top of page

BLOG

WHAT'S NEW IN INDUSTRIAL HEMP:

Search

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 Hemp Summit is returning to a full-sized event this November! After hosting portions of the event online the past two years due to COVID-19 concerns, the Reception, Summit, and Trade Show will take place in-person at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA.


The 2022 convention will feature reimagined educational programming, with more interactive and non-conventional presentations. Another first for the event will be a local Research Showcase, which aims to highlight students and researchers across a wide array of disciplines.


From the Call for Proposals:

The Hemp Research Poster Session is a professional development opportunity that will bring together students and investigators of industrial hemp along with industry and government leaders to spark conversation about the future directions of hemp innovation. Join us at this interactive session to engage with community members and network.

Submissions are invited from Academic and Research Institutions on one or more of the following topics related to Industrial Hemp:

Agronomy

Genetics

Cultivation

Pest Management

Herbicide & Weed Control

 

Grain

Fiber

CBD

Nutrition

 

Environmental Impact

Risk Management

Safety

Budget and Finance

To learn more on how to participate, please download the Request for Proposals, which is attached here:



As the hemp industry grows and develops, it becomes increasingly difficult to

navigate without the proper resources. Harrison Grant, a graduate student, recently

wrapped up a project for the Pennsylvania Hemp Steering Committee which takes a

step towards finding a solution to this problem. Alongside Ron Kander and Cynthia

Petrone-Hudock, two leadership members of the PA Steering Committee, Grant created

a directory of all the permitted hemp growers, processors, and testing labs in

Pennsylvania. This comprehensive list of resources will help people in the industry

takes steps towards making their businesses successful.

The directory is formatted as a spreadsheet with columns labeled with the name,

location, and contact information for each business and the types of services they

provide including turnaround time. The directory will be updated continually to provide the most recent information available.

In an interview with Harrison Grant, he discussed some of his findings from his

data analysis of the research for the project. Grant explained, “The most surprising thing

that I learned was the kind of accreditations that a lot of these businesses have.” He

further explained that the accreditations vary by the type of business, but some of the

businesses focus on accreditations from international bodies while some focus on

national groups. For example, labs strive for accreditation from the International Accrediation Service. Other businesses in the hemp industry seek accreditation from national industry groups like the US Hemp Authority or government agencies like the FDA or USDA. This information is continually being updated in the directory.

The main goal of this project was to build a database that people could use to

navigate the hemp industry and connect with other hemp businesses. The spreadsheet

is made efficient through the use of filters, which narrow the results the viewer is

searching for. For example, the viewer could use the filters to find results for labs in

Bucks County, PA with an ISO accreditation. In an interview with Grant he discussed the

process of sifting through the research data and choosing what was most relevant and

how to best present the information. There was a great deal of thoughtfulness put into

this database in an attempt to strengthen PA’s hemp industry and begin to bring down

the barriers associated with the hemp industry. Grant explained in the interview how

valuable the experience of connecting on a direct level with the people behind these

businesses was because they can provide firsthand information which is important in

research and data analysis.

The database is live on the Pennsylvania Hemp Steering Committee’s website

under the Resources tab. The availability of this tool to hemp businesses is one step

towards growing and strengthening the hemp industry.

 
 

For more information, reach out to us on our Contact page.

For more information, reach out to us on our Contact page.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Thanks for submitting!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2021 by PA Hemp Steering Committee. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

bottom of page