The U.S. Department of Agriculture is updating its guidance for identifying, describing and evaluating different varieties of hemp as it works to rebuild the government seed bank that was destroyed by prohibition.
The latest version of the USDA’s Hemp Descriptor and Phenotyping Handbook was released this summer. It is the most comprehensive look yet at the various forms and qualities that hemp can take. The new document, which is intended to help researchers differentiate between hemp types, includes all kinds of details about morphology and yield, cannabinoid contents, oil production, seeds viability, fiber qualities, pathogen resistant, and other traits.
The ultimate goal is for users of the genetic database, such as hemp scientists and breeders to better understand the variety of hemp and to select the best hemp varieties to suit various applications.
USDA says, “Reliable, robust and high-dimensional data will be generated through these phenotyping activities to empower conservation of the hemp genetic diversity, and assist selection of materials that have unique trait combinations for breeding programmes.”
USDA
It also has germplasms of other crops. The plant is still catching up with other agricultural products, as hemp was only legalized by the federal government under the 2018 Farm Bill.
The USDA Plant Genetics Resources Unit coordinates the genetic repository at Geneva, New York. It collects and exchanges samples with domestic and international sources. The USDA’s Germplasm Resources Information Network will make the information gained from phenotyping available to the public. A few hemp samples have been added to the database.
USDA published the first version of its hemp phenotyping handbook on September 20, 2021. The document’s latest update, which was released in July, has been referred to by the term “version 3.0”.
The USDA’s latest version has been expanded to include sections on pathology and seed evaluation, as well as fiber quality. The USDA has added protocols for feral collection, seed-threshing and tissue cultures. It also says that it will continue updating procedures as new methods are developed.
A new resource for hemp farmers is a video that shows them how to make and use a Ghostbusters style backpack vacuum. According to the USDA , this vacuum can collect as much as 10 grams of marijuana pollen in under a minute.
“These resources will also be backed up at the ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation. They will be regenerated, tracked, and maintained using best management practices so that high-quality germplasm can then be distributed to researchers, breeders, and the hemp community. The genetic resources of wild relatives and cultivars for hemp will be protected to ensure that they are available for research and breeding. “In addition, we will introduce new genetic resources that are suitable for U.S. agricultural systems.”
The USDA has promoted the hemp market through a variety of means, including partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to host farmers at an educational event that focused on growing cannabis in a bio-based economy.
The Department also shared the story of a hemp farm in Indiana, highlighting how the agency provided financial and technical support to help the business maximize its output of CBD oil of high quality.
The USDA renamed its trade advisory committee in order to feature hemp prominently among a select number of specialty crops. also doubled the amount of hemp industry representatives that are on the federal trade advisory panels. This reflects the USDA’s view of cannabis as an extremely valuable commodity.
The hemp industry took a big hit in the last year, , according to a USDA analysis that showed cbd’s value dropping precipitously. The downturn has been attributed by stakeholders to the absence of Food and Drug Administration regulations for marketing hemp derivatives, such as CBD Oil, but FDA insists that Congress is required to pass such rules.
In this session, bipartisan legislators in the House of Representatives and Senate introduced bills that would ease regulatory burdens on farmers who grow industrial hemp to be used for other purposes.
A GOP congressman’s bill would cut federal funding for states and tribes that legalize marijuana
Photo by Brendan Cleak.
The post USDA Releases new Hemp Handbook as Agency Works To Rebuild a Post-Prohibition Seed Bank first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
