Hemp Steering Committee Minutes – Winter Meeting, January 17, 2025

Updates from the Department of Agriculture

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Sarah Pickel - 2025 Growing Season Update – Pennsylvania Hemp Industry

• Eighth Season Underway: Pennsylvania’s 2025 hemp growing season is officially underway, marking the 8th consecutive year of cultivation in the Commonwealth.

• Acreage Update: In 2024, Pennsylvania saw an increase in hemp acreage, with 421 acres planted statewide. However, the number of growing permits declined to 185, down from 215 in the previous year. The increase in acreage despite fewer permits suggests larger-scale operations are expanding, particularly for fiber varieties, which made up 76% of total hemp acreage.

• National Feed Law Changes: Recent national changes to animal feed laws now allow the use of hemp meal in laying hen diets. It will be interesting to monitor whether this opens the door to increased hemp grain cultivation in Pennsylvania in 2025 and beyond.

• Performance-Based Sampling: A reminder for fiber and grain growers to take advantage of performance-based sampling this season. To qualify, growers must use certified seed or select from a list of low-risk varieties available on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's website.

Mike Roth – Director on Innovation: spearheading efforts in robotics, artificial intelligence, ag-to-energy solutions, and biomaterials, reinforcing the state’s commitment to forward-thinking agricultural practices.

2025 PA Farm Show: Successfully showcased how Pennsylvania agriculture is feeding people and generating energy through sustainable practices. Universities and agtech companies presented robotics, automation, and smart farming tools, demonstrating the state’s leadership in agricultural innovation. It was a strong showing of how innovation is shaping the future of farming in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Agricultural Innovation Grant Update

• Nation’s First Ag Innovation Fund: Pennsylvania launched the first Agricultural Innovation Grant Fund in the country, with $10 million in available funding. The goal is to support projects with triple bottom line impact—advancing profitability, sustainability, and social equity.

  • Strong Interest & Diverse Applicants: Over $69 million in funding requests were submitted.

  • The applicant pool includes a diverse cross-section of Pennsylvania’s agriculture community, including some hemp-related proposals.

  • 170 applications were received through the new grant mechanism, many from first-time applicants—a promising sign of fresh energy and innovation in the sector.

  • Challenges & Priorities for PA Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s farms are generally small and diversified, making scaling difficult compared to larger ag states. This makes innovation and efficiency critical to the sustainability of PA farms.

  • Labor shortages are a real challenge, and automation is encouraged—not as job replacement, but as a support mechanism.

  • Examples of Ag Innovation & Automation: Wearable tech for livestock—“Fitbit-like” devices for cows

  • Automated runners for produce farming

  • Timeline: Grant award announcements were expected in late January, though exact timing is still uncertain.

  • Results have not yet been released as of early 2025.

Guest Presentations

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Cameron McIntosh, CEO of Americhanvre, has been awarded a U.S. Army SBIR Direct to Phase II grant under the Sustainable Building Materials and Technologies Open Topic.

The project addresses military construction challenges through a bio-composite solution using hempcrete. This renewable material offers multiple benefits, including:

• Renewable feedstock and low embodied carbon

• Increased thermal resistance and energy efficiency

• Mold, moisture, and pest resistance (once cured)

• EMF shielding and fire resistance

This award highlights the growing role of hemp-based materials in sustainable infrastructure and defense-related construction innovation.

PA DECD – offers funding through the High Performance Building Program to support the construction or renovation of energy-efficient residential and commercial buildings.

Keith Harvey, CEO Founder UGP Global Energy (PA) Inc

A carbon-negative, zero-waste energy company focused on clean, renewable solutions powered by industrial hemp. The company aims to reduce environmental and carbon footprints while generating multiple high-value outputs:

• Renewable electricity

• Green hydrogen

• Biofuels

• Biochar

• Sustainable aviation fuel

• Carbon certificates

UGP’s model involves developing processing facilities and cultivating 25,000 acres of industrial hemp, highlighting the crop’s high carbon sequestration potential and sustainability.

Other Questions & Comments

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PA Industrial Hemp Engine – did not get invited for full proposal on Phase II. Advisory Board meetings have been cancelled for the rest of this year; they did get a small grant for K-12 for education.

National Hemp Association has applied for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCCP) grant to support the cultivation of up to 5,000 acres of hemp (grain or fiber) per year.

The initiative will focus on:

• Farmer education and training

• Offering growing contracts for the 2026 season

• Implementing conservation practices

• Establishing environmental monitoring sites to track impact and outcomes

This effort aims to scale sustainable hemp cultivation while supporting farmers and advancing climate-smart agriculture.

Meeting Minutes July 2024

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PA Department of Agriculture Update: Fred Strathmeyer:

• 174 hemp grow permits secured and 38 hemp processing permits secured:

  • 84% cannabinoids

  • 26% fiber

  • 12% grain

• Year-round permitting available; closes year-end

• Performance based sampling underway; compliance testing not required if the cultivar is a “certified fiber and grain variety” is listed on the PDA website.

• Last night (7/14) budget was signed with no issue.

• Reminder: specialty crop block grants are available for hemp (at the State level) as well as new Agriculture Innovation grant funds. Keep an eye out for Bulletin updates.

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Events:

• Sarah Mitchell: Lancaster County Hemp Circuit held 8/20-8/21/24. King’s Agri-seed, Penn State and Cedar Meadow Farm hosting partially funded by a PDA grant.

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Member Submitted Questions:

Update on the Farm Bill and what impacts will the Miller amendment have?

• Erica Stark - Positive update as most of the key components of industrial hemp act made it into the base text of the house version of the Farm Bill to include a clear definition of industrial hemp as grown for a separate purpose of fiber, grain or micro-greens. Not able to address all States operating under the same rules and regulations however, it will allow visual inspection and certified seed performance-based sampling.

• Framework of Democratic version not GOP version (not touched at all).

• The Miller Amendment aims to close the loophole allowing intoxicating hemp products by revising the legal definition of hemp-derived products containing THC. It now bases the legality on total THC content, which addresses post-harvest manufacturing processes but inadvertently causes more challenges for farmers. The amendment passed in appropriations and work will need to be done to ensure it does not have a negative impact to the hemp industry as a whole.

What are the latest challenges in opening up the PA MMJ markets to PA hemp suppliers?

• Cynthia Petrone-Hudock – Back in 2021, PA Steer supported opening hemp B2B markets to MMJ producers to ensure access, affordability, compliant material for MMJ product development and expanded MMJ minor cannabinoid product diversity. There was also a clear intent to accomplish local economic development. In the fall 2022, the MMJ Act changed to embrace the opportunity Section 1151.a.24 (f) & (g).

• Earlier this year, the DOH started requiring MMJ producers to obtain an affidavit from PA hemp permitted growers/processor suppliers stating all hemp material has been grown and processed within PA state limits. Blocking interstate commerce limits the access and affordability of compliant material and hinders local economic development (which was the original intent of opening the markets).

• Lobbyists are working to address the situation and free up interstate commerce. Look for a update in October.

What is academia’s current research focus?

• Alyssa Collins – Met with a larger agronomy group, which has now divided into sub-groups to prioritize research. The first step involved surveying key concerns, such as pests, diseases, and plant establishment.

  • Researchers across the country, 16-20 participants, run research and share data.

  • Developing basic agronomic protocols. A public breeder at Cornell is working on fiber and grain hemp varieties, with promising results. Historically, international varieties have been used, but the focus is now on optimizing for specific regions and end uses. Best growing approaches for different regions; Researchers and industry partners, such as Kings AgriSeeds, are working together to share findings and deploy them in additional research efforts across various regions.

  
  

What is PA doing to move the needle forward on production?

• EmmaRose Strohl Feed for animals:

  • Hemp seed and oil have not yet been approved for use in animal feed. However, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has accepted hemp-based feed for layer hens, which is gaining traction with the FDA.

  • The Hemp Feed Coalition has successfully published a definition for hemp seed cake as a feed ingredient for animal consumption.

Advantages and challenges of developing higher value hemp-derived industrial products?

• Dan Summa is focused on early market entry with products that have the potential for a strategic and national impact on the U.S. economy. He has been working on using hemp compounds to develop graphene.

• Key challenges in this effort include:

  • Collaborations: Partnering with academic research centers is essential but can be complex.

  • Time: It can take up to 5 years to move from concept development to pilot projects. Grant applications are time-consuming, often with limited lead time.

  • Funding: Projects are currently supported through self-funding, grants, and venture capital.

Has anyone considered leveraging AI tools to support hemp initiatives?

• Mike Roth – Through the Ag Innovation efforts, there are strong relationships with Carnegie Mellon; field and visual ai opportunities

• Oneal Latimore - using AI in product design through a Jefferson Innovation Grant.

• Alyssa Collins – Advises caution in using AI for in-field decisions. Also take into consideration the significant energy costs of using AI.