This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we take a close look at the biggest federal hemp policy shift since the 2018 Farm Bill and what it means for the industry.

Our guests on the show are Danielle Bernstein of Laurelcrest and Morgan Tweet of IND HEMP.

Bernstein brings the perspective of a cannabinoid ingredient manufacturer working inside global supply chains, regulatory systems and the emerging non-alcoholic THC beverage and wellness markets.

Tweet represents the fiber and grain sector, where this new language marks the first time the federal government has formally recognized industrial hemp as its own regulated category.

Together, they break down what changed in the new law, what didn't and why the intoxicating-hemp loophole has finally closed. They explain how this marks the start of a 365-day window for Congress to build a permanent national framework that covers cultivation, processing, final-form products and impairment-based standards.

They discuss what the new definition of hemp means for farmers, processors, CBD manufacturers and retailers, and why the era of THCA flower, synthetics and converted cannabinoids is effectively over. They also talk about how grain and fiber stand to benefit from long-needed regulatory clarity, and why a patchwork of state rules has failed to provide stability or safety.

Tweet and Bernstein outline the three-phase federal policy model they're proposing and make the case for unity rather than panic or infighting. They also describe how HEMI — the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative — will help coordinate industry messaging, gather feedback and drive momentum over the next year.

Their message is simple: the sky is not falling, but the easy part is now behind us. The next twelve months will define what hemp becomes in the United States, and everyone with a stake in the future of the plant should be participating in shaping that framework.

Learn More

Policy Framework Article by Danielle Bernstein & Morgan Tweet

HEMI – Hemp Education & Marketing Initiative

LaurelCrest

IND HEMP

News Nugget from HempToday

Full News Nugget: Federal Axe Falls on Intoxicating Hemp — Bringing an Uneasy Chapter to an End

Sponsors

King's AgriSeeds — kingsagriseeds.com

Forevergreen / KP4 Hemp Cutter — hempcutter.com

HEMI — hempinitiatives.org

Congress changed the definition of hemp this week, clarifying the original intent of the 2018 Farm Bill and closing the intoxicating-hemp loophole that enabled a nationwide market of unregulated semi-synthetic THC products.

The change caps finished hemp products at 0.4 mg total THC per package, bans synthetic cannabinoids, protects legal CBD and fiber/grain hemp, and gives farmers a one-year implementation window.

What does this mean for the hemp industry? How will it affect farmers? How will affect the hemp industry?

On this special episode of The Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, CBD farmer Ben Davies of Wild Fox Provisions and hemp builder Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast Hemp break down the biggest hemp policy shift since the 2018 Farm Bill.

Recorded the day the new legislation was signed into law, this episode captures reactions in real time from two people living the consequences from opposite sides of the plant.

Learn More

Wildfox Provisions

Americhanvre Cast Hemp

Press Release from Senator McConnell

News Nugget from HempToday

Federal axe falls on intoxicating hemp, bringing an uneasy chapter to an end

Thanks to our Sponsor

IND HEMP in Fort Benton, Montana

This week on the Hemp Show, we're talking to Jake Waddell from the Hemp Building Institute about the future of hemp construction, building codes and embodied carbon.

Hemp-lime construction has come a long way — from early experiments in a garage to an officially recognized building material in the International Residential Code.

Environmental Product Declarations, or EPDs, are changing how sustainability is measured in construction and what that means for hemp-based materials.

And even when government funding for climate-forward projects gets cut, the people driving this industry keep finding ways to move forward.

"Now we have codes. We've had a lot of progress and movement into making hemp-lime construction more of a realistic prospect rather than just a really good idea," Waddell said.

We also discussed why EPDs are critical if hemp is going to be recognized for what it does best. Waddell explains that when hemp-based materials lock carbon into a building, that carbon stays out of the atmosphere for decades — a measurable climate benefit that current systems often overlook.

"Trapping carbon in a building keeps it out of the atmosphere — and that's a real benefit," he said.

All that and more.

Learn More

Hemp Building Institute

hempbuildinginstitute.org

International Code Council – Appendix BL

codes.iccsafe.org

NYSERDA – Energy Research & Development Authority

nyserda.ny.gov

HempToday.net

hemptoday.net

Americhanvre Cast Hemp

americhanvre.com

Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative (HEMI)

hempinitiatives.org

News Nugget from HempToday

New Zealand fiber-materials venture shifts processing line to streamline production logistics

hemptoday.net/new-zealand-fiber-materials-venture-shifts-processing-line-to-streamline-production-logistics/

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Americhanvre Cast Hemp

americhanvre.com

HEMI – Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative

hempinitiatives.org

This special edition of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast celebrates the 70th anniversary of Lancaster Farming Newspaper, which has been reporting on agriculture since 1955.

Recorded at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, this episode is a love letter to farming and to the people who make it possible. Farmers and ag leaders reflect on why they farm, what's changed, and what remains timeless — love of land, faith, family, and devotion.

Here's a quote from Wendell Berry that frames the conversation:

"Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: "Love. They must do it for love." Farmers farm for the love of farming. They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants. They love to live in the presence of animals. They love to work outdoors. They love the weather, maybe even when it is making them miserable. They love to live where they work and to work where they live. If the scale of their farming is small enough, they like to work in the company of their children and with the help of their children. They love the measure of independence that farm life can still provide. I have an idea that a lot of farmers have gone to a lot of trouble merely to be self-employed to live at least a part of their lives without a boss."

― Wendell Berry, "Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food"

Learn More

Ag Progress Days

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Wendell Berry – The Berry Center

Sponsors

IND HEMP — Believing in the goodness of hemp.

King's AgriSeeds — High-quality seed for over three decades.

Forever Green — Distributor of the KP4 Hemp Cutter.

Welcome to part three of our Cansayapi Trilogy in which we explore the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium, held Oct. 3-5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Southwestern Minnesota.

Part Three opens where part two left off, with the sounds of a waterfall that melts into the rhythms of the Red Tree Singers as they chant and pray and lead the way into Day Three of the Hemp Building Symposium.

After a news nugget from HempToday, this episodes opens with a tale of three Minnesota architects — Janneke Schaap, Simona Fischer and Anna Koosmann — who provide a roadmap for getting biobased building materials like hemp-lime and straw bale construction adopted into state building codes.

Then we hear a collection of one-on-one interviews with farmers, builders and advocates.

In order of appearance, you will hear:

Marcus Grignon — Hempstead Project Heart, Menominee Nation

hempsteadprojectheart.org

Ira Vandever — Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative, Navajo Nation

ihcfc.org

Tom Knouss — RootDown Building Collective, Charleston

rootdownbuildingcollective.org

Alex Sparrow — UK Hempcrete, England

ukhempcrete.com/the-hempcrete-book

Gabriel Gauthier — ArtCan Hemp Construction, Quebec

artcan.ca

Guillaume Delannoy — FRD-CODEM, France

frd.fr

Micaela Machado — Old Pueblo Hemp Co., Tucson

oldpueblohemp.com

Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association (IHBA), Ireland

internationalhempbuilding.org

News nugget from HempToday

Bipartisan U.S. group calls for 'Frankenstein' intoxicating hemp market to be curbed

hemptoday.net/bipartisan-u-s-group-calls-for-frankenstein-intoxicating-hemp-market-to-be-curbed/

Be More Pirate

bepirate.com — Sam Conniff's Be More Pirate, recommended by Alex Sparrow as a blueprint for creative rebellion and collaboration.

Sponsors

indhemp.com — IND HEMP, building a sustainable hemp supply chain in Montana and beyond.

hempinitiatives.org — HEMI, the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative, connecting businesses with the potential of industrial hemp.

americhanvre.com — Americhanvre Cast Hemp, Pennsylvania-based hemp building specialists advancing circular design and education.

sunrayhemp.com — SunRay Hemp, Alaska-grown innovation and community-driven hemp projects led by Ray DePriest.

On this episode we continue on our journey with host Eric Hurlock to Cansayapi, the place where they paint the trees red, the Lower Sioux Indian community, the home of the Medewakantan Band of Dakota people in Southwestern Minnesota.

You will hear many voices on this episode — people who were there, people who were involved, people who are lighting the Eighth Fire.

You will hear from:

Danny Desjarlais — Lower Sioux Hemp Builder

lowersioux.com

Cameron McIntosh — Americhanvre Cast Hemp

americhanvre.com

Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association

internationalhempbuilding.org

Honovi Coup Trudell — son of John Trudell

johntrudell.com

Samantha & Matt Marino — Homeland Hempcrete

homelandhempcrete.com

John Peterson — Dakota Hemp

Dakotahemp.com

Dave Gertz — Renewabuild / Just Biofiber

renewabuild.ca

Pamela Bosch — Highland Hemp House

highlandhemphouse.com

Clarence Baber — Hawaii hemp advocates

ClaranceBaber.com

Brian Mogli — Industrial hemp advocate

Katie McCormick — Pamunkey Indian Reservation hemp home project

Joni McSpadden — Citizen of Cherokee Nation

Rusty Peterson— IND HEMP

indhemp.com

Jared Sones — Victura Hemp

victurahemp.com

Dallas Goldtooth — Host/MC; actor, writer, activist

The1491s.com

Donate to the New Dakota Language Hemp School Today!

Pidamaya (thank you) for considering supporting the new K–4 Dakota Immersion School set to be made with hemp, opening in 2030.

Ways To Contribute

By Check:

Write a check to the "Lower Sioux Indian Community" and write in the note: "New School."

Send or give check to:

Lower Sioux Indian Community

39527 Reservation Highway 1

Morton, MN 56270

Online via the "Honor Tax" Website:

Your contribution goes to the Lower Sioux Indian Community. Click "Add note or comment" and type "New School."

Mni Sota Makoce Honor Tax

Ukic̣aġapi kte (Let's grow together),

For questions or more information on the school, please contact:

Vanessa Goodthunder — 507-697-8253

[email protected]

Thanks to Our Sponsors!

SunRay Hemp (Ray DePriest) — 62° North

IND HEMP

indhemp.com

King's AgriSeeds

kingsagriseeds.com

Americhanvre Cast Hemp

americhanvre.com

This week on the Hemp Show, you are stowing away with me as I retell the tale of my trip to the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium, which was held for the first time ever in the United States — and specifically on sovereign Dakota land in what is now called Minnesota.

We're going to Cansayapi, the place where they paint the trees red.

We will hear Dakota drums, chants and prayers from the Red Tree Singers.

We will hear the voices of Vannessa Goodthunder, Tammy Desjarlais and Danny Desjarlais as they open the symposium with a vision for the future we all can share.

The Dakota people of the Lower Sioux, gracious and humble hosts of this event, gave us a shining example of community, circularity and reciprocity by welcoming the world to their reservation.

This is only the beginning of my tale. This story is so much bigger than me and I returned from this tripped changed by the experience and changed by the wind that is growing increasingly stronger.

Now is the time to face the wind, and Danny and the Dakota are leading the way.

So buckle up and join my jolly hemp crew as we listen to the wind cry for change.

International Hemp Building Association

internationalhempbuilding.org

Lower Sioux Hemp Program & Housing Project

lowersioux.com/hemp-program-and-housing-project/

News Nugget/Opinion Nugget from HempToday

Hijacking hemp: U.S. trade group plays loose with facts in a whining letter to Trump

hemptoday.net/hijacking-hemp-u-s-trade-group-plays-loose-with-facts-in-a-whining-letter-to-trump/

Thanks to Ray at SunRay Hemp at in Palmer, Alaska!

This week on the Hemp Show, we're talking to Brad Truman, a data analyst with CannaMarkets Group, about his recent deep dive into USDA's hemp import data.

His report, published in HempToday under the title When the Numbers Don't Add Up: USDA's Hemp Data Problem, raises serious questions about how hemp is being measured—and what those flawed numbers mean for farmers, investors, and policymakers.

Truman walks us through the painstaking process of pulling USDA hemp data out of PDFs, analyzing inconsistencies, and uncovering outright anomalies—like the infamous April 17th, 2024 report, which he calls a "hallucination."

We discuss how sloppy reporting erodes trust, the risks of "garbage in, garbage out" when big decisions rely on bad data, and why even simple errors like mixing up Austria and Australia can undermine credibility.

This conversation shines a light on the critical importance of accurate, dependable data as hemp emerges as an agricultural commodity. Truman not only identifies the problems but also offers practical fixes and a call for accountability.

For anyone who cares about hemp's future—from farmers and processors to policymakers and investors—this episode is a reminder that numbers matter.

Learn More

Get the Report: When the Numbers Don't Add Up: USDA's Hemp Data Problem

https://hemptoday.net/flawed-data-in-usda-hemp-reports-is-warping-policy-investment-and-market-signals/

News Nuggets

Two Ukrainian hemp companies win EU-backed innovation grants for green tech

https://hemptoday.net/two-ukrainian-hemp-companies-win-eu-backed-innovation-grants-for-green-tech/

Popular UK design show gives hempcrete a major global platform in season debut

https://hemptoday.net/popular-uk-design-show-gives-hempcrete-a-major-global-platform-in-season-debut/

CBD's inclusion in U.S. system that tracks health risks is double-edged sword

https://hemptoday.net/cbds-inclusion-in-u-s-system-that-tracks-health-risks-is-double-edged-sword/

Brazil hemp ruling delayed again as health agency puts off decision on cultivation

https://hemptoday.net/brazil-hemp-ruling-delayed-again-as-health-agency-puts-off-decision-on-cultivation/

Thanks to our sponsor SunRay Hemp!

https://sunrayhemp.com

On this week's Hemp Show, we're back at Cornell Agritech for part three of my Cornell trilogy.

In this episode I visit plant pathologist Jane Hamilton, who's testing UVC light as a non-chemical tool against powdery mildew, and Luis Monserrate from Larry Smart's breeding program, where seed size, yield and chemotype drive decisions for grain and fiber growers.

Next, we walk through Jane's UV cabinet and the powdery mildew chamber, talking dose windows and why powdery mildew (unlike some fungi) doesn't have melanin to block UV.

Then it's over to Luis for small-plot yield math, why bigger seeds can jump-start canopy closure and how chemotype IV lines can keep hempseed meal within ultra-low cannabinoid limits.

Learn More Cornell Agritech https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech Cornell Hemp Research https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu/ Ultraviolet light kills fire blight in apple blossoms without antibiotics https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2023/10/ultraviolet-light-kills-fire-blight-apple-blossoms-without-antibiotics What Is Powdery Mildew? https://extension.psu.edu/powdery-mildew AOSCA – Variety Certification https://www.aosca.org/ News Nuggets Flawed USDA Hemp Data Is Warping Market Signals https://hemptoday.net/flawed-data-in-usda-hemp-reports-is-warping-policy-investment-and-market-signals/ Trump Pushes Medicare Coverage for Hemp-Derived CBD https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/cannabis-rescheduling/news/15768113/trump-promotes-hempderived-cbd-for-senior-health-care-in-shared-video Thanks to Our Sponsors HEMI – Hemp Education & Marketing Initiative / Goodness of Hemp https://hempinitiatives.org/ KP4 Hempcutter – Forever Green https://hempcutter.com/

On this week's podcast, we continue our trip to Geneva, New York, for part two of the Cornell story. I spend some time with Christine Smart, director of Cornell AgriTech, and her husband Larry Smart, professor of plant breeding and genetics and head of Cornell's hemp program.

Christine takes me through the history of the Agritech campus — from its 1882 founding to its living plant libraries and cutting-edge robotics labs. We talk Liberty Hyde Bailey, the USDA germplasm repository, and a future where UV light replaces pesticides and robots roam the fields.

Then Larry brings us inside Cornell's hemp research: from gene editing for disease resistance to the painstaking process of seed multiplication. He shares his work on a CBG-only hemp line with zero THC and CBD, designed to open animal feed markets, and explains why F1 hybrids could unlock hemp's yield potential the same way they did for corn.

And stay tuned, because next week in part three we'll hear from two of the rising stars in Cornell's hemp program — PhD students Jane Hamilton and Luis Monserrate.

Learn More

Cornell University – Hemp Program

https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu

Cornell AgriTech

https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech

USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository

https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/geneva-ny/plant-genetic-resources-unit-pgru/

Yu Jiang Lab – Agricultural Robotics & Sensing

https://cals.cornell.edu/yu-jiang

Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum

https://www.libertyhydebailey.org

News Nuggets, from HempToday

Emergency rules take effect in Texas, restricting hemp intoxicant sales to adults over 21

https://hemptoday.net/emergency-rules-take-effect-in-texas-restricting-hemp-intoxicant-sales-to-adults-over-21/

French co-op, leading European supplier of hemp planting seed, has a new director

https://hemptoday.net/french-co-op-leading-european-supplier-of-hemp-planting-seed-has-a-new-director/

Kazakh government backs China deal as foreign investors eye neighbor's hemp sector

https://hemptoday.net/kazakh-government-backs-china-deal-as-foreign-investors-eye-neighbors-hemp-sector/

Thanks to our Sponsors

Kings AgriSeeds

https://www.kingsagriseeds.com

IND HEMP

https://indhemp.com