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Extensions will be granted to indoor Growers/Handlers
It has been determined that a temporary one time extension will be granted to indoor growers/handlers on your 2019 Indiana Hemp License until the crop you have now is harvested. This is not a 2020 license at this time or an opportunity to start a new indoor crop for 2020. With this extension, a compliant indoor crop can continue to grow and be processed when the 2019 license period was to of ended December 31, 2019. Please communicate back with Teresa Thompson or Don Robison your desire to accept this extension offer. The type of 2020 Licensing, research or commercial, will be dependent upon requirements from the USDA rule set and the Indiana plan that we expect by the end of 2019. With the USDA rule set not yet in place there would not be time to apply for 2020 in time to keep the crop going. This extension will stay in place until the 2020 licensing application process is available, at which time you will need to re-apply and complete the forms online and pay any fees required. Indiana, Michigan farmers harvest first legal hemp crop since WWII
“There’s a huge learning curve and a lot of infrastructure that is just beginning to develop,” said Justin Swanson, referring to businesses that might become trusted sources of seeds, plants, equipment and processing. “But you won’t get a mature supply chain unless some pioneers take risks.”
Thanks to Midwest Hemp Council pioneers, like Mark Boyer and Don Zolman for working in collaboration with Purdue Hemp and other Midwest farmers growing to gather many lessons and carry them forward into 2020! Read more here ... Robert Colangelo this week's MHC Podcast Guest
This week's podcast features Robert Colangelo, founding farmer and CEO of Green Sense Farms - based in Portage, IN. Robert talks about seed propogation, as seed stability is a huge issue right now in the hemp industry. robert will also talk about the Green Sense Farms vertical farming operation and their involvement in other areas of the ag business as well.
< --- Listen to podcast Former Tobacco Farms Cashing in on CBD Craze
More farmers are planting hemp as the popularity of the crop continues to grow. NBC’s Kerry Sanders reports for Weekend TODAY.
Natural. Misunderstood. Legal. This video is the story of hemp in the United States. A forbidden fiber in the U.S. since 1970, hemp has taken the heat for almost five decades. Until the Farm Bill passed in December of 2018, hemp was federally illegal to grow for commercial purposes, making it risky for businesses to invest in a new crop that was incorrectly classified as a drug.
Grand Opening & Video for Elite Health and Wellness
Check out Midwest Hemp Council member Elite Health and Wellness at their NEW location in McCordsville! Stop by for their Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, October 19th from 12pm-7pm.
Halloween themed event for all ages with swag bags, samples, and more! Let Elite's dedicated staff educate you on their products at this fun event. You'll also want to check out their latest promotional video highlighting their new location, products and great service! Hope to see you there! Eric Steenstra this week's MHC Podcast guest
This week's MHC Podcast features Eric Steenstra, president of Vote Hemp, a political advocacy organization he co-founded in 2000. Eric is a true pioneer in the hemp industry, and has been involved from the beginning, leading the effort to pass hemp farming legislation nationwide. Listen as he talks about the progress of hemp across the country.
< ----- Listen to podcast Indiana hemp farmers put focus on fiber
The 2019 hemp production season has been much like what many describe the hemp and CBD industry: The Wild West. In Indiana, per Marguerite Bolt, "more than half of Indiana farmers planted fiber varieties in 2019, with 35% focused on growing hemp flower for CBD production and 5% planting hemp for grain."
Click to read more ... FDA Plans for Cannabinoids Claims
Oct 24, 2019 - 1:00 PM ET - 60 Minutes
Claim "The webinar will cover the current regulatory status of CBD, FDA plans for CBD Claims and future regulation and plans for revision of FDA’s “Healthy Claim”. It will also cover recent FDA actions regarding CBD product marketing that violates FDA regulations. It will also convey likely FDA plans to address the challenging regulation of CBD and what actions the Agency is taking regarding CBD claims that violate the law. Click for more... From the Office of the Seed Administrator
Recently the Hemp Website on the Office of Indiana State Chemist website has been updated. Links are provided below for some of the more interesting new postings. Currently the USDA has not posted regulations to go along with the 2018 Farm Improvement Act (Farm Bill). This is expected in the fall sometime. Once regulations are posted there is a 90 day comment period. Indiana, and other states are requested to not put forth our plan until the USDA process is complete.
Once Indiana’s plan is submitted to the USDA for approval, they have 60 days to approve. Adding up these numbers it can be as much as 150 days from the USDA original regulation posting before the Indiana plan is approved and hemp is fully commercial here. That is said, so you will understand the reasons why we may not be accepting applications for commercial hemp growing in January as first thought. Read the entire letter here ... Rep. Judy statement on federal court’s hemp ruling
 State Rep. Chris Judy (R-Ft Wayne)
Representative Chris Judy is our guest on this week's Midwest Hemp Council Weekly Podcast - Click here to listen! STATEHOUSE (Sept. 19, 2019) – “It’s important that hemp is treated like any other regulated agricultural crop in Indiana, just as Congress intended with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Ideally, this ruling will provide guidelines to the rest of the country as states begin developing or amending their current regulatory structures. If Indiana is going to continue to attract substantial investments and jobs into the state like the potential $52 million project in Jeffersonville, our laws and regulations must treat hemp like any other federally regulated agricultural crop. I look forward to ensuring the entire hemp market remains open to Hoosier farmers, small businesses and other entrepreneurs.” Court grants hemp growers injunction against state law
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“We always have the desire to work alongside government and supportive organizations to move hemp forward as efficiently as possible. Our legislators and the state have done great work over the past sessions to engage Indiana in this agricultural revolution. Our desire is to be solution-focused and help strategize and find answers that both encourage the economic impact of hemp businesses in Indiana as well as continue to help solve the state’s concerns.” - Austin Rhodus, Owner of Dreem Nutrition, Midwest Hemp Council Member
First hemp farmer in Cass County co-hosts symposium on crop
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Third Wave Farms and Viobin (a Michigan City CBD processor), as well as farmers Chuck Stephenson and Nate Hardin, have teamed up to grow 400 acres of CBD this year. All are members of Midwest Hemp Council, working together to build key elements of a hemp supply chain, highlighting the benefits of the education and networking the Midwest Hemp Council provides to members and the Midwest industry.
Indiana’s Hemp growers are committed to learning the crop
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In Indiana’s Miami County, Mark Boyer manages 1,250 acres, which he mostly devotes to corn, soybeans and wheat like the slew of midwestern farmers all around him. On 350 of these acres, however, Boyer cultivates sunflower and canola, using his on-farm cold press to extract oil from the crops’ seeds to supply his line of specialty cooking oils, Healthy Hoosier Oil. Over the past two seasons Boyer has dedicated a portion of these fields to hemp, a crop that was illegal for decades but is now enjoying an American agricultural renaissance thanks to recent federal and state legislation.
As Harvest Nears, Farmers Mull Putting A New Crop In Their Fields Next Year
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Farmers across the state are searching for ways to boost their bottom lines in the wake of retaliatory tariffs and poor weather this spring that delayed planting. “Our goal is to make sure we get the infrastructure in place so our farmers can grow this crop, so they have this opportunity,” said Jamie Campbell Petty, co-founder of the Midwest Hemp Council.
Hope for Hemp in the Midwest
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"Hemp has the potential of being a very viable crop in Indiana simply because it is so diverse. I do believe that going into the future, you may see it grown widespread in Indiana."
Thank you Midwest Hemp Council members Mark Boyer of Healthy Hoosier Oil and Nathan Hunt of Hunt Family Farms for your collaboration and continued efforts in this industry in Indiana. Important Information: How to Label Hemp Seed
It has come to my attention that hemp variety names have been changed to make a variety look like it is “new” or “different”. Additionally, people have changed variety names so that customers cannot easily tell what it was and then buy around the seller. These are egregious acts in violation of the Federal Seed Act and the Indiana State Seed Law! This act can result in penalties from the USDA, Plant Variety Protection Act enforcement and loss of Indiana Seed Permit for future years. A variety name is assigned by the owner and cannot be changed by the owner or by anyone else. I have copied the USDA Director of Seed and Regulatory Testing Division on this communication as this is a very serious matter that will not be tolerated in Indiana. I have also blind copied the Director of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. As a reminder, I have also attached the document we have created as an example of how to label hemp seed for sale in Indiana. Again, this is state law. Starting in 2020, the Office of Indiana State Chemist inspection staff is directed to put a stop sale on hemp seed that is not properly labeled. Regards, Don Robison, MBA Seed Administrator Business of Health: Heartland Harvest Processing
See Full Video on InsideIndianaBusiness.com
CBD is part of a hot consumer health trend, and it’s taking on new importance in Indiana. July 1, it became legal for Hoosier farmers to grow hemp, the plant source for CBD. Heartland Harvest Processing Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Moorman explains how they are helping farmers connect the new agricultural commodity to consumer products.
Purdue Extension teach hemp farming
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Hundreds of farmers and interested people are learning all there is to know about what it takes to have a thriving hemp farm at Heartland Harvest Farm's Diagnostic Field Day.
Agrinews: Hemp Growing Season Poor So Far
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“From 2014 to 2018, Indiana grew about 24 acres of hemp total, with 12 of those acres coming from one farmer in 2018,” said Justin Swanson, president of Midwest Hemp Council. “In 2019 alone, the state seed commissioner has licensed over 5,300 acres.”
Senator Head talks hemp at Hemp Victory Night Celebration
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The goal is to create a regulatory structure that maintains the integrity of hemp market while also encouraging farmers and entrepreneurs to invest in the state, said Justin Swanson, president of the Midwest Hemp Council.
“We are well on our way to developing the regulatory structure that will continue to attract investments in the hemp market here in Indiana,” said Justin Swanson, president of Midwest Hemp Council.
INDIANA HEMP VICTORY TOUR
We introduced ourselves to you last year with the goal of legalizing the commercial production of hemp in Indiana and providing accurate information to our neighboring states to ensure ease in commerce of hemp and hemp products. In April of 2019, because of dedicated supporters like you, we were successful in legalizing the commercial production of hemp in Indiana.
Last night, we celebrated this achievement, and recognized those who have championed for us along the way. Thanks to all who participated in our eventful evening at the Indiana Historical Society. What better venue to bring back a rich Indiana history! |
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