The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sharing a successful Indiana-based hemp farm and how the USDA is providing financial and technical assistance to help the operation maximize production of high-quality CBD oil. It advertises how it was offered.
Hemp has been treated the same as marijuana under federal law for decades, but it was legalized by the federal government under the 2018 Farm Bill, increasing demand for derivatives such as CBD. During that time, farmers across the country were inspired to start growing hemp.
The USDA has sought to assist the industry by facilitating a variety of resources available to hemp farmers as they navigate rapidly evolving regulations and policies.
In a post, part of the USDA’s “Fridays on the Farm” series, Papa G, a father-son business that began when Jeffrey Garland suggested growing crops on his father’s farm in Indiana. Emphasis on organic hemp farms. He applied for a license under recently enacted regulations by the state and continued to sell until both parties agreed to inoculate hemp.
“Outwardly, the cannabis plants used to produce hemp oil are nearly identical to the cannabis plants used to produce marijuana, but the difference is the internal chemistry,” said USDA’s Brandon O’Connor. writing. “Marijuana plants are bred to maximize the production of THC, a psychoactive compound, while hemp plants are bred to maximize the production of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound known for its medicinal uses. It can be improved and bred for fiber and grain products.”
A USDA blog post describes how the Garlands cultivated hemp in outdoor fields and “high tunnels” during the first growing season. A “high tunnel” is a plastic-covered greenhouse-like incubator in which the environment is easy to manage and the crops are well known. to prosper. That’s true for the cannabis farm experience as well, with cannabis plants growing longer and yielding higher quality CBD oil.
The Garlands want to extend the tall tunnel and sought help through the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).
“They applied for an EQIP contract in 2021 and it was approved that the tunnels are scheduled to be built in time for the 2022 growing season,” the USDA said. “Thanks to the tall tunnels, the garland is able to extend the flowering period by several weeks on both sides, as it allows us to control the plant’s growing environment. [was] This is a key part of turning your hemp business into a true year-round business. ”
This Friday, we meet Jeff Garland and Jeffrey Garland at the Papa G, Indiana organic hemp farm they’re working with. @USDA_NRCS to prolong the growing season.Learn more in this week’s article #fridays on the farm: https://t.co/lHf7hidz9S pic.twitter.com/fYAKlHEajd
— Farmers Gov (@FarmersGov) July 14, 2023
The post also addresses the challenge of maintaining hemp’s “inside chemistry,” as federal law states that hemp’s THC content cannot exceed 0.3 percent dry weight. Environmental factors such as heat can increase THC levels above legal limits, making them “hot” and requiring disposal.
“A key factor is controlling the inputs that plants receive and ensuring that they receive the nutrients they need to survive and thrive,” the report said. We sought technical advice and worked with local community conservationist Lee Schnell to develop a cover crop plan,” he added. ”
“On a hot summer’s day, months after transplanting the new variety, the air in the farm was thickened with the scent of growing cannabis plants, and the plants were growing well, reaching a maximum height of over six feet. ,” the report said. Conclusion. “Over time, the plants will be dried and processed into ointments, tinctures, gel tablets, etc. It’s all part of their commitment to making the best possible products to help people.” .”
Meanwhile, the USDA recently renamed its Trade Advisory Board to feature hemp prominently within a specific group of specialty crops, reflecting its recognition of cannabis as a uniquely valuable commodity. bottom.
A USDA analysis showed that the hemp sector took a big hit last year, with the value of hemp plummeting across all indicators. Officials have largely blamed the economic downturn on a lack of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation on the sale of valuable hemp-derived products such as CBD oil. The agency has argued that enacting such a rule requires congressional intervention.
Bipartisan lawmakers in both houses of Congress have introduced related legislation in this Congress aimed at easing the regulatory burden on farmers who grow industrial hemp for purposes other than extraction.
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Photo courtesy of Brendan Creek.
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