Industrial Hemp Podcast

Click for show notes. Episode 57: On this week's show, we discuss the new interim rules put forth this week by the USDA and what these new rules might mean for hemp farmers, including why test results will be required to include a measurement of uncertainty. But the main story this week comes from Kentucky, where farmers Ben Furnish and Kendall Henson are part of a group of farmers who are suing GenCanna Global USA Inc. in what looks like a classic case of farmers getting the short end of the stick. Again. Lots of lessons to learn here. Links USDA draft Hemp Rules https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/AMS_SC_19_0042_IR.pdf Formal Complaint from Furnwood Farm https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming/industrial_hemp/furnwood-v-gencanna-complaint/pdf_e12799ce-fb3e-11e9-9a1e-4ff085a2d638.html Sponsors IVA Manufacturing's SP50 Hemp Sprayer https://ivamfg.com/sp50-hemp-sprayer National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org/

Click for show notes. Episode 56: On this week's podcast we talk to Dr. Mowgli Holmes, co-founder and CEO of Phylos, a plant science company that is trying to revolutionize the hemp industry through data, technology and expertise. In this wide ranging interview we discuss plant breeding, cannabis genetics, why sustainable agriculture is important not just for hemp production but farming in general, and we also get into the controversy that Phylos found itself in earlier this year among old-school West Coast cannabis growers. Plus, we review some highlights from this week's public hearing in Harrisburg on industrial hemp. Links Phylos https://phylos.bio/ PA Senate Hemp Hearing Video https://agriculture.pasenategop.com/102119/ LEX18 Story about Farmers Suing Gencanna https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/kentucky-farmers-sue-hemp-company Sponsors Organic Mechanics Soil Company https://organicmechanicsoil.com/ Think 20 Labs https://www.think20labs.com/

Click for show notes. There has been a spate of thefts at Pennsylvania hemp farms. CBD plants are being topped and hauled away, and in some cases entire plants have been stolen. Some farms have lost dozens of plants, others over a thousand. Who would have guessed that the biggest pest to the hemp crop would turn out to be human beings? What can farmers do to protect themselves and their crops? Seven farmers share their stories of theft and security in the newest episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast. These farmers employ methods of security ranging from field cams and motion sensors to armed guards and booby traps.

Click for show notes. Episode 54: This week we taped our show on stage at the 2019 Pennsylvania Hemp Summit at the Lancaster Convention Center in downtown Lancaster, PA. The guests on the show were seed breeders and hemp growers Tom Culton and Joe Ullman, who spoke about the importance of knowing where your seed comes from and why autoflower genetics might just be the next big thing in hemp farming. The show was taped live during the Monday night Summit Reception hosted by Lancaster Farming with help from our sponsors Kimberton Whole Foods, Pocono Organics, and the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council. Tin Bird Shadow provided live music before, during and after the podcast taping. Their music was made possible at the show by generous support from Floyd's of Leadville and the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council. Many thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Team Pennsylvania for putting together the successful inaugural Pennsylvania Hemp Summit. We look forward to next year's summit. Sponsors Kimberton Whole Foods https://www.kimbertonwholefoods.com/ Pocono Organics https://www.poconoorganics.com/ Floyd's of Leadville https://floydsofleadville.com/ Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council http://www.pahic.org/ Additional Links Atlas Seed http://atlasseed.com/

Click for show notes. Episode 53: On this week's show, we check in with the gang at Floyd's of Leadville – Floyd Landis, Jake Sitler and Wayne Bendistis – who bring us up to speed on their endeavor to contract Pennsylvania farmers to grow high-quality, organic hemp for their line of nationally distributed CBD products. And check it out: They aren't drying the crop like everybody else, but instead are freezing it cryogenically. Then we hear from Peter Hughes of Red Barn Consulting who tells us about the 15-foot CBD harvester he just bought, capable of harvesting 10 to 12 acres of CBD hemp a day.

Click for show notes. Episode 52: On this week's show, we talk to Tara Caton, the research coordinator at the Rodale Institute where she is the leader of the industrial hemp research trials. The institute is studying the weed suppression benefits of industrial hemp when it's added into crop rotation and no-till farming. They are also looking at which varieties do best in Pennsylvania for fiber and grain. Then we talk to organic hemp farmer Eric White, also known as the Wild American. His hemp farm in the Poconos has had some issues with European corn borer this summer. He talks about those pests and explains his creative plans for marketing his crop. Links Rodale Institute Hemp Research https://rodaleinstitute.org/science/industrial-hemp-trial/ VIDEO: Rodale's 2017 Hemp Trials https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming/field_crops/rodale-hemp-trials/video_5f514b64-add1-11e7-8213-03f51487218e.html Eric White's story as told to Drew and Cameron on The Hemp Entrepreneur Podcast https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-3b48v-bbad1f Get Your tickets for the Hemp Summit https://teampa.com/pahempsummit/

Click for show notes. On this week's show, we feature a small first time hemp operation in Bucks County. We talk to farmers Rich Yang and Nicholas Cole of Under the Sun Hemp, where they just installed a drying facility. We also check in with Team Pennsylvania's Kelly Kundratic about the 2019 Hemp Summit in Lancaster, and also talk to plant breeders Joe Ullman and Tom Culton who will be the featured panelists at the live taping of the podcast Monday, October 7 at the Hemp Summit reception at the Lancaster Convention Center. Plus Dr. Ron Kander from Jefferson University answers an intriguing question about hemp plastic.

Click for show notes. Episode 50: On this week's show we discuss how this ancient crop, often harvested by hand, is a bright spot of ag innovation, and how some Lancaster County farmers already have the systems in place for a smooth transition to growing hemp. Then we hear from deputy ag secretary Fred Strathmeyer about how the anticipated USDA guidelines for industrial hemp in 2020 may or may not change things here in the Commonwealth for next year, plus what he's looking forward to most at the 2019 Pennsylvania Hemp Summit at the Lancaster Convention Center on October 7 & 8.

Click to read the show notes. Episode 49: On this week's show we talk to Delaware Valley University biology professor Dr. Chris Tipping. A trained entomologist, Tipping has been involved with his university's industrial hemp research program since its inception in 2017. Tipping discusses the various pests a hemp farmer might encounter and how to manage them, but because the crop is so new in the region, much has yet to be discovered in the arena of hemp pest control. We also hear from biophotonics advocate Eddie Taylor about some interesting plant science research involving cellular light. Links Email Dr. Tipping: [email protected] Delaware Valley University https://www.delval.edu/ Spotted Lanternfly Resources PA Department of Ag https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/Pages/default.aspx Penn State Extension https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly USDA https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/the-threat/spotted-lanternfly/spotted-lanternfly Hemp Diseases & Pests book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Hemp-Diseases-Pests-Management-Biological/dp/0851994547 Colorado University Hemp Insect Website https://hempinsects.agsci.colostate.edu/ Plant Amplifier https://www.plantamplifier.com/

Click to read the show notes. Episode 48: This week we talk to Vanessa Villanova and Suzie Eckhart, the founders of The Hemptons Farm, an organic hemp farm in Chatham, New York, near the Massachusetts border. But it's more than a hemp farm. It's also a getaway retreat center where guests can stay to relax, rejuvenate, and generally chill out in the country side. It's a 70-acre choose-your-own adventure where you can help out with the farm chores, eat good food, or just hang out in the hemp. This is where industrial hemp meets hospitality. We hear about the challenges that these first time farmers faced as they developed their business model and planted their first hemp seeds. Links form the Episode: The Hemptons Farm https://thehemptons.com/ Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Hemp Insurance https://www.farmers.gov/manage/hemp Hawai'i Destroys Half of 2019 Hemp Crop https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/08/26/hawaii-news/hawaii-hemp-growers-are-having-to-destroy-their-plants-because-of-high-thc-levels/ 2019 Pennsylvania Hemp Summit http://teampa.com/pahempsummit/

Click to read the show notes. This week's show features an in-depth conversation with Todd Palcic, the president of Thar Process, an industrial hemp processing company in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Palcic explains the extraction process, what farmers need to be aware of when working with a processor, and why the company decided to go all in on industrial hemp this year. He also explains the importance of working with an accredited processing facility. We also talk to Erica Stark from The National Hemp Association about her concerns with CBD flower, and we check in with Steve Groff about his hemp field day at his farm in Holtwood, Lancaster County this Wednesday. Thar Process http://tharprocess.com/ Hemp Innovators https://www.hempinnovators.com/ National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org/

Click to read the show notes. On this episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast, we go deep into the specifics of harvesting and drying CBD hemp, from cutting the stalks to the best way to set up a drying room, plus how to keep mold from contaminating the crop. First we check in with Bucks County, Pennsylvania, hemp farmer Joe Ullman, who shares his experience working with cannabis, from the field to the drying rack. Then we hear from Landin Butterfield, a hemp farmer from Klamath Falls, Oregon, who shares his insight and experience on harvesting and drying. With two different perspectives, this episode is chock full of helpful information to guide new hemp farmers through their first harvesting and drying experience with CBD hemp.

Click to read the show notes. On episode 45, we dig in a little deeper on the PA Department of Agriculture's THC testing protocols by talking to Corey Fitze, COO of Pennsylvania Hemp Research, a private cannabis testing company in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Then we review PDA's latest letter to hemp permit holders which is intended to clarify their last letter, which really confused some CBD growers. And finally we recap the very well-attended hemp field day at the Penn State research farm near Landisville. Helpful Links Pennsylvania Hemp Research www.phrlabs.com Steve Groff's Hemp Innovators https://www.hempinnovators.com/ 2019 Hemp Summit https://teampa.com/pahempsummit/

Click to read the show notes. On this week's podcast we talk to Dr. Steve Groff of Groff North America, a hemp processor in York County, Pennsylvania, that is bringing HempTrain technology to its Red Lion processing center. Groff shares breaking news about Groff North America's recent acquisition. We also hear from a Lancaster County farmer who thinks the state's THC testing requirements might possibly cause him to lose his investment and potential profit. Erica Stark from the National Hemp Association explains the testing requirements and offers advice for CBD hemp growers in the state. Helpful links: Groff North America https://groffna.com/ National Hemp Industrial Council Event in Portland https://hempindustrial.com/events/2019-hemp-business-summit-hotel/ 2019 Pennsylvania Hemp Summit http://teampa.com/pahempsummit/ PDA's Letter to 2019 Hemp Permit Holders concerning Testing Requirements https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming/industrial_hemp/pda-s-letter-to-hemp-permit-holders-july/article_80f09870-b3b9-11e9-9d07-2f15168eab7a.html

Click to read the show notes. What happens when a nearby farm that's growing seed and fiber crops accidentally pollinates your CBD operation? Hopefully, you'll never find out, because the result would be your losing a big chunk of your profits. Or what if it was your farm that accidentally pollinated someone else's crop? You might find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit. These are some of the issues that hemp growers have to deal with, and since there is no clear guidance or policy from the state, farmers have to rely on their own ability to communicate with other growers in their area. And these are some of the issues we discuss on this week's Industrial Hemp Podcast. Also, we check in with hemp farmer and mill operator Josh Leidhecker of Susquehanna Hemp Company in Muncy, PA. He's got a lot of hemp in the ground and a bunch of joint ventures with other farmers in the Susquehanna Valley and beyond. Relevant links from this episode: Susquehanna Hemp Company https://susquehannahempco.com/ Penn State's Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center https://agsci.psu.edu/research/ag-experiment-station/landisville Penn State Hemp Research Field Day https://extension.psu.edu/hemp-research-field-day PA Hemp Summit https://teampa.com/pahempsummit/

Click to read the show notes. How are things looking at area hemp farms? That's what podcast host Eric Hurlock wanted to find out so he visited three local hemp operations to talk to the farmers. First he went to ReLeaf Farmacy in Glenmore, Pennsylvania, to talk to hemp growers David Thompson and Pat Benzing. Then he went drove out to the Penn State research farm near Landisville to talk with director Alyssa Collins about the different hemp research projects in progress at the farm. And finally, he ended up in West Hempfield to talk to cannabis cultivator Tom Culton. Relevant links from this episode: ReLeaf Farmacy https://www.releaffarmacy.us/ Penn State's Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center https://agsci.psu.edu/research/ag-experiment-station/landisville Multi-State Hemp Research Project https://www.nimss.org/projects/view/mrp/outline/17716 Penn State Hemp Research Field Day https://extension.psu.edu/hemp-research-field-day PA Hemp Summit https://teampa.com/pahempsummit/ Sponsored in part by the National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org/

Click to read the show notes. According to Dr. Ron Kander, materials engineering professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, the way to ramp up the hemp industry is to start small. "You have to find some high-value, low-volume products that can use hemp as a biomass so that you can start developing processes that then let you put that material into consumer products and industrial products and show a value chain, and then that will allow you to grow volume and look at larger applications down the line," Kander explains in the week's episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast. We talk supply chains, carbon negative technology and the fascinating hemp research his students are conducting at Thomas Jefferson.

Click to read the show notes. The United States has never really seen an industry develop out of thin air the way the hemp industry has. Illegal and listed as a dangerous drug only six months ago and now poised to disrupt industries and institutions across the board, hemp has had an incredible journey. Author Jen Hobbs chronicles the history of hemp in America, why it was made illegal, how it helped win World War II, and where the industry is headed now that it's been greenlighted for full production. Hobbs' book American Hemp: How Growing Our Newest Cash Crop Can Improve Our Health, Clean Our Environment, and Slow Climate Change is a positive story about a crop that can create jobs, clean the soil, make us healthier, and capture carbon from the atmosphere. The book also offers an interesting chapter on why "the EPA is not your friend." Episode 40. Sign up for Jen Hobbs' American Hemp blog: https://americanhemp.substack.com

Click to read the show notes. On this week's show we talk to Matt Chambers and Darius Soltes, co-founder/broker and chief science officer, respectively, at Supplant Commodities, an industrial hemp brokerage firm based in Denver, Colorado. The company works as a bridge between farmers, processors and manufacturers to facilitate trade and further the industry nationwide. Chambers talks about the changes coming soon to the industry, speculating government subsidies and a hemp futures market that will spur industry growth. Supplant Commodities is involved in all aspects of industrial hemp, from fiber to biomass to flower, and is especially keen to supply the growing demand for "sustainable plant-based paper and plastic consumer products", according to supplantcommodities.com. This week's episode is sponsored by Wagner's Greenhouses in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where they've got high CBD hemp seedlings available now at good prices. Call 814-937-4056.

Click to read the show notes. On this episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we talk to cannabis consultant, farmer and entrepreneur, Oneal Latimore. He's working with Proud Pennsylvania to develop healthy supply chains in the state, while also developing his own hemp farm and processing facility in Chester County called Nottingham Farm. In the interview, we discuss the importance of strong local supply chains, as well as how hemp can bring needed change to minority communities throughout the Commonwealth. We also check in with Lancaster County hemp farmer Tom Culton to see how his planting is going so far. This episode is sponsored by Wagner's Greenhouses in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where they've still got flats of high CBD hemp seedlings available for sale now. Call Allen Wagner at 814-937-4056 Learn more about Nottingham Farms and sign up for the collective here: www.NottinghamFarms.com

Click to read the show notes. This week's podcast guest is Judy Wicks, founder of Proud Pennsylvania, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to uniting rural and urban communities to build regional economies that work for everybody. Proud Pennsylvania has established a Hemp Local Supply Chain Coalition in order to develop and strengthen the connections between hemp farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and consumers. Also, we check in with Jake Sitler from Floyd's of Lancaster to hear how things are going with their group of contracted hemp growers. Learn More about Proud Pennsylvania at https://www.proudpennsylvania.org/ This episode was sponsored in part by: The National Hemp Association: https://nationalhempassociation.org/ and NAU Country Insurance Company: https://www.naucountry.com/

Click to read the show notes. On this week's episode of the Industrial Hemp Podcast, we celebrate Hemp History Week with a handful of stories about hemp's role in history through the ages, as well as hemp related news such as the USDA's most recent guidance on industrial hemp and the FDA's hearing on CBD. Then, host Eric Hurlock interviews Alex Seleznov, the president and founder of Advanced Extractions, a hemp CBD company in Colorado. Seleznov tells the story of how he founded the company in 2015, what he thinks the FDA regulations on CBD might mean for the industry, and he offers advice to farmers interested in growing hemp. This show was sponsored in part by the National Hemp Association (https://nationalhempassociation.org/) and NAU Country Insurance Company, now offering Industrial Hemp Crop-Hail Protection (https://www.naucountry.com/) Submit your comments to the FDA concerning CBD. The docket is open for commenting until July 2, 2019: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FDA-2019-N-1482 Check out the Hemp for Victory film made by the United States government in 1942 to encourage American farmers to grow hemp to support the war effort: https://www.lancasterfarming.com/community/videos/hemp-for-victory-u-s-gov-t-film-for-farmers/video_35040516-86e9-11e9-b73d-9b4d6ee15009.html

Click to read the show notes. On this week's podcast we talk to Allen Wagner, a greenhouse grower from Altoona, Pennsylvania, who's been in the greenhouse business for 45 years — wholesale, retail, geraniums, plants of all kinds. But not too long ago the box stores moved in and started eating up his market share — and nearly put him out of business. But when the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture lifted the acreage cap and opened up the permitting process for industrial hemp, Allen Wagner and Wagner's Greenhouses went all in. He's got greenhouses full of high CBD hemp seedlings for sale right now. Call him: 814-946-0788. Tell him you heard him on the podcast. Episode 35. Give a listen. This show was sponsored in part by: The National Hemp Association https://nationalhempassociation.org/ and https://www.deerbusters.com/ Deerbusters.com

Click to read the show notes. On this week's episode we talk to National Hemp Association Executive Director Erica McBride Stark about her recent trip to Washington DC, where she met with the Senate ag committee to discuss the implementation of the hemp provisions within the 2018 Farm Bill. Her main concerns are the lack of banking services for hemp farmers and businesses, and the importation of hemp products from foreign countries that could potentially flood the market, making things difficult for American farmers. We also check back in with Lancaster County hemp farmer Tom Culton who is growing multiple acres of CBD hemp this year and has real concerns about pollination drift from nearby hemp farms. This week's show is sponsored by NAU Country Insurance Company, now offering Industrial Hemp Crop-Hail Protection. Learn more at https://www.naucountry.com/

Click to read the show notes. According to Shannon Powers, press secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Lancaster County leads the state in number of registered industrial hemp growing sites with more than 80 sites in the county. On this week's podcast we talk to three key people at PDA: Powers gives an overview of the hemp program and what the department is doing to support hemp farmers; Plant specialist Sarah Pickel discusses the recent changes in the THC testing protocols for growers; and Fred Strathmeyer tells why there are still no great options for hemp farmers in terms of financial services or crop insurance. Learn more about Industrial hemp from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's resource page: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/industrial_hemp/Pages/default.aspx

Click to read the show notes. Podcast episode 32 goes to Barto, Pennsylvania — to Wildfox Farm — where Ben and Karah Davies own and operate what two years ago was simply an organic produce and pastured meat farm. But the farm is now also a leader of industrial hemp growth in eastern Berks County. For first year hemp growers, this conversation with Ben Davies should be enlightening and helpful, especially for those growing for CBD. Davies grew hemp for the first time last year and has stories to tell — stories about getting seeds and spacing the plants in the field, the challenges of third party testing and family bonding during the weeks' long harvest, and driving cross-state with a U-Haul full of fragrant hemp bales. It's rare glimpse into the early days of hemp in Pennsylvania. Wildfox Provisions is the name of the farm's hemp operation, and Davies said the company is building a farmer collective in order to train nearby farmers. "They are all fully equipped to succeed," Davies said during the podcast interview. He said they already have the tools they need to do well with hemp and that they "already know how to grow it -- but they just don't know it yet." Get the whole story and more, plus hemp industry news, including a request for yield data to help develop a federal crop insurance program. Here's the link to the crop yield data form to that will help in the development of a federal crop insurance program that was mentioned in the show: http://bit.ly/hempdata Learn more about Wildfox Provisions: https://www.wildfoxprovisions.com/

Click to read the show notes. The Industrial Hemp podcast goes on the road this week to a farm in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where two local businesses are collaborating to build a tiny house made from hemp. COEXIST Build is a design and build company owned and operated by architect Anastasiya Konopitskaya and her husband Drew Oberholtzer, and Americhanvre is a hempcrete and cask hemp company owned by Cameron McIntosh. These three are working together to create a small house made from hemp built on a flatbed trailer, which will be on display at the Canopy Growth exhibit at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo in New York City May 29 to June 1. The interview with Anastasiya, Drew and Cameron was recorded inside the hemp house. Episode 31. Check out the hemp house on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/hemphouseonwheels/ Coexist: http://www.coexist.build/ Americhavre: https://americhanvre.com/ Also, they have podcast. Check it out here: www.thehempentrepreneurpodcast.org

There's been a lot of speculation that hemp seed cake – the byproduct of crushing hemp seed for oil – would make an excellent feed for beef and dairy cattle, as well as for other types of livestock, such as poultry and pork. The nutritional profile of the hemp cake looks pretty good. It's super high in protein and omega 3 & 6 fats, but there are some not so attractive qualities to hemp seed too, according to Dr. Joseph Bender, a veterinarian from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bender discusses his analysis and talks about the pros and cons of hemp as a livestock feed on this episode of the podcast. Plus we hear from hemp farmer Tom Culton from West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, as he puts a few early hemp seedlings in the ground. Episode 30.

Click to read the show notes. Colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute, and claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Americans in 2018. Promising new research from Penn State College of Medicine shows that certain compounds found in the hemp plant may be helpful in fighting the disease. On this week's podcast we talk to Kent Vrana, chair of the Department of Pharmacology at Penn State College of Medicine, where his team conducted the research that identified cannabinoid compounds that inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in lab tests. Plus, news from the FDA concerning the regulation of CBD, and a recap of recent hemp farmer meetings in Pennsylvania. Episode 29. Read more: https://news.psu.edu/story/557660/2019/02/06/research/cannabinoid-compounds-may-inhibit-growth-colon-cancer-cells

Click to read the show notes. Susquehanna Mills is an oil seed processor in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, where the owner Josh Leidhecker started growing hemp on a research permit in 2017, since then he's added substantial hemp acreage to his farming operation, as well as a line of hemp related products to his processing business. We talk to Josh about getting started in hemp, why he considers his operation to be "full circle" and what he thinks other farmers need to consider before jumping into industrial hemp. Also on the show, we discuss some current hemp events, including Groff North America's recent Hemp Farmer Supper and Canopy Growth's acquisition of a Berks County hemp company. Episode 28.

Episode 27 is highlight reel of USDA's recent 2018 Farm Bill Listening Session on Domestic Hemp Production that was held March 13, 2019. The USDA invited public comments in order to help inform their process of drawing up regulations and guidelines for the hemp industry in the United States. Comments were made by several agriculture departments from hemp growing states, cannabis industry professionals, lobbying groups and lawyers, and Native American tribes. The session was led by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Bruce Summers.

Episode 26 of the Industrial Hemp Podcast gathers perspective from various places. First we talk to Pennsylvania Senator Judy Schwank about the new Senate bill that clears the way for CBD to be used as an ingredient in food and cosmetics. Then Penn State Extension educator Jeff Graybill shares words of caution for farmers as they make their journey into hemp. Bill Roberts describes the vision of the hemp steering committee that is working with the state ag department to jump start the industry in Pennsylvania. And finally we visit with Tom Culton, the first farmer to grow hemp in Hempfield, PA, in over 80 years.

On this week's Industrial Hemp Podcast, we talk to Cornell University horticulture professor Dr. Larry Smart, one of the leaders of the hemp research team at Cornell. We discuss his long term study of the shrub willow as a bio-energy source and how that research prepared him for working with hemp. We talk about hemp genetics, the implications of hemp's dioecious nature, the challenges and promises of industrial hemp, and what farmers can do to avoid getting the short end of the stick as this industry develops.

On this week's podcast we talk to Cover Crop Coach Steve Groff and local business leader and greenhouse grower Tim Good talk about their new venture into industrial hemp called Keystone Agri-Science. Find out why Tim Good says hemp "is the best opportunity ever for agriculture, just as the farmers are struggling, and I can't help but think that God must have been looking out for his farmers." We dig in deep on growing and harvesting practices, as well as finding good genetics, and what hemp can do for your soil. Give a listen.

The Farm Bureau has supported the reintroduction of industrial hemp as a commodity crop for many years. In fact, Mark O'Neill, communications director for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, says that without the lobbying efforts of Farm Bureau, industrial hemp would still be classified as a schedule 1 narcotic. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to O'Neil and his colleague, Bill Neilson, the director of Commodities and Compliance at Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. We hear what the Farm Bureau is doing to help farmers navigate this new world of industrial hemp. Plus, a few announcements and listener emails. Give a listen.

What does world class cyclist Floyd Landis have to do with industrial hemp? As it turns out, quite a bit. Lancaster County native and one time winner of the Tour de France, Landis opened a CBD café in Leadville, Colorado, and launched a very successful brand of CBD products — Floyd's of Leadville. The prodigal son has returned to Lancaster County to open Floyd's of Lancaster with another accomplished Lancaster County cyclist, Jake Sitler. The team is working with local farmers to develop a full line of Pennsylvania-produced CBD products made from Pennsylvania-grown industrial hemp. The interview with Landis and Sitler touches on Landis's controversial backstory while focusing on the hemp industry, their relationship with farmers, and their plan for success in the city of Lancaster.

Click to read the show notes. On this week's show we talk to Jay Burstein of BugOut Guitars in Randolph, Vermont, where he's been making guitars and ukuleles out of industrial hemp. These guitars and ukes are super durable, extremely playable, and are made for adventure. Burstein tells the story of how he first started making stringed instruments and why he ultimately was compelled to build them from hemp fibers. These instruments illuminate yet another possibility for industrial hemp – and this time it's musical. Check out: http://www.bugoutguitars.com/

Click to read the full show notes. What's the industrial hemp program like in the great state of New York? We spend some time with Commissioner Richard Ball of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to find out. We'll hear about the permitting process for growers, available grant money for growers and processors, what farmers should be doing now to prepare for hemp, and we'll hear about the plans for that new hemp processing plant recently announced by Canopy Growth Corporation. Also, here's the link to WGAL TV's story about our Industrial Hemp Podcast: http://wgal.com/article/industrial-hemp-may-be-industry-to-watch/26080443?src=app

Exciting news from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture this week announcing the lift of the acreage cap on industrial hemp, a move that will usher in a new age of hemp in Pennsylvania by opening up the crop to commercial production. We talk to PA Hemp Industry Council executive director Erica Stark and Purple Peace Hemp founder Jessie Johnson about these changes and what they mean for farmers in the state. Plus, we hear from Jordan Sinclair of Canopy Growth Corporation, the Canadian cannabis company that recently announced plans to build a hemp industrial park in New York State.

Of the tens of thousands of uses of industrial hemp, one of the most practical is as a building material known as hempcrete, created by mixing the inner woody core of the hemp plant, known as the hurd, with lime. It's lightweight, insulating, naturally mold-resistant, and strong. An innovative company from Alberta, Canada, has gone a step further and has patented a structural hempcrete block that fits together like Lego. On today's show we talk to one of the founders of Just BioFiber — Michael deChamplain — about the blocks and how they are capturing carbon and the hearts of green builders.

Our seventeenth podcast features a conversation with healthcare educator and consultant, Jessie Johnson, founder of Purple Peace, LLC, which holds a research permit for growing industrial hemp in Pennsylvania. With over 12 years of experience in growing cannabis, Ms. Johnson has a unique perspective on industrial hemp and is interested in helping farmers maximize their profits with hemp.

Farmers can and will save the world, according to Bruce Michael Dietzen, founder of Carbon Negative Technology and Renew Sports Cars. The prototype of his sports car made from industrial hemp was featured on an episode of Jay Leno's Garage. Bruce is tired of talking about the problem of climate change and instead wants to shift the conversation to the solutions for climate change, including a bold strategy for producing nearly everything we use out of plant material. That's where farmers come in. Give a listen.

The 2018 Farm Bill has passed both Houses and is awaiting the president's signature, which is expected this week. How is this going to affect farmers in Pennsylvania? What will become of the state's hemp pilot program? On the first part of the show we talk to Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding to find out. Then we talk to eighth generation fruit farmer, first generation hemp farmer Leighton Rice from Adams County, PA, about his first year of growing hemp, the lessons he learned and his advice for farmers who are thinking about growing industrial hemp in the future.

We talk 2018 Farm Bill with Hemp Industry Daily editor Kristen Nichols. This Farm Bill will end the prohibition on growing hemp. What will this mean for farmers? How will the ag industry respond? What will USDA's rules look like? How will the FDA regulate CBD? All this and more. Listen up.

This episode of Lancaster Farming's industrial hemp podcast features a conversation with Jon Cohn, the founder and CEO of Agronomed Pharmaceuticals and Agri-Kind Hemp in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he grew 62 acres of industrial hemp with a research permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. We discuss the challenges of a first-year hemp crop, the permitting process, how CBD is extracted, medical marijuana, and what farmers could be doing now to prepare themselves for growing hemp.

On episode 12, we talk to professor of poultry science and poultry nutrition at Penn State University, Dr. Paul Patterson, about the components of a balanced poultry diet and how the nutritional profile of hemp seed might be beneficial to the poultry industry, especially the organic poultry industry, thanks in part to hemp's comparatively higher levels of the essential amino acid methionine. Dr. Patterson also has some great ideas for hemp research projects. Give a listen.

This week on the hemp podcast, we talk to Elixinol president Gabriel Ettenson about growing hemp for CBD. What is CBD and why is it suddenly everywhere? What is it good for? What will the hemp industry look like after the next Farm Bill? What should farmers know before growing hemp for CBD?

The latest Lancaster Farming podcast goes to Dearborn, Michigan, where Ford Motor Company research scientist Debbie Mielewski turns plants into car parts. This interview shines a light on the potential market for industrial hemp fueled by the automobile industry's evolution towards sustainability.

We're back talking about industrial hemp — this time with a cannabis lawyer from Portland, Oregon. Nathalie Bougenies, from the law firm of Harris Bricken, specializes in cannabis law and also writes for the Canna Law Blog. Today we discuss the 2018 Farm Bill and its implications for hemp farmers in the United States.

We begin digging in a little deeper into how the auto industry might want to use hemp in automobile production. And we also make the realization that the 2014 Farm Bill expired and the 2018 Farm Bill wasn't signed into law by the deadline of September 30. Where does that leave hemp farmers? Editor's Note: This podcast was updated on October 13, 2018 at 3:21 PM with an additional comment from PA Ag Secretary Russell Redding.