Industrial Hemp Podcast

Industrial hemp has been developing quietly in New Zealand for more than two decades. In this episode, we're talking with Richard Barge, treasurer of the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association, about how the sector has evolved — from early government trials in the early 2000s to a growing network of farmers, seed processors, fiber decortication facilities and researchers exploring hemp's role in the bio-economy. Barge explains how New Zealand's hemp industry has taken a deliberate approach to growth, scaling carefully as markets develop rather than chasing acreage without demand. The conversation explores the country's regulatory framework, including the long-standing Industrial Hemp Regulations under the Misuse of Drugs Act and the policy changes now underway that could allow farmers to grow industrial hemp without a license. Other topics discussed: • Hemp seed foods and New Zealand's export-oriented agriculture • The emergence of fiber processing and hempcrete construction • Challenges around feeding hemp by-products to livestock • The role of research institutions and universities in developing new hemp materials • Opportunities for international collaboration and seed production across hemispheres Barge also describes the current supply chain in New Zealand, including seed processing, decortication capacity and companies working to introduce hemp into textiles, building materials and consumer products. Learn More: New Zealand Hemp Industries Association https://www.linkedin.com/company/nzhia/ Midlands Seed HempNZ Hemp Central Hemp Connect Kathmandu Zespri Oregon State University Global Hemp Innovation Center Hemp Today Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND Hemp Americhanvre Cast Hemp  

Long before we talked about hemp as a commodity crop with profound industrial potential, hemp was something simpler: a plant grown in soil, worked by human hands and shaped into useful things. This week on the Hemp Show our guest is Laura Sullivan — hemp farmer, Extension educator at the University of Vermont and fiber artist whose work explores hemp not as a commodity but as a material with cultural and ecological meaning. Laura recently completed her Master of Fine Arts, using hemp fiber grown on the research farm to create garments and installations that blur the boundary between agriculture and art. "I've been working in science for over five years now and I have seen a lot of really great data come out that has changed absolutely nothing about how we operate in our world where we have so many solutions at our fingertips and yet no way to implement them," Sullivan said. "So I thought that art could reach people in a way that white papers and data and graphs and science don't always seem to." In one of Sullivan's pieces, hemp garments embedded with seeds were watered until they sprouted, making visible the idea that clothing, like food, begins in the field. Sullivan notes that synthetic fiber now dominates the global textile system, and that most of it originates not from farms but from fossil fuels. "Synthetic fiber currently makes up about 70% of textiles globally," she said. "Synthetic fiber is any fiber that is made of plastic, which is derived from oil. Alternatively, we have this other group of fibers — derived from the soil… and to the soil they can return." Her work also draws on mythology, ancestry and traditional fiber practices, using hemp and wool to create large-scale symbolic pieces that connect ancient textile traditions with modern agricultural realities. Plus, News Nuggets and a very special visit from everyone's favorite Kentucky hemp flooring guy, Greg Wilson, who looks at hemp like this: "You gotta grow it, you gotta make it and you gotta sell it. And I look at our business model and I always say, if you've got two hands, you can't carry three buckets." See Laura's Work: https://www.lancasterfarming.com/view-photos-of-laura-sullivans-hemp-fiber-fashion-collection/collection_67508afa-178d-4d69-845b-3cc412aec702.html Learn More University of Vermont Extension Hemp Program www.uvm.edu/extension/nwcrops/hemp Vermont College of Fine Arts https://vcfa.edu/ News Nuggets European hemp stalwart HempFlax Group is departing Romania after historic 14-year run https://hemptoday.net/european-hemp-stalwart-hempflax-group-is-departing-romania-after-historic-14-year-run/ Sask Polytechnic and EnviroWay develop biodegradable plastics from hemp and flax fiber waste https://www.packaginginsights.com/news/sask-polytech-enviroway-biodegradable-plastics.html Time for a little home hemp? https://www.echo.net.au/2026/02/time-for-a-little-home-hemp/ Sponsors HEMI www.hempinitiatives.org/ King's Agriseeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/ Forever Green Equipment – KP4 Hemp Cutter https://hempcutter.com/ HempWood https://hempwood.com/

On this week's Hemp Podcast, we talk to August Cook, Joseph Carringer and Dave Cook of Commonwealth Denim and Tuscarora Mills about their effort to weave, cut and sew 100% hemp selvedge jeans in Pennsylvania — and what it will take to rebuild a regional textile supply chain from farm to finished garment. Pennsylvania has a long history with textiles, from homespun hemp and linen in colonial times to the grandeur of Philadelphia's textile mills in the early 20th century. But by the end of the 20th century, the industry had pretty much collapsed, held together by specialty manufacturers and legacy family businesses. Now, there is new hope on the horizon. Commonwealth Denim is weaving, cutting and sewing 100% hemp selvedge jeans in Pennsylvania while working to rebuild a fully Pennsylvania-based textile supply chain. Learn More: Commonwealth Denim pre-orders and company information: https://commonwealthdenim.com/ Tuscarora Mills heritage textile weaving in York County, Pennsylvania: https://tuscaroramills.com/ News Nuggets  Dutch hemp fiber variety Carmanecta approved for EU catalog hemptoday.net/newly-listed-dutch-variety-shows-potential-to-challenge-europes-fiber-hemp-incumbents/ European Food Safety Authority sets restrictive daily intake level for CBD hemptoday.net/european-food-safety-panel-sets-ultra-low-daily-limit-for-cbd-tightening-approvals/ Australia's first dedicated hemp masonry hub opens in Nimbin arr.news/2026/02/18/australias-first-one-stop-hemp-masonry-hub/ Daily Inter Lake reporting on the Benton hemp work shirt and domestic textile supply chain dailyinterlake.com/news/2026/feb/22/american-made-hemp-shirt-experiment-two-montana-companies-led-creation-of-a-domestically-made-shirt-from-hemp/ Thanks to our Sponsor IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/

This week on the Hemp Show, we widen the lens. Hemp is more than a crop — it's part of a larger material system that connects farms, forests, manufacturers, builders and cities. Architect and urban researcher Kaja Kühl joins the podcast to explain why she calls hemp and straw "indicator species" — materials that signal the health of a regional building ecosystem. Through her Bio-Based Materials & Construction Resources Map, she has been documenting the farms, processors and builders already working across the Northeast. In this conversation, we explore what it would take to scale regenerative construction from rural landscapes into dense urban markets — and why regional supply chains may matter more than centralized industrial models. We discuss: • Hempcrete as a carbon-storing wall system • Why moisture regulation and indoor air quality may be hemp's most overlooked strengths • Straw panel manufacturing and collaborative scaling models • The advantages — and challenges — of building in a dense Northeastern region • Housing as long-term carbon storage infrastructure Kühl also reflects on building two carbon-zero hemp homes in New York's Hudson Valley and what she learned working alongside early-stage material startups. As federal climate policy shifts, atmospheric carbon does not. If emissions oversight weakens, land-based carbon strategies — including fiber crops like hemp — only grow more consequential. This episode situates hemp inside a broader conversation about how we build, where materials come from and how regional economies can store carbon in the walls around us. News Nuggets Farm Bill / Hemp Language U.S. House Agriculture Committee – Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (Draft Bill Information) National Hemp Association – Industry Response & Policy Updates USDA Hemp Production Program EPA Endangerment Finding EPA 2009 Endangerment Finding (Clean Air Act) Clean Air Act Overview (EPA) Learn More You Are the City – Kaja Kühl's Practice Bio-Based Materials & Construction Resources Map City College of New York – Architecture Columbia University GSAPP Bio-Based Materials Collective https://biobasedcollective.org Thanks to our Sponsor IND HEMP 

This week on the Hemp Podcast, we have a long conversation about hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids with Chris Fontes, president of the U.S. Hemp Authority and founder of Trojan Horse Cannabis and High Spirits Beverages. Trojan Horse Cannabis was the first company to bring so-called intoxicating hemp derivatives to market, changing the hemp space forever. For decades, hemp advocates said hemp was different from marijuana because hemp couldn't get you high. But the 2018 Farm Bill created the perfect conditions for the birth of a whole new chapter in the story of hemp. Fontes said when he read the hemp language in the 2018 Farm Bill, "My first thought was: We have uncontrolled THC. There is now a version of THC that is not controlled. Something could be done with this." THC is the chemical compound produced in the cannabis flower known for its psychoactive properties. Applying basic principles of math, Fontes realized that this legal THC "can be put into a product at a 10 milligram standard dose and could be shipped through the mail to anyone in the country at the time as there was no state by state blocking and interstate transport was explicitly protected," he said. Thus, the intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid market was born. And that's where this conversation gets interesting. This isn't your typical fiber and grain hemp discussion. But if you want to understand why lawmakers are reacting, why definitions are shifting, and why the word hemp feels contested right now — you have to understand where this market came from. That's what we have in store for you in this episode. Enjoy. Learn More High Spirits Beverages drinkhighspirits.com U.S. Hemp Authority ushempauthority.org USDA Hemp Overview usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/plants-and-crops/plant-breeding/hemp HEMP Act of 2025 (Bill Text) congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2112/text Hemp Planting Predictability Act (Bill Text) congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7024/text CRS Report: The 2018 Farm Bill's Hemp Definition and Legal Framework congress.gov/crs-product/R48637 News Nuggets Italy's Industrial Hemp Seed Lines Surpass EU Germination Standards hemptoday.net/leading-italian-hemp-varieties-post-2025-germination-bounceback-after-years-of-doubts/ Hemp and Marijuana Are the Same Species — So Why the Different Laws? lpm.org/news/2026-02-03/hemp-and-marijuana-are-the-same-species-so-why-all-the-different-laws Federal Hemp Definition Shift Could Impact Fiber and Grain Markets rfdtv.com/hemp-definition-shift-threatens-fiber-and-grain-expansion Washington Still Hasn't Decided What CBD Is hemptoday.net/washington-still-hasnt-decided-what-cbd-is-as-markets-linger-in-legal-uncertainty/ Thanks to our Sponsors IND Hemp indhemp.com Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com

This week on the Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock is joined by Lancaster Farming staff reporter Dan Sullivan to talk about one Pennsylvania farmer's decision that's captured national attention.   Farmer Mervin Raudabaugh Jr. turned down millions of dollars in development money to preserve his Cumberland County farm for future generations. Sullivan explains how he found the story, why it resonated with people in and out of agriculture and what it says about the challenges farmers face regarding preserving their land. From there the show turns to upcoming events for the hemp community in the next few months, with a focus on education and connection. Listeners hear from Maylin Murdoch about Cornell's 2026 hemp webinar series that will be focused on how hemp is measured and evaluated in the field and in the lab. Andrew Bish, president of the Hemp Feed Coalition, joins us to talk about a monthly webinar series that highlights research into hemp as an animal feed ingredient. Fiber artist, hemp farmer and extension educator Laura Sullivan gives us a preview of a four-week online short course at the University of Vermont that will be focused on growing fiber hemp for textiles and building materials. The webinar series are free. See registration links below. And finally, we talk hemp with Morris Beegle, who introduces Industrial Hemp International, a new Denver-based conference that has evolved from the former NoCo Hemp Expo. The new show has an emphasis on fiber, grain and international supply chains. Learn More Dan Sullivan's story — Data center developers offered farmer $60k per acre; He preserved the land instead lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/conservation/data-center-developers-offered-farmer-60k-per-acre-he-preserved-the-land-instead/article_a4c0fc64-53ca-45cf-9f3e-d323515b2555.html Cornell Hemp Webinar Series January 28 – May 6, 2026 | Every other Wednesday (1–2 p.m. ET). A free, biweekly webinar series from Cornell AgriTech focused on how hemp is measured — from field data and lab standards to fiber testing, post-harvest practices, and life-cycle assessment. hemp.cals.cornell.edu/2025/12/24/2026-cornell-hemp-webinar-series-register-now/ Hemp Feed Coalition Webinar Series Ongoing throughout 2026 | Monthly, third Thursday. A free, monthly research-focused webinar series examining hemp as animal feed, featuring researchers working on poultry, dairy, companion animals, and cannabinoid measurement. hempfeedcoalition.org/webinar-series/ University of Vermont Fiber Hemp Short Course February 24 – March 17, 2026 | Tuesdays (4 weeks). A free, four-week online short course from UVM Extension focused on growing fiber hemp for textiles and building materials, with sessions on agronomy, harvesting, and regional manufacturing. events.uvm.edu/event/fiber-hemp-production-short-course Industrial Hemp International (IHI) March 25–27, 2026 | Denver, Colorado. A two-day conference (plus opening night) focused on industrial hemp fiber, grain, and international supply chains, evolving out of the former NoCo Hemp Expo. industrialhempinternational.com/ Sponsored By IND HEMP indhemp.com Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com King's Agriseeds kingsagriseeds.com Hemp Cutter hempcutter.com

We're back. Season 9 of the Hemp Show is here. In this season opener of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we'll take you inside a hearing organized by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania that was meant to explain the hemp industry to state lawmakers — and ended up revealing something else entirely. The original intent of hemp in the Farm Bill was about agriculture and manufacturing, but the conversation has been dominated by intoxicating cannabinoids, chemical definitions and law enforcement concerns. This episode weaves together testimony from regulators, business owners and legislators and ultimately asks a simple but important question: When "hemp" is used to describe everything, what does the word actually mean anymore? Will farmers who want to grow fiber and grain get the short end of the stick again? Listen to what the hearing revealed and why clear definitions may be the key to Pennsylvania's hemp future. SUBSCRIBE to Lancaster Farming Newspaper https://www.lancasterfarming.com/subscribe/ Learn More: Pennsylvania Hemp Program (PA Dept. of Agriculture) https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/industrial_hemp Video of the Hemp Industry Hearing (Pennsylvania Farm Show) https://vimeo.com/1154816396/314acd404f Center for Rural Pennsylvania (Hearing Organizer) https://www.rural.pa.gov 2018 Farm Bill – Hemp Definition (USDA) https://www.usda.gov/farmbill Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast Archive https://www.lancasterfarming.com/podcasts/hemp Thanks to our Sponsors: IND HEMP https://indhemp.com Americhanvre https://americhanvre.com King's AgriSeeds https://kingsagriseeds.com Hempcutter.com https://hempcutter.com HEMI hempinitiatives.org/

2025 was a year of uncertainty, contradiction and recalibration for the hemp industry. In this year-end episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock looks back on a season defined by policy whiplash, shifting definitions and hard conversations about what hemp is — and what it is not. From rumors of executive action and the collapse of intoxicating hemp loopholes to the rescheduling of marijuana and its ripple effects across agriculture, the year ended with more questions than answers. The episode revisits key voices from across the hemp landscape — policy advocates, farmers, processors, builders and researchers — and reflects on what the USDA data, federal decisions and on-the-ground realities revealed about the fiber, grain and building sectors. It's also a personal moment of reflection: Nearly 50 episodes, roughly 160 guests and a year spent listening closely to the people doing the slow work of building real hemp infrastructure. As the show heads into 2026, this episode pauses long enough to take stock — and to set the stage for what comes next. Get the Benton Shirt: https://smithandrogue.com/blog/the-benton-shirt-grown-and-sewn-in-usa Voices You Will Hear in This Episode Morris Beegle NoCo Hemp Expo Joy Beckerman Hemp Industries Association Chris Fontes High Spirits Cameron McIntosh Americhanvre Cast Hemp Morgan Tweet IND HEMP Jeremy Klettke Davis Hemp Farms Lynda Mugglestone University of Oxford Guy Carpenter Bear Fiber Andre West NC State Wilson College of Textiles Larry Smart Cornell University Trey Riddle IND HEMP Sandra Marquardt On the Mark Consulting Coleman Beale BastCore Satish Hodage YUJ Labs Ding Hongliang Hemp Fortex Maciej Kowalski Kombinat Konopny Dave Cook Tuscarora Mills Mark D'Sa Panda Biotech Joseph Carringer Canna Markets Group Micaela Machado Old Pueblo Hemp Co. Danny Desjarlais Lower Sioux Indian Community Matt Marino Homeland Hempcrete Steve Allin International Hemp Building Association Jacob Waddell Hemp Building Institute Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP indhemp.com Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com King's AgriSeeds kingsagriseeds.com Forever Green hempcutter.com Sunray Hemp Palmer, Alaska National Hemp Association nationalhempassociation.org Hemp Education & Marketing Initiative (HEMI) hempinitiatives.org

We have a special in-studio guest this week on the Industrial Hemp Show. Steve Groff, third-generation Lancaster County farmer and hemp innovator from Holtwood, Pennsylvania, stopped by the Hemp Studio at the Lancaster Farming Office in Ephrata. We talked about machinery, long fiber, seed spacing, planter design and why farmer economics need to make sense if this industry is ever going to scale. "Farmers are gonna have to get 10 or 20% more profit per acre for this hemp out the gate," he said. We also talked about the green decorticator he's been working on. And when we got back from lunch at Tacos El Gordo in Ephrata, we talked about the recent changes to the federal definition of hemp and what it will mean for the industry. Steve Groff https://stevegroff.com Tacos El Gordo A special thank-you to Tacos El Gordo for fueling our in-studio conversation during this episode. https://lancastertacos.com/ News Nuggets Intoxicating hemp ban deepens uncertainty at some publicly traded cannabis firms HempToday reports that the federal crackdown on intoxicating hemp-derived THC is reshaping financial forecasts for Curaleaf, Tilray and CBD-only companies, exposing fragile balance sheets across the sector. Chinese study shows novel pre-treatment could cut energy use in hemp-fiber processing A research team at Qingdao University has developed a low-temperature, chemical-free fiber pre-treatment that may reduce energy use by up to 60% while improving fiber quality — an encouraging development for textile-grade hemp. Austria's plan to put hemp flowers under tobacco monopoly is called unconstitutional Austria is facing a constitutional battle after approving a measure that would place smokable hemp under the national tobacco monopoly, threatening hundreds of hemp shops despite EU rules allowing hemp flower trade below 0.3% THC. Learn More Curaleaf Holdings https://curaleaf.com Tilray Brands https://www.tilray.com Charlotte's Web https://charlottesweb.com cbdMD https://www.cbdmd.com Qingdao University https://www.qdu.edu.cn Austrian Cannabis Association (ÖCB) https://oecb.at HempToday https://hemptoday.net Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP https://indhemp.com Forever Green / KP4 Hemp Cutter https://hempcutter.com Americhanvre Cast Hemp https://americhanvre.com

As we move into the Thanksgiving holiday here at Lancaster Farming, I am reminded again how fortunate I am for the people in my life. Yes, of course I mean my family, friends and coworkers, but I also mean the people who are in my life because of this hemp podcast. Over the past nearly 8 years of making this show, I have met truly inspiring people whose wisdom, insight and perspective have shaped my own view. One of these people is Jeremy Klettke from Davis Hemp Farms. I will periodically call Jeremy for guidance and to help me make sense of the world of hemp and cannabis. After the recent changes to federal hemp policy, I wanted to hear what Jeremy thought. Is the new definition good for hemp? Is it good for business? "I think it is an important correction that's happening … I don't think anybody needs to panic," Klettke said.   Learn More Davis Hemp Farms https://davishempfarms.com News Nugget Special Report from HempToday: Hemp in Australia & New Zealand hemptoday.net/product/special-report-hemp-in-australia-new-zealand/ Thanks to our Sponsor IND HEMP indhemp.com   Eric's Thanksgiving song: https://youtu.be/m5Gy-4-fQ7c?si=5mqNY0gRty5xFcmC

This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we take a close look at the biggest federal hemp policy shift since the 2018 Farm Bill and what it means for the industry. Our guests on the show are Danielle Bernstein of Laurelcrest and Morgan Tweet of IND HEMP. Bernstein brings the perspective of a cannabinoid ingredient manufacturer working inside global supply chains, regulatory systems and the emerging non-alcoholic THC beverage and wellness markets. Tweet represents the fiber and grain sector, where this new language marks the first time the federal government has formally recognized industrial hemp as its own regulated category. Together, they break down what changed in the new law, what didn't and why the intoxicating-hemp loophole has finally closed. They explain how this marks the start of a 365-day window for Congress to build a permanent national framework that covers cultivation, processing, final-form products and impairment-based standards. They discuss what the new definition of hemp means for farmers, processors, CBD manufacturers and retailers, and why the era of THCA flower, synthetics and converted cannabinoids is effectively over. They also talk about how grain and fiber stand to benefit from long-needed regulatory clarity, and why a patchwork of state rules has failed to provide stability or safety. Tweet and Bernstein outline the three-phase federal policy model they're proposing and make the case for unity rather than panic or infighting. They also describe how HEMI — the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative — will help coordinate industry messaging, gather feedback and drive momentum over the next year. Their message is simple: the sky is not falling, but the easy part is now behind us. The next twelve months will define what hemp becomes in the United States, and everyone with a stake in the future of the plant should be participating in shaping that framework. Learn More Policy Framework Article by Danielle Bernstein & Morgan Tweet HEMI – Hemp Education & Marketing Initiative LaurelCrest IND HEMP News Nugget from HempToday Full News Nugget: Federal Axe Falls on Intoxicating Hemp — Bringing an Uneasy Chapter to an End Sponsors King's AgriSeeds — kingsagriseeds.com Forevergreen / KP4 Hemp Cutter — hempcutter.com HEMI — hempinitiatives.org

Congress changed the definition of hemp this week, clarifying the original intent of the 2018 Farm Bill and closing the intoxicating-hemp loophole that enabled a nationwide market of unregulated semi-synthetic THC products. The change caps finished hemp products at 0.4 mg total THC per package, bans synthetic cannabinoids, protects legal CBD and fiber/grain hemp, and gives farmers a one-year implementation window. What does this mean for the hemp industry? How will it affect farmers? How will affect the hemp industry? On this special episode of The Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, CBD farmer Ben Davies of Wild Fox Provisions and hemp builder Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast Hemp break down the biggest hemp policy shift since the 2018 Farm Bill. Recorded the day the new legislation was signed into law, this episode captures reactions in real time from two people living the consequences from opposite sides of the plant.   Learn More Wildfox Provisions Americhanvre Cast Hemp Press Release from Senator McConnell News Nugget from HempToday Federal axe falls on intoxicating hemp, bringing an uneasy chapter to an end   Thanks to our Sponsor IND HEMP in Fort Benton, Montana  

This week on the Hemp Show, we're talking to Jake Waddell from the Hemp Building Institute about the future of hemp construction, building codes and embodied carbon. Hemp-lime construction has come a long way — from early experiments in a garage to an officially recognized building material in the International Residential Code. Environmental Product Declarations, or EPDs, are changing how sustainability is measured in construction and what that means for hemp-based materials. And even when government funding for climate-forward projects gets cut, the people driving this industry keep finding ways to move forward. "Now we have codes. We've had a lot of progress and movement into making hemp-lime construction more of a realistic prospect rather than just a really good idea," Waddell said. We also discussed why EPDs are critical if hemp is going to be recognized for what it does best. Waddell explains that when hemp-based materials lock carbon into a building, that carbon stays out of the atmosphere for decades — a measurable climate benefit that current systems often overlook. "Trapping carbon in a building keeps it out of the atmosphere — and that's a real benefit," he said. All that and more. Learn More Hemp Building Institute hempbuildinginstitute.org International Code Council – Appendix BL codes.iccsafe.org NYSERDA – Energy Research & Development Authority nyserda.ny.gov HempToday.net hemptoday.net Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative (HEMI) hempinitiatives.org News Nugget from HempToday New Zealand fiber-materials venture shifts processing line to streamline production logistics hemptoday.net/new-zealand-fiber-materials-venture-shifts-processing-line-to-streamline-production-logistics/ Thanks to Our Sponsors Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com HEMI – Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative hempinitiatives.org

This special edition of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast celebrates the 70th anniversary of Lancaster Farming Newspaper, which has been reporting on agriculture since 1955. Recorded at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, this episode is a love letter to farming and to the people who make it possible. Farmers and ag leaders reflect on why they farm, what's changed, and what remains timeless — love of land, faith, family, and devotion. Here's a quote from Wendell Berry that frames the conversation: "Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: "Love. They must do it for love." Farmers farm for the love of farming. They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants. They love to live in the presence of animals. They love to work outdoors. They love the weather, maybe even when it is making them miserable. They love to live where they work and to work where they live. If the scale of their farming is small enough, they like to work in the company of their children and with the help of their children. They love the measure of independence that farm life can still provide. I have an idea that a lot of farmers have gone to a lot of trouble merely to be self-employed to live at least a part of their lives without a boss." ― Wendell Berry, "Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food" Learn More Ag Progress Days Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Wendell Berry – The Berry Center Sponsors IND HEMP — Believing in the goodness of hemp. King's AgriSeeds — High-quality seed for over three decades. Forever Green — Distributor of the KP4 Hemp Cutter.

Welcome to part three of our Cansayapi Trilogy in which we explore the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium, held Oct. 3-5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Southwestern Minnesota. Part Three opens where part two left off, with the sounds of a waterfall that melts into the rhythms of the Red Tree Singers as they chant and pray and lead the way into Day Three of the Hemp Building Symposium. After a news nugget from HempToday, this episodes opens with a tale of three Minnesota architects — Janneke Schaap, Simona Fischer and Anna Koosmann — who provide a roadmap for getting biobased building materials like hemp-lime and straw bale construction adopted into state building codes. Then we hear a collection of one-on-one interviews with farmers, builders and advocates. In order of appearance, you will hear: Marcus Grignon — Hempstead Project Heart, Menominee Nation hempsteadprojectheart.org Ira Vandever — Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative, Navajo Nation ihcfc.org Tom Knouss — RootDown Building Collective, Charleston rootdownbuildingcollective.org Alex Sparrow — UK Hempcrete, England ukhempcrete.com/the-hempcrete-book Gabriel Gauthier — ArtCan Hemp Construction, Quebec artcan.ca Guillaume Delannoy — FRD-CODEM, France frd.fr Micaela Machado — Old Pueblo Hemp Co., Tucson oldpueblohemp.com Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association (IHBA), Ireland internationalhempbuilding.org News nugget from HempToday Bipartisan U.S. group calls for 'Frankenstein' intoxicating hemp market to be curbed hemptoday.net/bipartisan-u-s-group-calls-for-frankenstein-intoxicating-hemp-market-to-be-curbed/ Be More Pirate bepirate.com — Sam Conniff's Be More Pirate, recommended by Alex Sparrow as a blueprint for creative rebellion and collaboration. Sponsors indhemp.com — IND HEMP, building a sustainable hemp supply chain in Montana and beyond. hempinitiatives.org — HEMI, the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative, connecting businesses with the potential of industrial hemp. americhanvre.com — Americhanvre Cast Hemp, Pennsylvania-based hemp building specialists advancing circular design and education. sunrayhemp.com — SunRay Hemp, Alaska-grown innovation and community-driven hemp projects led by Ray DePriest.

On this episode we continue on our journey with host Eric Hurlock to Cansayapi, the place where they paint the trees red, the Lower Sioux Indian community, the home of the Medewakantan Band of Dakota people in Southwestern Minnesota. You will hear many voices on this episode — people who were there, people who were involved, people who are lighting the Eighth Fire. You will hear from: Danny Desjarlais — Lower Sioux Hemp Builder lowersioux.com Cameron McIntosh — Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association  internationalhempbuilding.org Honovi Coup Trudell — son of John Trudell johntrudell.com Samantha & Matt Marino — Homeland Hempcrete homelandhempcrete.com John Peterson — Dakota Hemp Dakotahemp.com Dave Gertz — Renewabuild / Just Biofiber  renewabuild.ca Pamela Bosch — Highland Hemp House highlandhemphouse.com Clarence Baber — Hawaii hemp advocates ClaranceBaber.com Brian Mogli — Industrial hemp advocate  Katie McCormick — Pamunkey Indian Reservation hemp home project  Joni McSpadden — Citizen of Cherokee Nation Rusty Peterson— IND HEMP  indhemp.com Jared Sones — Victura Hemp victurahemp.com  Dallas Goldtooth — Host/MC; actor, writer, activist The1491s.com Donate to the New Dakota Language Hemp School Today! Pidamaya (thank you) for considering supporting the new K–4 Dakota Immersion School set to be made with hemp, opening in 2030. Ways To Contribute By Check: Write a check to the "Lower Sioux Indian Community" and write in the note: "New School." Send or give check to: Lower Sioux Indian Community 39527 Reservation Highway 1 Morton, MN 56270 Online via the "Honor Tax" Website: Your contribution goes to the Lower Sioux Indian Community. Click "Add note or comment" and type "New School." Mni Sota Makoce Honor Tax Ukic̣aġapi kte (Let's grow together), For questions or more information on the school, please contact: Vanessa Goodthunder — 507-697-8253 Vanessa.Goodthunder@lowersioux.com Thanks to Our Sponsors! SunRay Hemp (Ray DePriest) — 62° North IND HEMP indhemp.com King's AgriSeeds kingsagriseeds.com Americhanvre Cast Hemp americhanvre.com

This week on the Hemp Show, you are stowing away with me as I retell the tale of my trip to the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium, which was held for the first time ever in the United States — and specifically on sovereign Dakota land in what is now called Minnesota. We're going to Cansayapi, the place where they paint the trees red. We will hear Dakota drums, chants and prayers from the Red Tree Singers. We will hear the voices of Vannessa Goodthunder, Tammy Desjarlais and Danny Desjarlais as they open the symposium with a vision for the future we all can share. The Dakota people of the Lower Sioux, gracious and humble hosts of this event, gave us a shining example of community, circularity and reciprocity by welcoming the world to their reservation. This is only the beginning of my tale. This story is so much bigger than me and I returned from this tripped changed by the experience and changed by the wind that is growing increasingly stronger. Now is the time to face the wind, and Danny and the Dakota are leading the way. So buckle up and join my jolly hemp crew as we listen to the wind cry for change. International Hemp Building Association internationalhempbuilding.org Lower Sioux Hemp Program & Housing Project lowersioux.com/hemp-program-and-housing-project/ News Nugget/Opinion Nugget from HempToday Hijacking hemp: U.S. trade group plays loose with facts in a whining letter to Trump hemptoday.net/hijacking-hemp-u-s-trade-group-plays-loose-with-facts-in-a-whining-letter-to-trump/ Thanks to Ray at SunRay Hemp at in Palmer, Alaska!

This week on the Hemp Show, we're talking to Brad Truman, a data analyst with CannaMarkets Group, about his recent deep dive into USDA's hemp import data. His report, published in HempToday under the title When the Numbers Don't Add Up: USDA's Hemp Data Problem, raises serious questions about how hemp is being measured—and what those flawed numbers mean for farmers, investors, and policymakers. Truman walks us through the painstaking process of pulling USDA hemp data out of PDFs, analyzing inconsistencies, and uncovering outright anomalies—like the infamous April 17th, 2024 report, which he calls a "hallucination." We discuss how sloppy reporting erodes trust, the risks of "garbage in, garbage out" when big decisions rely on bad data, and why even simple errors like mixing up Austria and Australia can undermine credibility. This conversation shines a light on the critical importance of accurate, dependable data as hemp emerges as an agricultural commodity. Truman not only identifies the problems but also offers practical fixes and a call for accountability. For anyone who cares about hemp's future—from farmers and processors to policymakers and investors—this episode is a reminder that numbers matter. Learn More Get the Report: When the Numbers Don't Add Up: USDA's Hemp Data Problem  https://hemptoday.net/flawed-data-in-usda-hemp-reports-is-warping-policy-investment-and-market-signals/ News Nuggets Two Ukrainian hemp companies win EU-backed innovation grants for green tech https://hemptoday.net/two-ukrainian-hemp-companies-win-eu-backed-innovation-grants-for-green-tech/ Popular UK design show gives hempcrete a major global platform in season debut https://hemptoday.net/popular-uk-design-show-gives-hempcrete-a-major-global-platform-in-season-debut/ CBD's inclusion in U.S. system that tracks health risks is double-edged sword https://hemptoday.net/cbds-inclusion-in-u-s-system-that-tracks-health-risks-is-double-edged-sword/ Brazil hemp ruling delayed again as health agency puts off decision on cultivation https://hemptoday.net/brazil-hemp-ruling-delayed-again-as-health-agency-puts-off-decision-on-cultivation/ Thanks to our sponsor SunRay Hemp! https://sunrayhemp.com

On this week's Hemp Show, we're back at Cornell Agritech for part three of my Cornell trilogy. In this episode I visit plant pathologist Jane Hamilton, who's testing UVC light as a non-chemical tool against powdery mildew, and Luis Monserrate from Larry Smart's breeding program, where seed size, yield and chemotype drive decisions for grain and fiber growers. Next, we walk through Jane's UV cabinet and the powdery mildew chamber, talking dose windows and why powdery mildew (unlike some fungi) doesn't have melanin to block UV. Then it's over to Luis for small-plot yield math, why bigger seeds can jump-start canopy closure and how chemotype IV lines can keep hempseed meal within ultra-low cannabinoid limits. Learn More Cornell Agritech https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech   Cornell Hemp Research https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu/   Ultraviolet light kills fire blight in apple blossoms without antibiotics https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2023/10/ultraviolet-light-kills-fire-blight-apple-blossoms-without-antibiotics   What Is Powdery Mildew? https://extension.psu.edu/powdery-mildew   AOSCA – Variety Certification https://www.aosca.org/ News Nuggets Flawed USDA Hemp Data Is Warping Market Signals https://hemptoday.net/flawed-data-in-usda-hemp-reports-is-warping-policy-investment-and-market-signals/   Trump Pushes Medicare Coverage for Hemp-Derived CBD https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/cannabis-rescheduling/news/15768113/trump-promotes-hempderived-cbd-for-senior-health-care-in-shared-video Thanks to Our Sponsors HEMI – Hemp Education & Marketing Initiative / Goodness of Hemp https://hempinitiatives.org/   KP4 Hempcutter – Forever Green https://hempcutter.com/

On this week's podcast, we continue our trip to Geneva, New York, for part two of the Cornell story. I spend some time with Christine Smart, director of Cornell AgriTech, and her husband Larry Smart, professor of plant breeding and genetics and head of Cornell's hemp program. Christine takes me through the history of the Agritech campus — from its 1882 founding to its living plant libraries and cutting-edge robotics labs. We talk Liberty Hyde Bailey, the USDA germplasm repository, and a future where UV light replaces pesticides and robots roam the fields. Then Larry brings us inside Cornell's hemp research: from gene editing for disease resistance to the painstaking process of seed multiplication. He shares his work on a CBG-only hemp line with zero THC and CBD, designed to open animal feed markets, and explains why F1 hybrids could unlock hemp's yield potential the same way they did for corn. And stay tuned, because next week in part three we'll hear from two of the rising stars in Cornell's hemp program — PhD students Jane Hamilton and Luis Monserrate. Learn More Cornell University – Hemp Program https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu Cornell AgriTech https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/geneva-ny/plant-genetic-resources-unit-pgru/ Yu Jiang Lab – Agricultural Robotics & Sensing https://cals.cornell.edu/yu-jiang Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum https://www.libertyhydebailey.org News Nuggets, from HempToday Emergency rules take effect in Texas, restricting hemp intoxicant sales to adults over 21 https://hemptoday.net/emergency-rules-take-effect-in-texas-restricting-hemp-intoxicant-sales-to-adults-over-21/ French co-op, leading European supplier of hemp planting seed, has a new director https://hemptoday.net/french-co-op-leading-european-supplier-of-hemp-planting-seed-has-a-new-director/ Kazakh government backs China deal as foreign investors eye neighbor's hemp sector https://hemptoday.net/kazakh-government-backs-china-deal-as-foreign-investors-eye-neighbors-hemp-sector/ Thanks to our Sponsors Kings AgriSeeds https://www.kingsagriseeds.com IND HEMP https://indhemp.com