November 2019 - Page 2 of 5

ThursdayNov 21, 2019 4:00 pm

Kentucky Starts Receiving Hemp License Applications

The Department of Agriculture in Kentucky has started receiving applications from growers and processors of hemp for the 2020 hemp licensing program. Applications for the cultivation of hemp must be submitted before March 15, 2020, while processor applications are open throughout the year. The Agriculture Commissioner, Ryan Quarles, said that the hemp industry in Kentucky had an influx of processors and about 1,000 growers of hemp. He added that he is hoping that more farmers will apply for licenses to grow hemp. Quarles also said that potential hemp growers must make sure that they understand the risks and opportunities involved…

ThursdayNov 21, 2019 9:00 am

First Hemp Processing Facility Opens in Indiana

Central Indiana has launched its first hemp processing facility for converting hemp into a market-ready product. Last month, Third Wave Farms, a hemp company based in Kentucky, launched its first hemp dying and processing facility inside a 22,000 square-foot building in Kokomo. The building was previously occupied by a company that manufactures parts for the robotics market. The Third Wave Farms’ facility is equipped with infrastructure that supports post-harvest activities such as drying and processing. The company can dry and process more than 75,000 pounds of hemp within a day. This turns the hemp into a stable product that can…

WednesdayNov 20, 2019 4:00 pm

Celebrity Pitchman Anthony Sullivan Starts Hemp Cultivation to Treat Daughter

There is no doubt that a lot of Americans love cannabidiol (CBD). At least 14% of the American population has used CBD products, and the American CBD market is expected to be worth $23 billion by 2025. Clearly, CBD is a big deal in the U.S., and all kinds of celebrities and athletes have been jumping onto the bandwagon and endorsing CBD products. Celebrity Pitchman Anthony Sullivan, famous for starring in several Oxiclean Commercials with the late Bill Mays, is the latest celebrity to enter the cannabis industry. His daughter suffers from a rare genetic disorder that has severely reduced…

WednesdayNov 20, 2019 9:00 am

Colorado Farmers Invent Novel Hemp Harvester

One of the biggest challenges that hemp farmers have faced this season is the intensive labor demands of harvesting their crops. Industrial hemp has only been legalized recently, so the existing machinery is ill-suited to harvest these plants. However, a pair of farmers in Colorado appear to have developed a solution to this problem. Mike Meyer, who is a hemp farmer and Toby McCracken’s partner, said that McCracken was touching a hemp stalk with his fingers when inspiration to develop a harvester hit his brain. He devised a way to harvest hemp while holding the hemp stalk. He developed an…

TuesdayNov 19, 2019 4:00 pm

Is Smokable Hemp the Next Big Thing in Kentucky?

Hemp is undoubtedly one of the most versatile cash crops being grown at the moment. It has plenty of applications ranging from fiber clothing, industrial foodstuffs, beauty, and health. Over the past few years, it has become an increasingly attractive venture, mainly carried by the immense popularity for hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) that's currently taking the world by storm. The cannabis extract has proven to be as equally versatile as hemp. It has potent medicinal properties that make it effective against a host of medical conditions, from anxiety and high blood pressure to chronic pain. A trend that is quickly emerging…

TuesdayNov 19, 2019 9:00 am

Construction Starts on First Hemp and Cannabis Supply Chain in Canada

On Friday Morning, Grasslands Taber Collaborative (GLTC) located in the Town of Taber, Alberta launched the construction of the first marijuana, hemp, and infused agricultural food supply chain in Canada. The GLTC Premium Park Project partnerned with rural communities in the western part of Canada to capitalize on the business opportunities found in the new marijuana sector. They will be producing marijuana and agricultural foods. GLTC will also provide farmers with research, development, and processing opportunities, as well as rental spaces for producers and other businesses. GLTC CEO, Lindsay Blackett, said that the Premium Park’s primary purpose is to produce…

MondayNov 18, 2019 4:00 pm

Cross-Pollination Triggers Disputes Between Hemp and Marijuana Farmers

As the hemp industry tries to adjust in the wake of the USDA’s interim final rule on hemp, it has emerged that the entire cannabis sector is facing an unforeseen and deadly challenge; cross-pollination between marijuana and hemp plants. Farmers in states that had preexisting outdoor marijuana programs have felt the effect most, with most of them stating that cross-pollination from hemp farms can result in losses worth thousands of dollars as it renders the flower products unmarketable. Robert Morf owns and runs Chesire Creek, an outdoor marijuana farming project in Waterville, Washington. According to him, his problems began this…

MondayNov 18, 2019 2:37 pm

Hemptown USA, Premier CBG Grower Worldwide, Expects Significant Revenue Boost in 2020

The company projects $19 million total revenue in 2019 and up to $104 million in 2020 as it scales operations to meet rising global demand Hemptown USA obtained and grew one million rare CBG seeds for the 2019 growing season, yielding 780,000 pounds of dried biomass, and producing 10.3-13.4 percent full-spectrum non-intoxicating cannabinoids Hemptown USA is a privately-owned grower of full-spectrum, feminized hemp using premium-seed genetics. The company is the premier player on the cannabigerol (CBG) market which remains strong even as the price of cannabidiol (CBD) continues to experience price compression due to an explosion of hemp grown. One…

MondayNov 18, 2019 9:00 am

500 Comments About Federal Hemp Rules Already Submitted

More than 500 people have voiced their opinions on hemp rules less than two weeks after the USDA opened the public comment period. Last month, the USDA released an interim final rule which contained regulatory guidelines for industrial hemp. Some of the regulations cover licensing, THC testing requirements, and the disposal procedure for crops exceeding the stipulated THC levels. Hemp industry stakeholders and advocates do not have a fixed standpoint about the regulations because some of the rules are geared towards the positive development of the industry like providing farmers with the tools needed to enter the industry, while some…

FridayNov 15, 2019 4:00 pm

USDA Hemp Testing Rules Invalidate Washington’s Preferred Protocol

For months after Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, players in the CBD hemp industry and interested parties pressured the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to write rules for the hemp industry. The industry was, and is still undergoing unprecedented growth, mostly because of cannabidiol's (CBD) popularity as an alternative medicine, and the sector's lack of regulation was making it hard for farmers and CBD processors to operate. In October, the USDA published its interim rule on hemp, but it seems the regulations might not be the saving grace some thought they would be. Some states that had preexisting hemp…