for listening, and travel safely this holiday season. Until next time, see you in the newspaper! Thanks to Our SPONSORS! IND HEMP – A family-owned, mission-driven company providing innovative hemp food, feed, and fiber products to farmers and rural communities. Learn more at INDHEMP.com. National Hemp Association – Advocating for sensible public policy and building a sustainable future while promoting rural economic development. Learn more at NationalHempAssociation.org. Music by Tin Bird Shadow

This week we talk hemp with industry leader Morris Beegle. Known for his work with the NoCo Hemp Expo, Let's Talk Hemp, and other ventures, Morris shares his insights on the year in hemp, global developments, and what lies ahead for the industry. From international travels to Japan, Peru, and Prague to organizing major events in the U.S. and Europe, Morris offers a unique perspective on hemp's evolving landscape. In this conversation we explore the challenges and opportunities for industrial hemp and linger perhaps a bit too long on the linguistic and regulatory nuances that divide the plant's industrial and chemical uses. Plus, we'll some hear exciting updates about NoCo Hemp Expo 11 and the European Industrial Hemp Association Conference in Berlin. Episode Highlights: • Reflections on hemp industry achievements in 2024 • Global trends: Japan's strict regulations, South America's growing opportunities • The evolving political climate's impact on hemp in the U.S. • Insights into hemp's dual identity: industrial vs. cannabinoid uses • Upcoming events: NoCo Hemp Expo 11 (April 10–12, 2025) and the EIHA Conference in Berlin Links & Resources: • NoCo Hemp Expo – Learn more about the world's largest hemp-centric conference. • Let's Talk Hemp – Morris Beegle's podcast and media platform. • One Plant Documentary Kickstarter – Support the hemp documentary project. • Farmhouse Podcast – Stories about women in agriculture, hosted by Candice Wierzbowski and Stephanie Speicher. Listen to their conversation with Christine Smart from Cornell AgriTech and Melissa Nelson Baldwin from South Bend Industrial Hemp. Thank you to our sponsors! • IND Hemp – A family-owned company revolutionizing American hemp for food, feed, and fiber. Visit IND Hemp. • Mpactful Ventures – Supporting startups that combat climate change. Learn more. Music by Tin Bird Shadow  

In this episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast, we take you to the GreenBuild Conference and Expo in Philadelphia, the world's largest event dedicated to green building and sustainable construction. This annual gathering brings together architects, engineers, builders, and innovators, all focused on creating a more sustainable future for the built environment. Under the banner of The Goodness of Hemp, an inspiring collective of hemp-based businesses showcased their products and vision for the future of construction. From cutting-edge materials to bold collaborations, this episode highlights the voices shaping the intersection of hemp and sustainability. On this episode, you will hear: Katie Gillham – Event Director, GreenBuild Greg Wilson – HempWood Tom Rossmossler – HempStone Mattie Mead – Hempitecture James Forbes – Tiger Fiber Pierre Berard – HEMI and The Goodness of Hemp Alex Sexsmith – Sexsmith Architects Zach Popp – Sativa Building Systems Amanda Martin-Behrendtsen – Renewal Revolution Trey Riddle – IND HEMP Mario Machnicki – US Heritage Group Indra Fanuzzi – American Basalt Company Colyn Stangl-Meddaugh – BRR Architecture Listen now to hear how hemp is revolutionizing the construction industry and why GreenBuild is the perfect platform to showcase its potential. Support the ONE PLANT Kickstarter! Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP Mpactful Ventures ForeverGreen Music by Tin Bird Shadow

This is Part One of our coverage of the 2024 Montana Hemp Summit, also known as the "Goodness of Hemp" Summit, that took place in Great Falls, Montana, Oct. 15 -17. First, please take action now. Help support the One Plant Kickstarter campaign. The episode opens with a conversation with Ken Elliott, co-founder of IND HEMP in Montana. Host Eric Hurlock and Ken talk about the recent summit, the introduction of HEMI, and why people in the hemp industry should stop what they're doing right now and go help throw in on the One Plant documentary film KickStarter Campaign. And then you hear a series of interviews that Eric conducted with attendees at the summit. By order of appearance: Eduardo Garcia Chef and CEO of Montana Mex and Dream Farm, Eduardo shares his enthusiasm for hemp as a superfood and sustainable material. His work focuses on educating people about the connection between food, health, and environmental sustainability. Cheryl Mitchell A food scientist with Steuben Foods in the Grains, Nuts and Seeds Ingredient Manufacturing division, Cheryl specializes in plant-based beverages. She talks about her process for creating nutrient-rich, highly digestible hemp milk and the health potential of hemp as a food source. Erica Campbell Co-founder and partner at InCommon Group, a food systems strategic consulting firm, Erica discusses her work in advancing regenerative agriculture. She highlights her involvement in the films "Kiss the Ground" and "Common Ground" and introduces the 100 Million Acres campaign to promote sustainable farming practices. Anjli Kumar Founder of Inner Bark Heritage, a sustainable textile startup in Atlanta, Georgia, Anjli explains her efforts to establish a U.S.-based farm-to-fabric hemp textile supply chain. She aims to make hemp apparel mainstream by managing each step from decortication to finished fabric. Guy Carpenter Hemp textile expert and founder of Bear Fiber, Guy shares his work on creating the Benton shirt, a hemp-cotton blend garment produced entirely in the U.S. He emphasizes the importance of re-establishing American hemp textile production for sustainable clothing options. Steve Groff Regenerative agriculture educator and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, hemp farmer, Steve reflects on the Montana Hemp Summit's networking value. He shares insights from his partnership with Larry Serbin on green decortication research and discusses hemp's potential in reclaiming saline soils for agriculture. Larry Serbin OG hemp entrepreneur collaborating with Steve Groff on green decortication research, Larry appreciates the summit's role in building connections. His work focuses on advancing hemp processing technology to support a sustainable future for the industry. Jordan Berger and Maxwell Duryea Filmmakers from Sunflower Films, Jordan and Maxwell discuss their documentary One Plant, which highlights hemp's many applications. They share their excitement about launching a Kickstarter campaign at the summit to fund the film's completion and bring awareness of hemp to a broader audience. Bob Quinn Organic farmer and founder of Montana Flour and Grain, Bob talks about his research with IND HEMP on using hemp to mitigate saline soil in Montana. Known for his work with ancient grains like Kamut, he sees hemp as a key player in regenerative farming. https://quinninstitute.org/ Contact: Questions or comments? Reach out to Eric at podcast@lancasterfarming.com Credits: This episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast is produced by Eric Hurlock. Music by Tin Bird Shadow. Thank you to our Sponsors: IND HEMP Americhanvre Mpactful Ventures Forever Green

In this special episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast*, we talk to Erica Stark, executive director of the National Hemp Association (NHA), and Lancaster County regenerative hemp farmer Steve Groff. Together, they break down the exciting news that the USDA has awarded $19.6 million to support a transformative project focused on climate-smart hemp farming in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The project aims to help farmers adopt regenerative practices using industrial hemp, reduce agricultural runoff, and protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Erica and Steve discuss how the grant will benefit farmers directly, the challenges of building infrastructure, and how this initiative could boost the hemp industry in Pennsylvania and beyond. National Hemp Association Steve Groff USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program Watch the ONE PLANT trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1tlMo1VtWA Support the ONE PLANT Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oneplant/one-plant Thanks to our sponsors IND HEMP Mpactful Ventures Forever Green   MUSIC by TIN BIRD SHADOW https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot  

This week on the Hemp Podcast, we travel to Japan. Not literally, but vicariously. Our three guests recently attended the inaugural Tokyo International Hemp Conference last month and toured an 8th generation hemp farm and processing facility called Golden Hemp that makes sacred ropes used in Shinto temples. On this episode we will talk to Jean Lotus, Robin Destiche and Patrick Atagi. The trip was organized by the National Industrial Hemp Council of America and was funded by USDA's Regional Agricultural Promotion Program. Lotus, the publisher of Hemp Build Magazine, was fascinated to learn about the ancient traditions and processing methods that are still in use today, and thinks Japan will embrace hemp building practices. “I really see some opportunities there with hemp building materials just because of the decarbonization,” she said. “The Japanese have really embraced all of the United Nations sustainability goals for construction.” Robin Destiche, a co-founder of American hemp seed company KonopiUS, said he sees the potential for growth, but doesn't expect it overnight. “Like many things in the hemp industry,” he said, “I can see it maybe in three to five years, but it definitely feels like there's traction, there's development.” Patrick Atagi, the president and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council, organized the trip in conjunction with the Thailand Industrial Hemp Trade Association. “Our goal is to market and create a market for hemp domestically and globally,” he said. Learn More: National Industrial Hemp Council of America Hemp Build Mag KonopiUS Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) Texas Hemp Building Event: Architect/Builder Training and Tour, San Marcos, TX October 24-25 Greenbuild 2024 News Nuggets US Hopes Green Construction Awakens Japan's Hemp Industry Honeywell and SGP BioEnergy to develop plant-based biochemicals, reducing industry's reliance on fossil fuels Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP Americhanvre Forever Green and the KP4 Hemp Cutter

Secretary Russell Redding made an official Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture trip to Montana this week to meet with founders of IND HEMP, one of the largest hemp fiber and seed processors in the U.S. On this week's podcast, Lancaster Farming catches up with Redding as he visits the hemp facility in Fort Benton, Montana. The show features a joint interview with Redding and IND HEMP founder Ken Elliott from the IND HEMP office. Redding said he originally planned to attend the Montana Hemp Summit, hosted by IND HEMP, in Great Falls later this month, but had a commitment in Pennsylvania he could not cancel. Wanting to see the oil seed and fiber processing facilities with his own two eyes to better understand what is needed back home in Pennsylvania, he scheduled a last-minute trip to Big Sky Country. The fact-finding trip is part of a larger commitment from his department to develop a robust hemp industry in Pennsylvania, where, so far, the industry has struggled to find capital to build out the processing infrastructure. Redding spent the day with IND HEMP founders Morgan Tweet and Ken and Julie Elliott who answered his questions and gave him a tour of both the oil-seed facility and the fiber-processing facility, housed in separate facilities on IND HEMP's campus in Fort Benton, a town along the Missouri River in north-central Montana with a population of around 1,400. IND HEMP has created just over 50 jobs since setting up the facility in 2019. Redding is returning home with a new perspective. “I think in Pennsylvania, having something that would look like what is happening here in Montana is exactly what everybody in the steering committee and the hemp engine is trying to do, but it's not the final answer,” Redding said. “What I've learned today is that there's a quest to just keep building out the marketplace,” he said. “And the economics of that marketplace then determine sort of what those income streams look like for both the company and the farms,” he said. Elliott is optimistic about the Keystone State's potential in the burgeoning hemp industry, partially because of Pennsylvania's reputation for hemp in colonial times. He was keynote speaker at the Pennsylvania Hemp Summit in Harrisburg November 2022 and has since gotten to know key players in Pennsylvania's hemp industry. “We can help you guys take that next step,” he said. “We would love to be part of whatever the solution is for Pennsylvania's the hemp industry.” Do Pennsylvania farmers even have an appetite for hemp, after the boom and bust of the CBD market along with recent controversies surrounding so-called hemp-derived intoxicants like Delta 8? Redding thinks Pennsylvania have an appetite for something big and boring that can be another revenue stream for producers. “The margins, whether you're in Montana or Pennsylvania, are thin,” Redding said. “So to whatever extent we can add diversity to it — you can help de-risk the operation by adding an enterprise — that's universal.” Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Hemp Program IND HEMP Thanks to our sponsors! Mpactful Ventures Forever Green  

  On this week's Hemp Podcast, we talk to Geoff Whaling from the National Hemp Association, who recently returned from a trip to Africa. The trip, funded by a USDA Emerging Markets Program grant, focused on developing hemp exports to Malawi, Rwanda and Ghana. The purpose of the trip, Whaling said, “was to undertake a review and to report back to USDA as to the barriers for exporting American grown hemp products into those three countries.” In Malawi, he met with government officials, including President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who Whaling said was impressed with the economic potential of hemp in improving food security and creating industry. One of the barriers Whaling found is that hemp is not on the World Food Program and USAID's ingredients list. That exclusion will hinder the export of hemp-based nutritional products from the U.S. to Africa, Whaling said. Whaling also talks about the Lancaster County Hemp Circuit that took place last month. Whaling was instrumental in bringing Betsy Londrigan, the administrator of USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, to the event. Whaling said her presence at the circuit signaled USDA's interest in supporting the hemp industry, with potentially billions of dollars of funding available to the industry through Rural Development programs that Londrigan oversees. Also on this week's show, we follow up on that white deer Steve Groff saw on his way to the Cornell Hemp Field Day. As you might have guessed, there's more to the story. A lot more. An Army base. Nuclear warheads. An encampment of protesting women. A fence. A herd of inbred deer. Who knew one white doe would be such a can of worms. Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP King's Agriseeds

On the latest episode of the Hemp Podcast, we take the show on the road once more — this time to Cornell University's Hemp Fiber and Grain Field Day at the Agritech Campus in Geneva, New York. Among the many voices on this episode is Christine Smart, director of Cornell Agritech, who's leading groundbreaking work on hemp diseases and crop resilience. Hailey Green, a recent Cornell MBA grad and founder of Green Acres Processing, talks about her ambitious plans to establish the first full-scale hemp-processing facility in New York, despite the financial challenges that lie ahead. “We're a couple million dollars away, which is probably the story of everybody that says they want to do processing at this point,” she said. I also spoke with Maciej Kowalski, a Polish hemp entrepreneur who just wrapped up a trip around the U.S. to learn more about hemp processing. He highlighted the disconnect he sees in the U.S. between farmers and textile manufacturers, stressing that fiber quality must start in the field. “The textile people don't care about what's happening in the field, and the cultivators don't care about what happens afterward. That's not the way to make a good product,” he said. Shelby Ellison, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is working to collect and preserve feral hemp genetics from across the U.S., preserving the genetic diversity of hemp, which can be used to breed more resilient and adaptive varieties. So far, she and her team have collected more than 1,500 individual plant samples across 14 different states in the U.S. Pennsylvania hempcrete builder Cameron McIntosh talks about the growing interest from federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, in addressing not only operational emissions but also the embodied carbon in construction materials. We also hear from Pennsylvania hemp farmer Steve Groff, who shares a remarkable story about seeing an albino deer on his drive to Geneva. Groff's white deer might be a good omen for the industry, but it's definitely a good omen for this episode of the podcast. Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP Mpactful Ventures Forever Green Music by Tin Bird Shadow

MORTON, Minn. — The Lower Sioux Indian Community celebrated the opening of its new hemp-processing facility with a full day of hemp education and demonstrations on September 5, 2024. This processing plant brings the tribe one step closer to what it calls “Seed to Sovereignty,“ where the tribe creates its own supply chain: growing the hemp to be processed in the facility, where it will be made into hempcrete houses to address the housing crisis on the reservation through agriculture. This week on the Hemp Podcast, we bring you conversations from the Lower Sioux. We'll hear from Danny Desjarlais, project manager and leader of the building crew; Kristi Shane, Tribal Council treasurer; Robert Larson Jr., hempcrete mixmaster; and the “Earl of Hemp” himself, Earl Pendleton, who for many years has been the tribe's vision holder for hemp. We'll also talk to Mary Jane Oatman, executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and a member of the Nez Perce Tribe of the Columbia River Plateau; Rob Pero, founder of Canndigenous and a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians; and Nick Hernandez, founder and CEO of Makoce Agriculture Development in Porcupine, South Dakota, and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a citizen of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Plus, Ken Meyer from Complete Hemp Proeccsing and Derrick Dohmann from Horizon Hemp Seeds, North Dakota hempcrete builder Matt Marino, Minnesota inventor Bob Albertson, broadcaster Dan Lemke from the Linder Farm Network, and more. News Nugget: Newsom says hemp industry is ‘a disgrace' for not policing itself over intoxicants Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP AMERICHANVRE Forever Green   Music by Tin Bird Shadow  

This week's podcast is Part Two of our Lancaster County Hemp Circuit Coverage. Editor's note: Hey there, it's me Eric. I'm traveling this week to Minnesota for the Field Day at the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation, so in order to get the podcast out to you in a timely manner, I gave the transcript of the audio to my ChatGPT buddy and asked for a break down. And that's what the following is: AI-generated text. Thank you for your understanding! -e Here's a breakdown of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast episode titled Lancaster Hemp Circuit, Part Two: Who: Eric Hurlock: Host of the podcast and senior digital editor at Lancaster Farming Newspaper. Fred Strathmeyer: Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for Pennsylvania. Tarit Chatterjee: Director of Operations at Natural Textile Solutions and Bast Lab. Alyssa Collins: Plant pathologist from Penn State. Ron Kander: Professor from Jefferson University. Shawn House: Entrepreneur and founder of Hempzels, a hemp pretzel company. Other speakers: Local hemp experts, machinists like Joe from Joe's Machinery, and hemp advocates like Erica Stark and Cameron McIntosh. And Eric Beezer is running for office. What: The podcast features interviews from the *Lancaster County Hemp Circuit*, where participants discuss the latest developments in hemp production in Pennsylvania. Topics include advancements in industrial hemp, state support, fiber and grain hemp processing, and the potential growth of Pennsylvania as a leader in the hemp industry. Where: The event took place in various locations around Lancaster County, PA, including King's Agriseeds, the Landis Valley Farm Museum and Steve Groff's farm. Participants also mention upcoming events in Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey, which include field days and workshops focused on industrial hemp. Why: The podcast aims to spotlight Pennsylvania's growing role in the hemp industry. There is a significant push for infrastructure development, processing facilities, and innovative uses of hemp in textiles, construction, and feed. With local and state government support, the goal is to position Pennsylvania as a key player in the national and international hemp markets. This episode highlights the collaborative efforts and future potential for industrial hemp in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of local partnerships, state government involvement, and educational efforts to promote sustainable growth in the hemp sector. Here's a summary of the news nuggets, calendar items, and sponsors mentioned in the podcast episode: News Nuggets: Volkswagen and Hemp Leather: Volkswagen is developing a biobased leather alternative made from industrial hemp, which could be used in their car interiors starting in 2028. Calendar Items: Lower Sioux Hemp Field Day (September 5, 2024): Eric Hurlock will be attending a field day at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota. The event will feature attendees from around the country and celebrates the opening of the tribes processing facility. Cornell Hemp Events in Geneva, NY (September 11-13, 2024): USDA Germplasm Tour (September 11) Fiber and Grain Field Day (September 12) Cannabinoid Field Day (September 13) Hempcrete Workshop in Manahawkin, NJ (September 20-22, 2024): Hosted by Right Coast Hemp, featuring a hempcrete building workshop. Sponsors: IND Hemp (Fort Benton, Montana): A family-owned, mission-driven industrial hemp feed, food, and fiber company. INDHEMP.com Forever Green, Distributors of the KP-4 Hemp Cutter, a revolutionary hemp harvesting machine designed for speed, efficiency and durability. Available at HempCutter.com. Mpactful Ventures: A Massachusetts-based organization focusing on supporting sustainable ventures.  These segments provide a mix of industry updates, upcoming events, and product promotions relevant to the hemp community. The music in this podcast is courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow, a band or musical group whose work is featured throughout the show. The music serves as background during transitions between segments and interviews, contributing to the overall tone and feel of the podcast. It's likely used to create a relaxed, engaging atmosphere that complements the conversational and informative style of the podcast.

This week on the Hemp Podcast we bring you Part One of our coverage of the Lancaster County Hemp Circuit, a two-day, four-farm hemp event that shone a bright light on hemp in Pennsylvania and attracted attendees from all over the U.S. and a few foreign countries. On Part One of our Hemp Circuit coverage on the podcast, we hear from a handful of out-of-state attendees. We'll hear a few impressions of the county. “It's beautiful farmland,” said Larry Smart, a plant breeder and head of the hemp program at Cornell University. “I'll just say the roads here are twisty and turny. We're used to straighter roads in the Finger Lakes, but the landscape is just spectacular.” We'll hear how Pennsylvania fits into the national hemp industry landscape. Bert James, a North Carolina farmer and co-founder of hemp seed distributor KonopiUS, called Pennsylvania a “hemp playground, in the way that they have access to so many different varieties. There's a good latitude. They've got good soil.” “So there's a lot of potential here, but we're going to obviously need to get some processing online to serve this opportunity,” he said. And we'll hear why Pennsylvania might just be the perfect place for the intersection of business, innovation and opportunity. Larry Serbin, from Hemp Traders in California, is impressed with the farmers and Amish machine shops in Lancaster County. He said he is working with some folks in Pennsylvania to develop “green decorticating” techniques. “The hemp would be decorticated in the field, which would result in farmers earning a lot more money for the crop and the cost of the hemp raw materials, like the hurd and bast fiber, to be about half what they are now,” Serbin said. On this episode, we will hear from: Morris Beegle, WAFBA;  Eric Singular, International Hemp; Larry Smart, Cornell University; Wendy Mosher, New West Genetics; Larry Serbin, Hemp Traders; Laura Sullivan, University of Vermont; Bert James, KonopiUS; Rusty Peterson, IND HEMP; David Suchoff, NC State;  Keith Harvey, UGP Global Energy Upcoming Hemp Events: Sept. 11 Kifcure Hemp Harvest Open House https://kifcure.com/event/kifcure-hemp-harvest-open-house/ Sept. 12 Cornell University Fiber & Grain Field Day https://rchemp.com/2024-hempcrete-workshop/ Sept. 20-22 Right Coast Hemp Hempcrete Workshop https://rchemp.com/2024-hempcrete-workshop/ Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP National Hemp Association Forever Green

In this week's episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast, Lancaster Farming talks with Jean-Eric Ponthou from Hemp-It and Robin Destiche from KonopiUS. Ponthou is the manager of sales and development at Hemp-It, a French company established in 1965 that produces certified industrial hemp seeds. “It's the only company in France producing certified industrial seeds at international standards,” Ponthou said. Located about 180 miles southwest of Paris, the company has 30 employees at the headquarters and works with a co-op network of nearly 150 farmers to produce about 2,000 tons of hemp seed annually. “It's a co-op company,” Ponthou said, “which means every farmer has one share in the company, so we're all equal.” He said Hemp-It produces about 15 different varieties of industrial hemp, and each of these varieties targets some specific market segment: grain, hurd or fiber. According to a 2023 report by Textile Exchange, France is the largest producer of hemp fiber by volume in the world. Destiche is one of the founders of KonopiUS, a seed distribution and agronomy company in Virginia, and he has been working with Hemp-It for several years. Destiche explained how Europe operates from a database of approved varieties, varieties that have already been tested for morphology, stability and THC. “I think currently there's over 100 hemp varieties that are registered,” he said. Hemp-It has also developed several varieties of hemp that contain no THC. “This way, we open the gate to the food industry, because we can guarantee to get them the lowest the rate of THC as possible,” Ponthou said. THC is the naturally occurring chemical compound in the hemp plant which at higher levels cause the psychoactive affects associated with marijuana. THC-free varieties of hemp grain might be a way forward for hemp grain producers who took issue with last week's historic vote by the American Association of Feed Control Officials to allow hemp seed meal as an ingredient for feed for laying hens. Various international groups said the THC thresholds in the feed definition were too low and would be hard to reach. Maybe THC-free grain is the way to go. Learn More: Hemp-It KonopiUS Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP Forever Green Mpactful Ventures Music by Tin Bird Shadow

Our guest this week is Danny Desjarlais, head builder for the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton Minnesota, where the tribe is undertaking what appears to be one of the most ambitious hempcrete building projects in the country. Desjarlais said his community is has been experiencing a housing crisis. No so much homelessness, he said, but overcrowding—extended families all living together in small, poorly constructed houses on the reservation. But with hempcrete, he sees a path forward to provide respectable, comfortable, dignified housing for the people of the Lower Sioux in an efficient yet timely manner. In the past two years, Desjarlais and his crew have completed four hempcrete houses and a retro fit of an existing house. More hempcrete houses than most communities in the world, but still it's not enough. “Our main need here in the community is housing. And so we really need to make a difference,” he said. “And even four houses, five houses a year isn't going to make a big enough impact for what we need.” A recent census of the community determined the need was closer to 200 houses, which would more than double the number of houses on the reservation. One of the issues with building in Minnesota is the weather. Desjarlais said winter starts late and ends early, so there is a limited window for on-site construction, which is why the tribe is planning to make prefab houses from hempcrete panels—4' by 8' sections of walls that can be built in a facility and then assembled on site. This is the plan the tribe is working towards. To that end, they have developed a processing facility that will be opening soon, so they can be self-sufficient. They'll grow the hemp, process the hemp, and build houses for their people. The hemp houses and processing facility will be on display to the public on September 5, 2024, when the tribe is hosting their inaugural field day. Also, on this episode, we hear from Morgan Tweet and Andrew Bish from the Hemp Feed Coalition moments after AAFCO voted to approve hemp as a livestock feed for laying hens. Learn More: Lower Sioux Indian Community Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP Forever Green Music courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow

On this week's Industrial Hemp Podcast, we talk to the organizers of the Lancaster County Hemp Circuit: Sarah Mitchell, Steve Groff and Alyssa Collins. The circuit, an event centered on growing and processing industrial hemp in Pennsylvania, is scheduled Aug. 20-21. “It's called the circuit because we actually have four different sites and they're all in a radius of Lancaster City,” said Mitchell, hemp specialist at King's Agriseeds, which is hosting the first leg of the circuit at the King's research farm in Christiana on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m. “We have 28 varieties to show off from several different continents, all by breeders who are intending to either offer certified seed varieties or are breeding for certified seed varieties,” she said. From the farm in Christiana, the event moves to the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum for an afternoon educational session, including a welcome address from Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and a history lesson from Pennsylvania hemp historian Les Stark. “We also have six hemp entrepreneurs from Pennsylvania,” Mitchell said, “and these are businesses that are actually generating revenue from hemp. And so these are people who are not just talking about making it happen, but they're actually making it happen.” After the Landis Valley Museum and a dinner break, the circuit continues at Penn State's Southeastern Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Manheim, where Collins, its director, has been overseeing Penn State's hemp research since 2018. The evening portion of the event starts with introductions in the barn. Attendees will then head out to the field to see the variety trials and ask questions, before returning to the barn for more discussion. “This is a great opportunity to meet some of the next generation of hemp scientists, because we're going to have some of the students there to share their work that they've been working on the last couple of years on, specifically hemp disease and hemp processing and insect ecology in hemp,” Collins said. For those traveling from outside the county, Mitchell said a block of rooms is available at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel in Lancaster. The second day of the event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., entirely at Steve Groff's Cedar Meadow Farm in Holtwood, Lancaster County, where Groff has over 50 acres of fiber hemp in the ground. The day will be full day of expert speakers, educational opportunities and equipment demonstrations from chopping and baling to no-till planting into cover crops. There will also be a soil pit, so attendees can see the difference regenerative hemp farming has on the soil. Groff said he is excited to unveil his four bar hemp cutter, essentially four sickle mowing bars that allow for easier harvesting of tall fiber hemp. “And we'll be able to cut 12 feet hemp into four sections, and make it manageable then to windrow and dry it out,” he said. Lunch will be served both days, but attendees are on their own for dinner. Space is limited, so please register soon. Learn More King's Agriseeds Cedar Meadow farm Penn State's SEAREC farm Register for the Lancaster County Hemp Circuit  Questions about the event? Contact: Sarah Mitchell, Hemp Specialist 717-327-6188 Thanks to Our Sponsors IND HEMP Mpactuful Ventures Americhanvre Music courtesy of TIN BIRD SHADOW.

Hey there. I made a mistake on this week's episode, so if you hear something weird on the show, go back and downloaded it again. I fixed the issue and uploaded the new file. Thanks! -eric  

Members of the American Association of Feed Control Officials are scheduled to vote early next month on hemp seed meal as an ingredient for laying hens. Pretty standard stuff, according to the group's executive director, Austin Therrell. “It's one of the big things that our association does to promote harmonization and uniformity when it comes to defining ingredients and ingredient standards that all the state regulators across the U.S. recognize,” he said. Therrell is one of the guests on this week's hemp podcast who weighs in on the planned vote, which has the potential to crack open the market for hemp seed meal, albeit a very small crack. Oilseed crops in general need a secondary market for the byproduct — the cake or meal — of crushing seeds for oil. Hemp seed has been used as an animal feed for thousands of years, but because it was prohibited in the U.S. when the feed control systems were put in place, it has remained illegal to feed to commercial livestock. The association's vote in August has the potential to change all that by allowing commercial flocks of laying hens to be fed hemp seed meal. For Nebraska farmer and equipment manufacturer Andrew Bish, laying hens are a good start, but just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to opportunity. One of the reasons Bish got involved in hemp was to help create a new rotational crop opportunity for farmers. “Egg-laying chickens is 670,000 needed acres of hemp just to satisfy 5% of the egg laying chicken population,” he said. But that's not enough to be a rotational crop. “Start to add in beef cattle and broiler chickens,” he said, “and now we're talking about needing over 7 million acres.” “That is a true rotational crop opportunity. That's a big deal. That's a big deal for corn farmers. That's a big deal for soybean farmers. That's a big deal for wheat farmers.” Bish is the president of the Hemp Feed Coalition, the group that is spearheading the initiative to get hemp meal approved for layers. But not everyone is happy with the proposed ingredient definition. What's the issue? You guessed it: Cannabinoids. The proposed ingredient definition caps allowable THC at 2 parts per million and 20 parts per million for CBD. The feed control association received letters from hemp advocacy groups around the world to express their concerns, including groups from Canada, Australia, Europe and the United States. Lancaster Farming requested to see the letters and AAFCO obliged. Some letters were in support of the new definition, but others telegraphed fear that these cannabinoid limits will set a worldwide precedent and disrupt current and future markets because producers will have trouble consistently meeting the new definition. Those against the new definition would like to see the THC limit raised to 10 parts per million and the CBD limit removed altogether. Those in favor of the definition recognize the years of work it took to get hemp seed meal this close to any kind of approval, which will pave the way for approval for other livestock categories. They also say that there is a standard amendment procedure to change an ingredient definition after it's been approved. Those against are asking AAFCO to change the definition before the vote, but that's not how the process works. If the association votes no on hemp seed meal next month, there is no way to appeal the decision. The expensive and extensive process would have to start all over again, Therrell said. “So if (AAFCO) membership completely voted it down,” he said, “a submitter would need to start back from the beginning to hopefully resolve any issues or concerns that our membership had,” he said. “I don't know if it gives you any kind of level of confidence, but in my time with AAFCO, I haven't seen that happen completely. Not to say that it can't, but I think it's got a pretty good shot at moving forward,” Therrell said. Kentucky hemp pioneer Joe Hickey, one of the signers of the letter from a group in opposition to the new definition, is also a guest on this week's show. Hickey said the infighting among the factions of the hemp industry is beside the point. For Hickey, the real problem is the Food and Drug Administration. “You got the FDA that allows cigarettes to be put out and you get a half a million people who're dying from it,” he said. “And they allow that to happen, but something that doesn't hurt anybody, that actually helps people, they're trying to stop.” Learn more: American Association of Feed Control Officials AAFCO's Online Ingredient Courses Hemp Feed Coalition Read the letter sent to AAFCO from hemp industry groups: FIHO Letter to AAFCO NHA Letter to AAFCO Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance Letter U.S. Hemp Grain Operators Letter to AAFCO Association of Western Hemp Professionals Letter National Hemp Growers Association Letter Canadian Hemp Food Producers (once you click the link, download the full PDF) Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP FOREVER GREEN Music courtesy of TIN BIRD SHADOW.  

This week on the hemp podcast we saddle up and gallop out to Gordonville, Lancaster County, for Horse Progress Days, a two-day celebration of all things horsepower. Nearly 40,000 people were in attendance July 5-6, mostly Amish and Mennonite farmers and families. The weather was hot, the air was thick with humidity and the sounds of horses whinnying. What does Horse Progress have to with industrial hemp? Good question. Bear with me. In one of the vendor tents there was a cluster of businesses that specialize in working with hemp. Cameron Macintosh, hempcrete builder at Americhanvre, was there representing his company as well as the Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Council. He said the horse power farming communities know about hemp, but because of the volatile CBD market, hemp does not have the best reputation among the horsepower set. “Many farmers in this community invested heavily in growing CBD back in 2018 and '19,” he said, “and then suffered through the subsequent crash of that market in 2020 and 2021.” So when you mention hemp in this community, that's what they think of. “That's why we're here,” he said, “to show the community that the fiber industrial side of the (hemp) plant has dramatically more promise, more opportunity for their community than CBD ever did.” On this episode, we will talk to several of the hemp folks in attendance at the event, including Heidi Custer from Tuscarora Mills in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and Kelly and Jarrett Burke from KifCure, a hemp company based in Northern Illinois that's developing regional infrastructure in the Great Plains. I also had the chance to chat briefly with Reuben Riehl from Lancaster County Marketing, who was involved in planning the event. Everyone I spoke to about hemp mentioned Reuben as the reason they were at Horse Progress in the first place. “It fits very well with our community,” Riehl said, mentioning the farming and building aspects, but he doesn't expect it to be an overnight change. “I think it it'll take some time for it to resonate here, but it will be okay,” Riehl said. Also on this episode, Lancaster Farming visits with Sam Connor at Free Flow Farm in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just north of Pottstown, where he's growing about 30 acres of industrial fiber hemp and raising grass-fed and finished beef and pastured chickens. “We have two different varieties that we planted here,” he said. “We have a Uma for variety, which is a Chinese variety, as well as Futura 83, which is a French variety.” Connor said he is growing for I-Hemp Katalyst, a company that is developing processing capacity in Pennsylvania. Connor is excited to be an early adopter of what he sees as an industry with vast potential and is proud that his crops will be used in innovative ways. “I believe some of it's going to be used for biodegradable hemp plastics, some of it's going to be used for hempcrete. And I think there's even a possibility of something to do with ceiling tiles and things like that. Learn More: Horse Progress Days https://horseprogressdays.com/ Americhanvre Cast-Hemp https://americhanvre.com/ Kifcure https://kifcure.com/ Tuscarora Mills https://tuscaroramills.com/ Lancaster County Marketing https://lancastercountymarketing.com/ Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org Music by TIN BIRD SHADOW www.tinbirdshadow.com

This week on the Hemp Podcast, Lancaster Farming talks with Kelly Burke from Kifcure, an Illinois-based hemp company that is focused on developing the hemp industry in the Land of Lincoln. Burke, along with her husband Jarett, have launched the Northern Illinois Hemp Hub, which recently hosted a hempcrete workshop in Maple Park, sixty miles west of Chicago. They are also growing about 1000 aces of industrial hemp and are developing plans for a processing facility, industrial park, and education center. On this episode, we will hear all about their endeavors, including Silver Acres, a hemp wedding venue and event space, and Silver Lining animal bedding. Plus, we check in with Lancaster County Hemp farmer Steve Groff to hear how his hemp crop is holding up after two weeks of scorching heat and no rain. All that, plus news nuggets and a few surprises. Learn More: Kifcure https://kifcure.com/ Northern Illinois Hemp Hub https://nihh.org/ News Nuggets Think tank says ‘Miller Amendment' would not ban CBD and other hemp cannabinoids https://hemptoday.net/think-tank-says-miller-amendment-would-not-ban-cbd-and-other-hemp-cannabinoids/ ‘Hemp Killing' Amendment Would Not Ban All Hemp Cannabinoids, Says Leading Think Tank https://businessofcannabis.com/hemp-killing-amendment-would-not-ban-all-hemp-cannabinoids-says-leading-think-tank/ New Congressional report finds hemp amendment consistent with Ag policy https://www.greenmarketreport.com/new-congressional-report-finds-hemp-amendment-consistent-with-ag-policy/ Industrial Hemp Market Set to Surge to $25.7 Billion by 2034 https://mgmagazine.com/cannabis-news/industrial-hemp-market-set-to-surge-to-25-7-billion-by-2034/ Canadian hemp fields shrink for fourth straight year, reaching modern-day low https://hemptoday.net/canadian-hemp-fields-shrink-for-fourth-straight-year-reaching-modern-day-low/ South Dakota No. 1 state in nation for hemp production https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-hemp-production-sdiha-farm-bill/ Midwest flooding devastation comes into focus as flood warnings are extended in other areas https://apnews.com/article/midwest-flooding-south-dakota-4b9fbfe8918e7a7e3c18178cb92b11a8 Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ Forever Green https://www.forevergreen.com/ Mpactful Ventures https://www.mpactfulventures.org/ music by TIN BIRD SHADOW www.tinbirdshadow.com

On this week's podcast, we continue our coverage of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) annual conference, this year held in Prague, Czech Republic, June 5 to 7. As Lancaster Farming's friendly neighborhood hemp reporter, I was invited to be part of an American delegation to the conference, funded in part by a grant from the USDA Market Access Program to build overseas markets for hemp as a commodity crop. Last week, I shared a slew of interviews with Europeans in attendance at the conference. This week, I am sharing my interviews with American business leaders, entrepreneurs, policy wonks and processors — plus a handful of Canadians and one Australian who attended the event in Prague earlier this month. Zhaohui Wu is a professor of supply chain management at Oregon State University in Corvallis, where he is an affiliate faculty member of OSU's Global Hemp Innovation Center. He said he was eager to learn from the Europeans, because he said they are further along in developing the industrial applications and supply chains. “For me, this is the first time to come to the EIHA conference and to learn from European folks on how things are done, the best practices, and also to find opportunity to collaborate,” Wu said. Tommy Copeland was part of the American delegation, representing Kentucky-based HempWood, a flooring manufacturer that uses hemp instead of hardwood. Copeland said many attendees were not familiar with HempWood, and he enjoyed watching people's reaction to it. “You get to see the wow factor that they have,” he said. “Their mind is blown that you can do this from hemp.” Copeland described to attendees the HempWood process from whole stalk, pressed with soy-based adhesives with no VOC off-gassing. “It's a clean building material, it's eco-friendly to use, and I think that fits with the European mindset of building in a lot of ways,” he said. Tim McCarthy is a business owner from North Carolina where he runs United Natural Hemp Extracts, USA. “I am currently the chair of the policy committee for the NIHC, so I'm here on their behalf and the USDA trying to promote hemp from the United States to around the world,” he said. Roger Gussiaas is oilseed producer at Healthy Oil Seeds in Carrington, North Dakota, where he produces and processes hemp and flax grain for oil and protein. “We process 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said. “We're expanding our business. In the next couple months, we (will) be doubling our production.” Currently exporting to over 25 countries, Gussiaas is always looking for opportunity. “This trip here,” he said, “it's just there's a lot of opportunity. There's always a lot of opportunity in any new country you're in.” He said the key to finding markets is simple for him: “Always produce good quality and you'll have markets.” Keenan Stone, vice chair of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance and an owner of Uni Seeds in Ontario, was excited to attend the conference. She enjoyed connecting with people in person, a welcome change from online interactions. She said she was impressed with the research and innovation happening in Europe and, like Gussiaas, was open to opportunity. “There have definitely been some good business prospects,” she said. “There seems to be a lot of interest in trying out new varieties and things like that. Our business is seed supply, so definitely some good interest from Europe there.” Morris Beegle, founder of the annual NoCo Hemp Expo in Colorado, worked with EIHA to plan and execute the event in Prague. On the final day of the conference, Beegle told me he was happy with the overall energy, participation and programming. “It was really good last year, but I think definitely a step up this year, he said. “Great attendance. The conference has been packed the whole time. Networking has been really good. Lots of folks having great conversations. So I mean, overall I'm just very pleased with the way everything's turned out.” 5:49 Robin Destiche, KonopiUS, Pure Shenandoah    21.14 Roger Gussiaas, Healthy Oil Seeds25:37 Morris Beegle, WAFBA29:58 Alicia Fall, Her Many Voices34.55 Zhaohui Wu, Oregon State University    39:24 Tommy Copeland, HempWood42:01 Trey Riddle, IND HEMP; Joe Hickey, Halcyon Technology Holdings; Gregg Gnecco IND HEMP 44:01 Tim McCarthy, Universal Hemp Extracts, NIHC55:09 Hunter Buffington, APS, ASTM 58:10 Beau Whitney, Whitney Economics1:00:30 Peter Dushop, Forever Green1:05:35 Ted Haney, Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance1:14:25 Keenan Stone, CHTA, UniSeeds1:16:14 Ghyslain Bouchard, Askiy, Eko-Terre1:18:19 Sherri Smith-Hoyer, Australian Hemp Council1:24:24 Cait Curley 1:25:27 Morris Beegle   Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND Hemp https://indhemp.com/: Americhanvre https://americhanvre.com/ Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Music by Tin Bird Shadow https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot

On this week's Hemp Podcast, I recap my recent visit to the Heart of Europe, the Golden City, the City of a Hundred Spires, the capital city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia — Prague. The occasion for my trip was the European Industrial Hemp Association's 21st annual Conference, this year held in the Czech Republic. I was invited to be part of an American delegation representing the American hemp industry. The trip was funded through a grant from the USDA Market Access Program, or MAPS. The Market Access Program allows the Foreign Agricultural Service, the FAS, to partner with American trade associations, cooperatives, trade groups and small business “to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities that help build commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products and commodities,” according to the USDA website. The National Industrial Hemp Council was given official cooperator status by the USDA earlier this year, giving it access to MAP funding. At the conference, I witnessed my fellow Americans developing relationships and making business deals, and I saw the purpose of the USDA's Market Access Program playing out in real time. During the conference, I interviewed over 30 hemp people from around the world. On this episode we'll hear what people had to say about hemp in Europe, what the U.S. can learn from the Europeans, what the Europeans can learn from the U.S., and a whole lot more. Before the conference started June 5, Lorenza Romanese, managing director of the European Industrial Hemp Association, was hopeful for a successful event. “I hope that people will engage. I hope that people will go back home knowing more than what they knew when they arrived,” she said. “I hope that they are able to develop business opportunities.” Francesco Mirizzi is senior policy advisor at EIHA and focuses on the fiber and grain sectors. He said the fiber industry is well developed in Europe, thanks in large part to farmers and processors in France. “We kept production in Europe after the Second World War, and we have something like seven or eight big size decortication facilities that allowed us to build a market for fiber,” he said, “mostly dedicated to specific paper application composites, and especially in the automobile industry, and fibers for insulation material in construction and chives (hurd) for construction, like hempcrete.” An epicenter of hemp construction in Europe is war-torn Ukraine, less than 800 miles to the east of Prague. Sergiy Kovalenkov is a Ukranian hemp builder who has been teaching refugees displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine how to rebuild with hemp. “We train the refugees, the people that lost their houses. And they started to build their own homes during the war using local biomass,” he said. “So when you tell me you have problems, trust me, let's go to Ukraine. I'll show you what problems are,” he said. Hana Gabrielová, a recent podcast guest, is from Czech Republic and was instrumental in bringing the conference to her home country. She has worked with hemp for over 20 years and is involved in many ares of hemp in Europe, including as a board member of EIHA as well as a member of the CzecHemp Cluster, an advisory board to help guide and grow the Czech hemp industry domestically and abroad. Gabrielová was very kind to me, pointing me in the right direction on Czech food, restaurants, pilsner, and what I should see while visiting this ancient city. She recommended the svíčková (pronounced sveech-covah), which she described as the national dish consisting of a root vegetable cream sauce and high quality beef sirloin, served with dumplings. It was good. As for what to see in Prague, she said I should see the astronomical clock in Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge over the River Vltava. “They are not far from each other,” she said. “Prague is not too big so you can walk it out and have a nice afternoon and see everything basically,” she said. I took her advice and wandered around the city each day after the conference ended. I cannot express to you how impressive the city was to me, with its ancient streets of cobblestone and castles and medieval fortresses. So much history in one place. But not all ancient history. I was inspired to learn more about the Velvet Revolution that took place in 1989. It started as student protests against the one party rule of the Czechoslovakian Communist Party. Within a week, the crowd grew to over 500,000 people in Wenceslas Square, shaking their house keys, telling the communists to step down and go home. It worked. By the end of the month, the party relinquished control over the people. I think we can all learn lessons from this story. We the people hold the power. IN this episode you will hear: 15:22 Hana Gabrielová https://hempoint.cz/en/ https://www.konopius.com/ 17:05 Lorenza Romanese EIHA Managing Director https://eiha.org/ 21:18 Francesco Mirizzi Sr. Policy Advisor, EIHA 27:06 Laurie Blanchecotte Antoine Moussie La Chanvrière 32:51 Sergiy Kovalenkov Ukrainian Hemp Builder https://hempire.tech 36:13 Jörg Morgner Axel Philipps https://www.temafa.com/ 38:43 Otilia Frolu Romanian Hemp Cluster 42:45 Stephania Christodoulou Pavlos Kitsis https://klostiki.com/ 50:15 Daniel Kruse https://hempconsult.com/daniel-kruse/ 53:26 Catherine Wilson https://uk.linkedin.com/in/catherine-wilson-b2a7133b 58:20 Christophe Nourissier https://en.augur.associates/equipe 1:07:26 Maciej Kowalski https://kombinatkonopny.pl/ 1:10:27 Daniel Matthews, Caroline Matthews, Tatham https://tatham-uk.com/ 1:12:47 Frederic Vallier Maren Krings Federation of International Hemp Organizations     https://marenkrings.com/ Learn More about USDA's Market Access program https://fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-program-map Learn More about the National Industrial Hemp Council https://nihcoa.com/ News Nuggets Pa. Gov. Visits Lancaster County Hemp Farm to Announce Ag Innovation Grant https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/news/shapiro-farm-visit-promotes-10m-for-ag-innovation-in-budget-proposal/article_65f3adfe-2755-11ef-a48b-4f9a0a14b320.html 2024 NIHH Hemp Building WorkshopJune 20 – 21 • maple park, IL Register: https://nihh.org/ Read Eric Hurlock's blog about his trip to Praguehttps://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/hemp/follow-lancaster-farming-at-the-2024-european-industrial-hemp-conference-in-prague/collection_64c3071c-1f54-11ef-aa56-63dfa0a4ce3f.html Lancaster Hemp Circuit, August 20-21Learn more and register: info@kingsagriseeds.com Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND Hemp in Fort Benton, Montana https://indhemp.com/ Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council https://www.pahic.org/ Kings Agriseeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/ Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Music by Tin Bird Shadow https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot

  On this week's hemp podcast we discuss a recent amendment to the House draft of the 2024 Farm Bill known as the Miller Amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill. The amendment effectively bans all hemp products with any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the naturally occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as any cannabis with less than 0.3% THC. But because of vague guidance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration, a cottage market has developed for intoxicating products from otherwise legal hemp, such as delta-8. In March, 21 attorneys general from around the country signed a statement imploring Congress to close this perceived loophole, saying these unregulated, intoxicating products were packaged and marketed to children. In a statement on her website, Miller said delta-8 products were being sold in packaging that looks like candy. “We must stop teenagers and children from being exposed to addictive and harmful drugs,” Miller said. Miller is from a farming background and represents a rural district in southern Illinois. Many in the hemp industry think this amendment will have unintended consequences that could shut down the industry and destroy the livelihoods of people who are making legal and safe hemp products. On the show this week, Lancaster Farming talks to two lawyers serving the hemp industry to hear their perspectives. Justin Swanson, a cannabis lawyer from Bose McKinney & Evans in Indiana and the president of the Midwest Hemp Council, says the amendment is bad for the overall industry, citing harm to fiber and grain sectors and genetics. “In my opinion, it eliminates the genetic seed stock that farmers have built, over the last six years, under the broad definition of the '18 Farm Bill,” he said. Courtney Moran of Agricultural Hemp Solutions is legislative counsel to the National Hemp Association. Moran believes this amendment will have less of an effect on the fiber and grain sector, but still finds the new language troubling for the overall industry. Moran doesn't see it as an “industry-killing” amendment, as it's been presented in online headlines. “I would not uses those words,” she said. “It is a major shift from the policies and language that we've seen in both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills,” and if it moves forward it will have major consequences. But she reminds listeners that this is only the House draft and there are many more procedural hoops the Farm Bill must go through before being signed into law. Both lawyers suggest that the amendment has Big Marijuana's fingers all over it. The legally murky market for delta-8 and other hemp-derived intoxicants is cutting into the marijuana industry's profits. Also on this episode, we check in with Morris Beegle, founder of the NoCo hemp Expo in Colorado, who tells us more about the June 5-7 European Industrial Hemp Conference and Expo in the Czech Republic. Learn More: Justin Swanson jswanson@boselaw.com 317-684-5404 The Cannabis Practice Group at Bose McKinney & Evans https://www.boselaw.com/cannabusiness/ Midwest Hemp Council https://www.midwesthempcouncil.com/   Courtney Moran Campaigns@agriculturalhempsolutions.com 202-656-7023 Blog: https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/blog Socials: @AgHempSolutions LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/agricultural-hemp-solutions-llc/ Web: https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/ Agricultural Hemp Solutions https://www.agriculturalhempsolutions.com/   Morris Beegle We Are For Better Alternatives https://wafba.org/ European Industrial Hemp Council Conference & Expo, Prague, June 5-7 https://eiha-conference.org/   News Nugs Rep. Miller Votes Yes on Farm Bill https://marymiller.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mary-miller-votes-yes-farm-bill Farm Bill Amendment Would ‘Devastate' Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Industry, Close THCA Loophole for Seed and Flower Sales https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/farm-bill-2024-amendment-would-change-definition-of-hemp-devastate-hemp-derived-cannabiniod-industry-end-thca-seed-flower-sales/ DEA Says ‘THCA Does Not Meet The Definition' Of Legal Hemp As Congress Weighs Cannabinoid Recriminalization In Farm Bill https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-says-thca-does-not-meet-the-definition-of-legal-hemp-as-congress-weighs-cannabinoid-recriminalization-in-farm-bill/     Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Mpactful Ventures https://www.mpactfulventures.org/

On this week's hemp podcast, Lancaster Farming talks to Czech hemp farmer, consultant and advocate Hana Gabrielová, who started her first hemp company, Hempoint, in 2010 and has been instrumental in developing the hemp industry in the Czech Republic and Europe ever since. More recently, with several American partners she founded KonopiUS, which distributes European hemp genetics in the U.S. and provides agronomy consulting services. Gabrielová said the regulatory process to grow hemp in the Czech Republic is relatively easy compared to the U.S., where growers need a permit, an FBI background check, and THC testing before harvest (For now. Fingers crossed for the 2024 Farm Bill and the Industrial Hemp Act). “Hemp farming is not really difficult in regards to the law,” she said. “The farmers can buy seeds, which are on EU-registered database.” While growers don't have to get a permit, they are still required to inform the government. “You have to announce one month from sowing, how much did you sow? Where did you sow? Which variety did you sow?” she said. “And announce it to the customs office.” Gabrielová is a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association, which is based in Brussels but is holding its annual conference in Gabrielová's home city of Prague June 5-7. The conference will bring together hemp entrepreneurs and policymakers from around the continent and the world. This year's event includes a trade show where hemp companies can display their products, similar to the NoCo Hemp Expo that took place last month in Colorado. There are plenty of European cannabis events, but Gabrielová said this one will be different because it will focus strictly on industrial hemp products instead of “vape pens and marijuana seeds.” Hemp was prohibited for 60 years in the Czech Republic and faces the same marijuana stigma that confuses people in the U.S. While industrial hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the cannabis plant, industrial hemp has a wide range of industrial applications, such as building materials, textiles and bioplastics, and food ingredient applications for both human and animal consumption. The hemp industry is relatively small in the Czech Republic. Gabrielová said there are about 300 farmers growing hemp, mostly on small farms, but a handful of big farms too. Processing is a challenge because there is no decortication facility in the Czech Republic, “so we have to import all the hemp fibers,” Gabrielová said, “which is a lot, because we have a big paper mill here.” Also on this episode, Lancaster Farming talks with Patrick Atagi from the National Industrial Hemp Council, who has organized a delegation of American hemp companies, including HempWood, IND Hemp, Tuscarora Mills (and one hemp podcaster) to attend the EIHA conference and expo in Prague next month. Funded by USDA Market Access Program, the mission of the delegation, Atagi said, is to increase production and help U.S. farmers by finding markets for American hemp goods. “It's to push product globally and establish a foothold in Europe and beyond,” he said. In two weeks, the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast will be reporting from the Czech Republic. Learn more: Hempoint https://hempoint.cz/en/ KonopiUS https://www.konopius.com/ European Industrial Hemp Association https://eiha.org/ CzechHemp Cluster https://www.czechemp.cz/en/home/ Cannabis Embassy https://cannabisembassy.org/ Sustainable Cannabis Policy Handbook https://cannabis2030.org/ National Industrial Hemp Council https://nihcoa.com/ News Nuggets! Key Components of the Industrial Hemp Act are in the Farm Bill https://nationalhempassociation.org/25816-2/ NIHC to receive 275K in RAPP Funding https://fas.usda.gov/programs/regional-agricultural-promotion-program/rapp-funding-allocations-fy-2024 Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Music Courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow Special Thanks to the Beastie Boys https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNPGM2D7aODfk-63EIolk3X-VNRsJ7Hjw

On this week's Hemp Podcast, we talk to Guy Carpenter, founder of Bear Fiber in North Carolina, where he is spinning a blend of hemp and cotton into yarn and making garments like hats, shirts, and socks. “The vision was to incorporate sustainability and longevity into people's lifestyle,” he said. Bear Fiber developed proprietary methods to produce cottonized hemp fiber, and is making connections around the U.S. and the world to reestablish hemp as a primary “source of natural fibers for better products,” he said. When mixed with other fibers, such as cotton, hemp brings added strength and durability to textiles, he said. Carpenter has witness drastic changes to the American textile industry over his career. “The American textile apparel industry as it existed, doesn't exist anymore,” he said. “Textiles have have been remaining rather strong, but apparel, of course, has gone to lowest cost producers and, primarily China.” American textile jobs are more craftsman-oriented and geared toward luxury goods, and hemp can make those products better, more durable, more sustainable, Carpenter said. While he sees hope for the industry with hemp, the industry is still contracting. He said companies in the supply chain are going out of business. “We've lost five spinning mills. We're losing a dyeing and finishing operation in South Carolina that's been a bulwark in the industry for decades,” he said. Spinning is the big issue, he said. But he is hopeful because he sees the work being down to save the industry “There are people who are working on solutions, not to build it back to the way it was, but to be able to spin better yarns and more technical yarns, and also more sustainable yarns, which are what the industry is calling for.” Bear Fiber https://www.bearfiber.com/ Hempcrete events: Hempcrete Workshop in Pennsylvania, May 25 https://americhanvre.com/cast-in-place-workshop/ 2024 NIHH Hemp Building Workshop https://nihh.org/ 2-Day Intro to Hempcrete https://www.muddauberbuilding.com/2dayhempcrete?mc_cid=f1f4673930&mc_eid=128b44621a Thanks to our Sponsors! Mpactful Ventures https://www.mpactfulventures.org/ IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council https://www.pahic.org/  

Apologies to Jimmy Stewart. I only went to Washington for one day. I took the train from Philadelphia May 6 to record a podcast episode at the Ag on the Mall event on the National Mall in D.C. The National Hemp Association and the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council invited me to spend time at their display. They had a tent set up with tables full of products made from hemp: cat litter, animal bedding, shirts, rope, bio-plastics socks, flooring and biofuels. They even had a regular old 5-gallon bucket made from hemp. Next to the tent was The FiberCut, a four-tiered, adjustable-height sickle-bar mower made by Hemp Harvest Works in Nebraska. I spent the day talking to the hemp folks at the booth and people passing by, including Erica Stark, executive director of the National Hemp Association. “We are showcasing everything hemp. We have the hemp house on wheels here. We have the BMW i3. And most exciting is we have the new Livewire by Harley-Davidson that has hemp fenders on it that were actually grown in the United States,” she said. This week's episode is a collection of short interviews with a handful of people. Pablo Falla, a business owner with businesses in the U.S. and South and Central America, told me about the differences between growing hemp in the U.S. and elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere. “Down in South America it's totally different,” he said. “We got a perfect 12/12 all year long. So we can do up to four harvests a year. Andrew Bish, president of the Hemp Feed Coalition, had just returned from a meeting with the undersecretary of rural development at the USDA. “A lot of the dialogue was how we can create opportunities for fiber and grain producers to be able to access some of these government programs, some of these funds that they're not able to access right now because of the risk,” Bish said. National Hemp Associationhttps://nationalhempassociation.org/ Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council https://www.pahic.org/ Hemp Feed Coalition https://hempfeedcoalition.org/ Special thanks to Sandra Mason and the team at AEM Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMPhttps://indhemp.com/ Forever Green https://www.forevergreen.com/ Americhanvrehttps://americhanvre.com/ SunRay Hemp

This week's podcast takes us to a hempcrete workshop in Barto, Pennsylvania. That's where Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast-Hemp hosted a four-day hands-on training session to teach the basics of the spray-applied method of hempcrete installation using the Ereasy system. Training began Saturday morning at McIntosh's shop at a farm in Berks County. With a total of 14 participants and four assistant instructors, he said, “this is our single biggest training.” Attendees traveled from around the country and the world, including Texas, North Carolina, Minnesota, California, and British Columbia. Damien Baumer, who developed the Ereasy Spray-Applied system in 2014, traveled from his village in France to help McIntosh with the training. Baumer said his system is not in wide use in France, but is used in many other European countries, and now has a strong footprint in America, thanks to McIntosh. McIntosh's company, Americhanvre (a mash-up of America and the French word for hemp, chanvre), is the authorized North America distributor of the Ereasy system, and there are now more Ereasy systems in use in America than in the inventor's home country. Baumer is happy to see the growth in America, and said through a translator, “Cameron's a warrior who's been fighting for the last three years to make this happen.” Earlier this year, Americhanvre was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Army for $1.9 million. While the training isn't directly related to the grant, McIntosh sees the connection. The purpose of the SBIR program, he said, “is to commercialize your technology and your company, not only in the private sector, but also publicly.” Attendees get more than basic instruction on how to run the spray machine. “We also teach estimating and bidding. We teach accounting, we give the participants tools that they would need not only to run the system, but also to run a successful business around it,” McIntosh said. The Ereasy system is simple in its design and function. Hemp hurds are mixed with lime and water in a hopper. That slurry is then pushed through tubes by a large air compressor while the lance operator sprays the wet hempcrete mixture at a wall or, in this case, an SIP panel, which can then be used in construction. Attendees sprayed over 30 panels during the course of the workshop. Denzel Sutherland Wilson traveled from Gitxsan Nation in north British Columbia. “I came to learn how to spray hempcrete and just see if this would be something that could help us back where I come (from),” he said. Wilson is from the community of Kispiox, which sits at the confluence of the Skeena and Kispiox rivers. It's surrounded by mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. “We have a lot of poorly insulated and overcrowded houses and mold issues,” he said. “And this hemp seems like it could address a lot of issues in the housing realm.” He also said he finds great inspiration from the work the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota is doing with hempcrete, where the tribe is building houses for community members in need. Danny Desjarlais is the head builder at Lower Sioux and was on hand at the workshop to assist in the training. Desjarlais and his team have built three hempcrete houses in the past year and they are gearing up to build more. He sees hemp construction as a way to rebuild rural communities around the country. “For any community that wants to give their community members jobs and even better homes or whatever product you're going to make with it,” he said, “the potential for the jobs is there and the potential to take back your community.” On this week's podcast, we meet the people at the workshop. Why did they sign up? What did they learn? All that, plus a tour of a hempcrete house in Pottstown. On this episode we talk to the following people: Cameron McIntosh Damien Baumer Navid Hatfield Danny Desjarlais Tim Callahan Henry Valles Dani Baker Denzel Sutherland Wilson Cliff the Gardener Tina Jones John Price Learn More about Hempcrete: US Hemp Builders Association https://ushba.org/ Hemp Building Institute https://www.hempbuildinginstitute.org/ Americhanvre Cast-Hemp https://americhanvre.com/ Lower Sioux Indian Community https://lowersioux.com/ New Nuggets US poised to ease restrictions on marijuana in historic shift, but it'll remain controlled substance https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-biden-dea-criminal-justice-pot-f833a8dae6ceb31a8658a5d65832a3b8 21st EIHA Conference in Prague https://eiha-conference.org/ Hempwood, the coolest thing made in Kentucky https://hempwood.com/ Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ King's Agriseeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/ Forever Green https://www.hempcutter.com/ Music courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot

On this week's hemp podcast, we listen to a panel discussion from the NoCo Hemp Expo that took place in Colorado earlier this month. The panelists were Rachel Berry, a farmer and founder of the Illinois Hemp Growers Association; Terry Moran, a sales rep from Kanda Hemp, an importer of Asian hemp varieties; Corbett Miteff from KonopiUS, an importer of European hemp genetics; and Larry Smart, a geneticist and plant breeder from Cornell University. The panel discussion was moderated by Eric Singular who described the topic of discussion as “the intersection of agronomy and genetics in hemp fiber production.” Smart talked about starting the breeding program at Cornell and how trying to meet the needs of the industry has been a roller coaster ride. “But certainly right now the demand is for fiber,” Smart said. “So we have been focused on breeding fiber hemp. And the main trait that we see as valuable in fiber hemp is very late flowering.” Because hemp is a photoperiodic crop, it will stop growing taller once it starts to flower. “If we can identify varieties that continue to grow and do not transition to flowering, those are going to create the greatest amount of biomass,” he said. Typically, later-flowering varieties are adapted to tropical or subtropical latitudes, he said. Moran spoke about the need for seed in the U.S. as the industry grows. “The main thing to think about is if you're going to get to 250,000 acres,” he said, “is where's that seed going to come from?” Asia and Europe are the likely sources based on current trends. “And I don't see that changing in the near term. And even if there's some great variety out there, it's going to take several years to scale that,” Moran said. Berry, a first-generation farmer in Illinois, spoke about the importance of genetic research and how she worked with the Midwestern Hemp Research Collaborative. The group provided genetics that were tailored to Berry's region, one of which she said provided amazing results. “Having folks like you who are doing the research on these genetics and providing them to farmers like me to eliminate all that trial and error, I'm so grateful for that,” Berry said. Miteff described his work with processing methods, various fiber lengths, and the defibrillation of cellulose. “At end of the day, we're trying to find things where we can get some really good fiber that we can break apart that cellulose and start using it,” Miteff said. “But at the same time, how do we get the grain off of it?” he asked, a question that took the panelists into a conversation about dual cropping varieties that produce both fiber and grain. Learn more: Eric Singular https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-singular Pennsylvania Flax Project https://paflaxproject.com/ Illinois Hemp Growers Association https://www.illinoishga.com/ Cornell University Hemp Program https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu/ KonopiUS https://www.konopius.com/ Kanda Hemp https://kandahemp.com/ Noco Hemp Expo https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ News Nuggets HempWood https://hempwood.com/ Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky https://coolestthingky.com/ USDA's 2023 National Hemp Report https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Pennsylvania/Publications/Survey_Results/2024/hempan24.pdf Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ Mpactful Ventures https://www.mpactfulventures.org/ Forever Green https://www.hempcutter.com/ HUGE THANK YOU TO SUNRAY HEMP in ALASKA Music courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot

On this 420 Bonus show, we share an episode of one of our favorite podcasts, Rumble Strip. It's made by Erica Heilman who tells stories of rural Vermont. On this episode she interviews Vermonter John Rodgers, a stonemason the Northeast Kingdom, where he also runs a construction business, plows driveways and rents properties, and for sixteen years he served in the Vermont Legislature in both the House and the Senate. He works all the time so he can hold onto the farm that's been in his family for 200 years. It was a dairy when he was growing up there. Now he's growing weed for Vermont retailers. Thank you to Erica Heilman at Rumble Strip for letting us share this episode! Please go to her website and listen to more episodes of Rumble Strip: https://www.rumblestripvermont.com/