As part of its annual data-collection initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is sending thousands of surveys out to hemp farmers in the United States to better understand the current state of the industry.
The USDA conducted its first annual survey in 2021 . It then updated the questionnaire before distributing to farmers. A report was released with findings showing that the value and production of the crop declined significantly in 2022.
The department’s latest survey, which was distributed Monday, asks the same questions as previous rounds. It includes questions on plans for outdoor hemp cultivation, the acreage required for operations, the primary and secondary uses of the crop, and the prices that producers can achieve. The USDA wants to know more about smokable, human-grade hemp, seeds, fiber, and other preparations.
The survey is sent to over 6,000 farmers and asks them about the hemp that they harvest to extract CBD and CBG and CBN, as well as other cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds for use in nutraceutical and topical products such oils, lotions and cleansers.
The Hemp Production and Distribution Inquiry, a USDA-attributed quote, will provide crucial data about the hemp sector to producers, regulatory agencies and state governments. It also provides important information for processors and other industry players.
The results of the survey will appear on USDA’s site on April 17.
The survey asks if farmers hand trim the hemp, how much they have harvested and where they get their seeds and clones.
In 2020, USDA plans to distribute a survey separate to the national survey in order to gather insights from thousands hemp businesses which could help it to regulate the industry.
The survey was launched in partnership with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the University of Kentucky. The Department of Agriculture said that it was interested in learning about “current hemp production costs, production methods, and marketing techniques”.
USDA is also reportedly revoking the hemp licenses of farmers who are growing marijuana in state-approved programs. This highlights yet another policy conflict arising from the federal prohibition on some forms of cannabis.
The next version of agriculture legislation could include further changes to federal hemp regulations. The 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp in 2018, was supposed to be updated last year. However, it has been extended until 2024.
Legislators and stakeholders are looking at a number proposals that could be included, including measures to allow hemp businesses to market products like CBD legally as dietary supplements and in food supplies and to remove restrictions for people with prior drug convictions to participate in the industry.
Despite the economic conditions, however, a recent report found that a data-google-interstitial=”false” href=”https://www.marijuanamoment.net/sales-of hemp derived cannabinoids like cbd are outpacing legal marijuana and are on par with craft beer –report findings/” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank>the hemp market in 2022 was larger than all state marijuana A recent report, however, found that despite the economic conditions, in 2022, the hemp market was larger than the state marijuana markets and roughly equaled the sales of craft beer nationwide.
While internal at USDA, food workers are encouraged to avoid cannabis products including federally legalized CBD. The agency has observed an “uptick in positive THC test results amid confusion” as more States legalize.
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Photo by Brendan Cleak.
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