- If you are interested in growing hemp in 2020, be sure you are well informed. We hear about the many benefits and rewards about growing this crop. Don’t forget about the numerous risks involved with hemp production. Don’t rush into production. Be sure you have secured a market, I recommend growing this crop with a contract in order to secure an outlet for your crop. Market prices have significantly dropped recently and this is a young market that will continue to be volatile. I have attached several resources below that will help you stay updated on recent hemp news.
- The Ohio Department of Agriculture announced that the proposed rules will go into effect on January 29th and applications will be opening up soon. Regulations and fee schedules can be found at
- https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/administration/resources/hemp-facts3
- ODA released the following information on January 16th:
“We wanted to update you on the status of Ohio’s hemp rules. On Thursday, January 16, 2020 the rules were passed through the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). The rules will go into effect on Wednesday, January 29. ODA will begin accepting applications for cultivating and processing shortly thereafter. There are steps you can take now to prepare for the application process:
- Cultivators are required to register as an operator with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to ensure the land/tract is properly identified within the farm record system. Cultivators will also be required to file a hemp planting report with the FSA. To locate an FSA office, please visit the FSA website: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?service=page/CountyMap&state=OH&stateName=Ohio&stateCode=39
- Processors need to obtain a surety bond. This can be done through an insurance agent. All licensed processors who purchase raw, unprocessed hemp must demonstrate their financial responsibility in the form of a surety bond. The bond must be in the amount of either $10,000 or $20,000 and meet the requirements found in OAC 901:14-2-07.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Hemp office at 614-728-2101 or email us at hemp@ohio.agri.gov.”
You can also find additional information on growing hemp at:
- https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/ohio-hemp-growers-tread-slowly
- https://cfaes.osu.edu/node/13091
- Hemp News and Market info: https://www.hempbenchmarks.com/
- FDA updates: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd
Brown and Adams County Extension had a hemp research plot in 2019. We also worked with the OSU South Centers and Acela CBD on this project. See some of our pictures below. We tested the THC & CBD levels after various weather conditions using a Europhins NIR system. Our plot was a last minute plan and data was strictly observational. We learned a lot about this plant but to due having various varieties and non-replicated trails, our data will be used to support future research plans. One key point we found during our research was how variable the THC levels can be within one field.
