Q: I am planning on growing hemp this season; is there still a demand for it? A: Given accounts of difficulties, a newcomer to the hemp industry might be forgiven for some pessimism. Falling prices, a shortage of hemp processors, and a glut of biomass are some of the real challenges facing current and [...] The post Ask Our Experts: Is There Still Demand for Hemp? appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

With a glut of biomass on the market facing a dearth of potential buyers, hemp farmers are looking for alternate ways to sell their crops and protect themselves from falling prices. One way for them to accomplish such is by setting up forward purchase agreements. For the uninitiated, there are some things to keep in [...] The post Forward Purchase Agreements Offer Hemp Farmers Either Assurance or Added Benefit appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

Q: I hear contradictory things about the acceptable THC threshold for hemp; what is the limit, and does it change by state? A: Ever since the USDA released its interim final rule for the federal domestic hemp program, there has been confusion regarding the legal limit for THC. While the legal limit for THC in [...] The post Ask Our Experts: THC Limits for Hemp appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

More than 13 months after passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rolling out two pilot crop insurance programs for the hemp industry’s 2020 growing season. There are five key details for cultivators to know about them: #1) CBD Qualifies for Crop Insurance When hemp was made federally [...] The post Five Things to Know About the USDA’s Hemp Crop Insurance Programs appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

By Trevor Grode, Data Analyst, New Frontier Data Two high-profile Kentucky hemp companies – GenCanna Global and Sunstrand, LLC, respectively – have filed for bankruptcy this month, creating doubts about the future of the hemp industry in the state. GenCanna Global filed for Chapter 11 protection on February 5, following three months of layoffs, [...] The post Two Kentucky Bankruptcies Cast Shadow Across Hemp Industry appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

Q: I want to start my own business selling hemp bracelets, but am at a loss trying to source U.S.-grown textiles. Have any suggestion? A: For now, American grown hemp fiber is in short supply. Though the U.S. licensed a record 500,000 acres of hemp in 2019, more than 90% was dedicated to producing [...] The post Ask Our Experts: American Hemp Textiles appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

Q: I have seen several recent reports of Native American tribes getting involved with hemp; can you explain the connection or any industry advantage? A: As you noted, various players have been active lately. Last week the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved regulatory plans for four tribes (the Colorado River Indian Tribes, [...] The post Ask Our Experts: Hemp and Native American Tribes appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

Were the past harvest season not turbulent enough for American hemp farmers, a new obstacle to success looms in the pursuit of standards and testing: A general and widespread lack of DEA-approved testing capacity is predicted not only to limit farmers’ ability to bring their products to market, but may also force them to [...] The post Choked by the Supply Chain: USDA Reqs, Lack of Testing Labs Render Most Hemp Farmers Helpless appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

Q: I’m a hemp cultivator in Pennsylvania: My license expires in February, but the application deadline is April 1; what should I do meanwhile? A: Pennsylvania’s licensing gap is a prickly issue with no simple answer. While the state Department of Agriculture may seem the best source for a meaningful answer, according to Cynthia [...] The post Ask Our Experts: Pennsylvania’s Hemp Licensing Gap appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more

It pays to be green. According to market analysis by the Organic Trade Association, organic food and non-food products exceeded $50 billion in United States sales in 2018. Given the popularity of such products in the U.S., a growing number of hemp farmers are seeking competitive advantage by having their crops certified as organic [...] The post Organic Hemp Certification in Five (Not So Simple) Steps appeared first on Hemp Business Journal ..read more