On this week's hemp podcast we talk to two members of the Pennsylvania Hemp Steering Committee's leadership team, Chet Lapp and Ben Davies. Together they co-chair the Farmer/Processor Outreach and Education subcommittee.

We talk about their plans to reach farmers and processors, what sorts of challenges the industry faces, and how they will act as a bridge between people in the hemp industry and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture which oversees the industry.

They encourage farmers to get in touch to voice their concerns by emailing [email protected] or by telephone: 717-455-7904.

News Nuggets

Clock ticking on two USDA grant opportunities for hemp growers

https://hempindustrydaily.com/clock-ticking-on-two-usda-opportunities-for-hemp-growers/

Fire broke out at Kleen Acres Alpaca Farm in Lancaster County

https://www.abc27.com/news/local/lancaster/crews-responding-to-barn-fire-in-lancaster-county/

Panda Biotech considering Wichita Falls for investment

https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2020/07/02/panda-biotech-considering-wichita-falls-investment/5363331002/

Michigan bill would raise hemp fees, require total THC testing

https://hempindustrydaily.com/michigan-bill-would-raise-hemp-fees-require-total-thc-testing/

10 reasons hemp entrepreneurs can still be optimistic about the industry

https://hempindustrydaily.com/overheard-at-hidc-10-reasons-hemp-entrepreneurs-can-still-be-optimistic-about-the-industry/

On this week's hemp podcast, we talk to Ray Maki, a hemp farmer on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. He's been farming in Hawaii for 30 years and is the owner and operator of Permaculture Kaua'i Nursery and Farm, a 25-acre organic hemp and permaculture farm that specializes in organic hemp production and processing, non-invasive clumping bamboos, fruit trees and exotic tropical landscapes.

In the interview, he talks about his hemp operation in the Aloha State, what sorts of challenges he faces in terms of geography and policy in Hawaii, why he put electric lights in his hemp fields last winter and why he won't be doing that again this year. We talk about permaculture, Korean Natural Farming practices, the arbitrary nature of THC limits and why genetics are the key to success for growing hemp in Hawaii.

Permaculture Kaua'i Nursery and Farm https://permaculturekauai.com/

On this week's podcast we talk to Reggie Weedman whose deep dive on hemp genetics has taken him on a quest for total-THC compliant hemp genetics that will stay legal even in Hawaii, where he works with local farmers.

He finally found what he was looking for in Oregon at Davis Hemp Farm where Jeremy Klettke has been diligently breeding CBD genetics for many years. We then talked to Klettke about his breeding operation, how his genetics fair in Hawaii, and his work with the Dalai Lama.

Davis Hemp Farmhttps://davishempfarms.com/

Hemp planting season is underway in Pennsylvania, so on this week's show we check in on four different hemp operations to see how the season is progressing.

First we talk to Fletcher Kaufman from Agranetics, LLC in Lycoming County, where he is growing outside for the first time this year. Last year he ran an indoor operation.

Then we talked to Dale Norley from Tasunka Farm in Chester County, where she grew 7000 plants last year, but this year is ramping things up with over 48,000 auto flower plants.

Next we visit with Karah and Ben Davies at Wildfox Farm in Eastern Berks County, where, now in their third year of growing, they've planted about 5 acres of CBD hemp.

And finally we talked to Josh Leidhecker from Susquehanna Hemp in Lycoming County, where he's growing dual-purpose fiber and grain varieties as well as CBD.

This show is an interesting glimpse into four very different hemp operations.

Agranetics, LLC https://agranetics.com/

Tasunka Farm Organics LLC email Dale: [email protected]

Wildfox Provisions https://www.wildfoxprovisions.com/

Susquehanna Hemp Company https://susquehannahempco.com/

The Pennsylvania Hemp Steering Committee is comprised of farmers, processors, business leaders, lawyers, policymakers and college professors. The committee was established to help guide the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as they develop the hemp program in the state.

Jefferson University engineering professor Dr. Ronald Kander has been selected as chair of the leadership team of the committee. On this week's show he explains how the steering committee works, the challenges they face, and the principles that guide the committee.

Following the interview with Dr. Kander, we talk to Adam Dietrich from ReBlocks, a Denver, Colorado-based company that uses recycled plastic to make building materials. They recently started using components of the hemp plant in their composites.

Links

Email Dr. Kander: [email protected]

Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/kanbar-college-of-design-engineering-commerce.html

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp program https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/industrial_hemp/Pages/default.aspx

All Together Now Pennsylvania's Hemp Local Supply Chain Coalition https://alltogethernowpa.org/regional-economies/industrial-hemp/

ReBlocks

http://www.reblockco.com/

[email protected]

Sponsor

Hemp Depot https://www.cbdseedco.com/

This week's show is divided into two parts. The first is a Fiberside Chat interview with Brianna Kilcullen, founder of Anact (https://www.anact.com/), a company that makes sustainable bath and hand towels from hemp fibers. We hear about what motivated her to start the business and the challenges and successes she's faced along the way.

The second interview is with Jason Holly, president of Hempsylvania, a hemp farm and business in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. We hear how Holly was able to put his experience in the tobacco industry to good use when he entered the hemp space. We also talk about compost tea and what sets Hempsylvania apart from other hemp companies. Sponsor: Hemp Depot https://www.cbdseedco.com/

One of the buzzwords in the hemp space this year is autoflower. But what is it and why would you want to grow it? This episode answers those questions and a whole lot more with a roundtable panel discussion about autoflowering varieties of industrial hemp with Lancaster County farmer Steve Groff, Atlas Seed Co. Breeder Joe Ullman, and Atlas Seed Co. grower Ryan Power.

And here's what we cover:

• The differences between autoflower and photoperiod hemp

• Is cloning an option

• Expected feminization rates

• When does the flowering cycle start

• Best time to plant

• Recommended spacing

• Transplanting vs. direct seeding

• Optimal feeding plan

• Harvesting

• Expected yields

• Cannabinoid percentages and more.

For more information, check out Atlas Seed (https://atlasseed.com/) and Hemp Innovators (https://www.hempinnovators.com/)

On this week's show we hear from Shannon Powers, press secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where they are still busy processing hemp permits for 2020. So far around 415 applications have been approved, 10 percent of which are processor permits. Powers talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the department's roll out of the hemp program this year, changes to this year's program, the Pennsylvania Steering Committee and more.

Then we talk to Chase Hubbard, senior analyst at the Jacobsen, the prestigious ag commodities reporting agency, where Hubbard writes the Hemp Daily Bulletin that includes thoughtful market commentary and hemp market prices CBD, fiber and grain.

And finally we check in with Jonathan Miller, general counsel at the US Hemp Roundtable, who tells us about the SAFE banking Act and offers advice for hemp farmers struggling in the new world of the pandemic.

Links Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Hemp Program

PDA's Hemp FAQs

PDA's Interactive Map

PDA's Comments to USDA on the Interim Final Rule

The Jacobsen's Hemp & CBD Pricing and Forecasting

Urge Your U.S. Senators to Include SAFE Banking Act provisions in COVID-19 Relief Package

Join the US Hemp Roundtable

Frost Brown Todd, LLC

Take the PA Hemp Summit Survey https://bit.ly/HempSummitSurvey

Thanks to our sponsor King's AgriSeeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/hemp/

In the history of hemp, the mythology of Mitch McConnell looms large. He is often credited with being the guy who made hemp happen for farmers in Kentucky, but McConnell is up for reelection this year. Hoping to challenge him in the Senate race is Mike Broihier, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Marines and a farmer in Kentucky.

On this week's podcast, Broihier talks about the hemp industry in Kentucky, what he would do as a Senator to help farmers, and how the Marine Corps and farming have prepared him for his first venture into politics.

Links

Mike Broihier's website https://mikeforky.com/

Mike Broihier's opinion piece in the Courier Journal https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2020/02/14/mitch-mcconnell-hemp-scheme-mile-wide-and-inch-deep/4749434002/

Register for Autoflower Q&A Webinar https://bit.ly/autoflowerwebinar

Hemp News Nuggets

USDA provides federal lending guidance for hemp growers https://hempindustrydaily.com/usda-provides-federal-lending-guidance-for-hemp-growers/

198 Farmers Applied for Licenses in Ohio's First Year of Hemp Industry https://www.hempgrower.com/article/hemp-farmers-ohio-license-application-fiber-grain-cbd/

USDA approves hemp plan for Massachusetts https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/08/marijuana/usda-approves-hemp-plan-massachusetts/

Thanks to our sponsor King's AgriSeeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/hemp/

The anecdotal evidence of the medicinal benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids for animals is growing, but without approval from the FDA, veterinarians are unable to recommend helm for use in animals, and in most of the US, vets aren't even allowed to discuss cannabis at all with pet owners. This week's guest on the podcast is Dr. Patti Mayfield, a veterinarian and hemp farmer in Oregon, where she is also a member of the Veterinary Cannabis Society, which promotes education, safety, and legislative change surrounding the use of medical cannabis for pets. We also hear from Ben Thomas, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture about the state's new hemp checkoff program, the first of its kind in the nation. Plus, we hear from Geoff Whaling about an IPO from Collective Growth Corporation and what this will mean for the hemp supply chain in North America.

Relevant Links

Veterinary Cannabis https://www.veterinarycannabis.org/

Montana Department of Agriculture's Hemp Checkoff Program https://agr.mt.gov/News/montana-hemp-growers-establish-checkoff-applications-sought-for-committee

What is Collective Growth Corporation? https://tdameritradenetwork.com/video/rB4AoXHUFCyBceVOMt8Exg

The Jacobsen Daily Hemp Bulletinhttps://thejacobsen.com/price-reporting/industrial-hemp/

Sponsor

Hemp Innovators Hemp School https://www.hempinnovators.com/hemp-school