Recorded excerpts of CEO Tim Fritz and Agronomist Sarah Mitchell talking through their test plot of industrial hemp in 2022. They explain the utility of fore crops and nurse crops as part of weed management practices on a sustainable farm. The fields depicted are of several varieties of hemp for fiber and grain purposes.
For more information on King's AgriSeeds you can visit their website: https://kingsagriseeds.com
In the spring, the PA Hemp Steering Committee hosted one of their quarterly meetings. A condensed version of the minutes is below, with the full minutes attached via Word Doc.
PA Department of Agriculture Update: Fred Strathmeyer and Sarah Pickel
The Department counted 180 permit applications submitted to date. The elimination of the April 1st application deadline has encouraged more applicants. However, farmers are reminded that these are annual permits and must be applied for each calendar year.
Applicants also took advantage of the new performance-based sampling option for fiber and grain varieties. To utilize this option, specific parameters must be met, including consecutive growing seasons of compliant hemp and certified or PDA-determined “low-risk” varieties. For details, please see the guidelines: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/hemp/Pages/Permits.aspx.
Resource Directory Update: Isabel Molineros, Student Delaware Valley University
The survey has been updated to gather fresh and more detailed information for analysis. An automation effort is underway to improve the ease of capturing and displaying the data. https://www.pa-hemp-steering-committee.org/hemp-directory
Please remember to contact us if you have an event you would like noted on the website: Email: info@pa-hemp-steering-committee.org
The PA Industrial Hemp Engine Update: Paul Hallacher
PA Hemp Engine received a grant this time last year and have been moving forward with different stakeholder communications over the last few months. Additional information can be found at https://paihe.org/
Please note you do not have to be in the PA I-81 corridor to participate.
PA Hemp Industry Council Update: Erica Stark
· Still working on the second grant to develop a "Know Hemp" campaign to raise overall public awareness, focusing on fiber, grain, and cannabinoids.
· An intern from Del Val University is working on a resource page for grant and economic development opportunities, as well as social media presence and video content.
· Monitoring national policies; a Farm Bill may not be passed this year.
· Keeping an eye on the national discussion around closing the loophole on intoxicating cannabinoids, with the primary concern being to avoid inadvertently damaging the hemp industry or penalizing hemp farmers.
· PAHIC continues to support the Industrial Hemp Act for fiber and grain.
· The FDA has approved hemp as a feed ingredient for laying hens (a PA initiative); full approval may take another year. More can be found on their website at https://www.pahic.org/
General Questions/Discussion
Where are we with CBD as a food supplement?
· CBD is legal, not a controlled substance, but putting it in food and beverage is not lawful. There is no real enforcement, which is why we see products in the marketplace. This is also why we are faced with Congress trying to pass laws to fix these things, which can cause the industry more harm than good.
What are the limitations for production of microgreens and minigreens; can restaurants produce on-site and offer in foods?
· If a restaurant qualifies for a hemp growing license they can produce and use in foods.
The Del Val Program is researching varieties that can be sold as ornamental; floral or fruity. Is there a path where we could get to a point where home hemp plants, ornamental or medicinal would be an option?
· Legislation change would be required, FDA or MMJ Act.
Is there any limitation on the sale of dry flower; cannabonsai?
· Not as long as complaint at harvest.
The full minutes can be found here:
The PA Department of Agriculture and the PA State Conservation Commission have opened a new agriculture research grant program.
The funding opportunity is categorized as an Agricultural Conservation Research Grant. The solicitation is looking for projects that will span from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extending funding into subsequent years.
Research Topic Areas
The Department is particularly interested in funding conservation research projects related to:
Mushroom Industry Emissions
Identify the sources of nuisance emissions in the mushroom industry and best mitigation practices that are applicable to operations in this Commonwealth.
Quantify emissions from the mushroom industry and measure the impact of best practices that are deployed.
Manure Treatment Technologies (MTT)
Quantify the impact of MTT on water quality, including traceability of nutrients as they are processed. Additionally, provide recommendations for best available technology or best practices, or both, to improve MTT utilization.
Climate Impact of Farming
Effectiveness of Land Remediation Practices
Application are due Friday, June 7, 2024, at 5 p.m. Questions regarding this online application process may be directed to Michael Roth, Director of Conservation and Innovation for the Department, at (717) 787-6257. The full solicitation can be viewed here on the PA government's official bulletin.
For more information, reach out to us on our Contact page.
For more information, reach out to us on our Contact page.
