adai

Hemp Industry Looking at Establishing a Trade Association

Dan Industry News Release, Specialty Crops, Trade

A coalition of hemp farmers, farm service companies, processors, crop insurance agents and lenders, as well as other stakeholders, are looking at possibly establishing a trade association group. The Hagstrom Report says the goal is to have an organization that represents the hemp industry in Washington, D.C. Hemp is currently used to make textiles, paper, paint, oil, biodegradable plastics, and …

hemp industry

Agriculture Chairman Seeks State Hemp Program

Dan Florida, Specialty Crops

With officials seeing a potentially lucrative industry, Senate Agriculture Chairman Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is proposing creation of a state hemp program. Albritton on Thursday filed a bill that would set up the program under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill came after Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried last week named Holly Bell as the state’s first director …

industrial hemp

Industrial hemp a featured topic at UF/IFAS ag policy conference Feb. 26 in Balm

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Industrial hemp may soon be a financially significant crop in Florida, and an expert with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities related to this fledgling industry at the fourth annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference in Balm. The conference happens 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 …

alabama hemp

Applications Now Available for Pilot Industrial Hemp Production

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is now accepting applications from eligible producers, farmers and universities interested in growing industrial hemp.  ADAI is also accepting applications from prospective industrial hemp processors. In 2016, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, Section 2-8-380 Code of Alabama 1975, tasking the ADAI with the development of a …

hemp

Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried on Legalized Hemp

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Following the news of the farm bill signing into law and the legalization of hemp nationwide, Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried offers the following: “Lifting the needless ban on hemp presents an incredible opportunity for our farmers and Florida as a whole. This is an alternative crop which will give Florida’s agriculture community the tools they need to be competitive and successful—it has the …

hemp

Farm Bill Removes Hemp as Controlled Substance

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

On Dec. 12, Congress passed the 2018 Agriculture and Nutrition Act, better known as the farm bill, which is awaiting President Trump’s signature. The important legislation amends the classification of hemp as a Schedule I drug. This legislation defines hemp as all parts of the plant less than 0.3% THC, including derivatives, extracts and cannabinoids. Hemp is now deemed an agricultural …

industrial hemp

UF Industrial Hemp Program Promotes Industrial Partnerships to Grow

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

The University of Florida’s pilot research program to explore the potential to grow industrial hemp across the state is advancing, with the engagement of an inaugural private partner. The initiative was supported and encouraged by the state but was not appropriated any funding. To move forward, the project needs sponsorships from private industry. Green Roads Inc. has invested $1.3 million …

hemp

McConnell Introduces Hemp legislation

Dan Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this week announced legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate to support hemp farmers. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 will legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of controlled substances. McConnell announced the legislation in his home state earlier this week, which implemented a hemp pilot program that …

industrial hemp

UF Board of Trustees Approves Industrial Hemp Research Project

Dan Florida, Nursery Crops, Research

Florida’s farmers may have a new crop to grow if the University of Florida is successful in a pilot project to grow industrial hemp across the state. Researchers with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) received approval  from the UF Board of Trustees to develop hemp management and cropping systems that could be  economically viable for the …