By Justin Swanson
President - Midwest Hemp Council A big thank you to everyone who came out to the Hemp Victory Tour two weeks ago. We had a strong turnout from our members and key legislators, state agencies and Purdue University. This event was a success because of member support and the many dedicated volunteers. We could not have done it without member and volunteer support. I wanted to provide a brief update regarding the first meeting of the Indiana Hemp Advisory Committee (IHAC) on August 1st. |
Don't miss the next Purdue Hemp Field Day!
It's was a beautiful morning at the Purdue Hemp Field Day on Wed., August 15th! These events are wonderful educational opportunities for attendees. Thank you to Purdue for their continued involvement and support of this industry!
2019 Indy Airstrip Attack Aug. 17
Don't forget - stop in and see our Midwest Hemp Council and Indiana Farmers Union - Hemp Chapter team tomorrow or Sunday! Ignite Racing Fuel is the very generous sponsor of our booth, and has racers, sponsors and attendees already talking! So, come visit us, along with Indiana Corn Marketing Council First Farmers Bank & Trust Central Indiana Ethanol, for a fun day, and a day of education and networking!
Purdue Extension and Heartland Harvest Farms 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.
Hemp Victory Tour:
Celebrating the right to grow 
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“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.
Purdue Extension provides resources for potential hemp producers
Purdue Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center (DTC) and the Midwest Hemp Council co-hosted a sold-out hemp field day recently. A total of 200 attendees participated in the sessions ranging in topics from hemp licensing, agronomic practices and difficulties in growing hemp. Click here to read more on the Purdue.edu website 
Hemp Field Day offers potential growers the chance to see how Hemp is planted, harvested and produced.
Did you miss Purdue's Hemp Field Day on July 19th? Read it about it here! And, stay tuned for what is shaping up to be another Purdue Hemp Field Day, with Midwest Hemp Council, sometime in August!!
Click image above to see video of July 19th Purdue Hemp Field Day
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! 
Hemp News
Sen. Perfect: Hemp Expected To Boost Indiana Agriculture
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Hemp is a valuable agricultural crop with countless industrial applications. Certain parts of Indiana have favorable growing conditions, making hemp a profitable product for many Hoosier farmers.
Hemp rules in USA to be released in August, USDA says
The USDA speeds up the release of Federal Hemp Rules to August 2019. This framework set forth by the USDA must be followed by individual states as they set local hemp laws. Regulations will address land usage, testing standards, inspections, certifications, etc.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, the first public hearing of the Indiana Hemp Advisory Counsel will be August 1, 2019. Details here. Hemp is Sprouting in South Bend Region
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"Make sure you have markets and contracts for what you’re planting,” said Zolman, who admitted that he’s had a harder time getting the CBD-rich plants established while the varieties for fiber and seed are thriving in his field. “We all have a lot to learn.”
- Don Zolman, Indiana Farmer, Businessman and Midwest Hemp Council Member Farmers Share Progress on Indiana Hemp Crop
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Hemp plants look like marijuana plants. Hemp will not get you high, though. The hemp News 8 saw will be used for fiber to make things such as clothes or car parts. Midwest Hemp Council Treasurer Jamie Campbell-Petty and Purdue Hemp Extension Specialist Marguerite Bolt featured.
NOTICE: Crop Maturity Notifications
To aid the State Chemist inspection team’s efficiencies in sampling both indoor and outdoor hemp crops, we request 30 day notification prior to harvest. The OISC will contact you to arrange a suitable time and place to meet and sample the crop. Once results are available and they are below the 0.3% THC, you will be notified and allowed to harvest. Please submit your request to indianahemp@groups.purdue.edu We realize this has been a difficult season to grow any crop and that the cool, wet weather may make it difficult to know when to harvest, etc… Please be proactive with this request and use the indianahemp@groups.purdue.edu email to send your information to our inspection team. Industry Update: USDA Aims to Release Hemp Rules by August
"The USDA announced that it intends to release its interim final rules for the establishment of a domestic hemp production program by August 2019. This update indicates a significant acceleration in the timeline, which is great news for the industry." Purdue Southwest Field Day - June 27, 2019
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This event has been carefully crafted to help educate farmers, hemp entrepreneurs, economic development folks, farm bureau managers, hemp processors and manufacturers, and will be of particular interest to anyone seeking to learn more about the hemp industry supply chain and current market realities.
DREEM Nutrition founders aim to develop hemp plants that flourish in Hoosier soil
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A local business owner is among the rare few capable of growing hemp in Indiana, and his company, DREEM Nutrition, may be ahead of the curve in not only growing the plant but also manufacturing CBD-based products locally and adapting hemp for growth in the Hoosier state.
LEGO goes to hemp plastic by 2030
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LEGO wants to change the material it uses to make its branded toy bricks loved by children around the world. The company is currently using a plastic resin (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), but by 2030, it wants to use a more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective material, according to a report from Plastics News. And this material is hemp plastic.
Meet MHC Father and Son Team, Brian and Austin Schroeder of Agrozen Life Sciences
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"We want to differentiate ourselves from other CBD companies in the industry, and we’re keeping a close eye on the top 10 companies that have been in the hemp business for years with decent market share,” Brian Shroeder said.
Illinois hemp farmers face risks with first planting
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Mon., June 17, 2019
Midwest Hemp Council Member, Les Dart says, "This is farming like we've never done before who plans to plant 75 acres of grain hemp on his 3,700-acre farm in Oblong, Ill., a central Illinois community less than 20 miles from the Indiana state line. “We’ve been growing corn and soybeans like all of our neighbors around here for the past 70 years. … (We’ve had) nothing that is this kind of radically new. It’s definitely going to be risky for us.” On top of it all is the rain, falling more days than not during planting season and breaking records throughout the state. Hemp hits Howard County: Local grower plants area's first crop, but will the commodity live up to the hype?
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Fri., June 14, 2019
Midwest Hemp Council Member and Dreem Nutrition is growing! "Austin Rhodus, owner and CEO of Kokomo-based DREEM Nutrition, which makes CBD products, is in the middle of transforming a 44,000-square-foot building on the south end of Russiaville into the area’s first and only hemp facility." Dreem is also a member of the Indiana Hemp Industries Association, with Austin Rhodus being a current Board Member of INHIA. Hemp History Week 2019 Huge Success!
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Thurs., June 5, 2019
Thanks to all who came out and participated in the Hoosier Hemp Week Networking Night at Rooster's Kitchen on Tues., June 4th! Hemp in American Industry
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“We currently use zero hemp because it’s expensive and hard to get,” says Flexform Technologies CEO Gregg Baumbaugh. “We certainly would use it if it was reasonably priced and at a quality and consistency that meets our current supply chain.” Hemp holds big promise for farms in Indiana and Michigan, and maybe other industries
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"It's a big opportunity for farmers," Swanson said. "But it's also an opportunity for cities and towns dying on the vine, an opportunity to put a growing or a processing facility in a vacant factory building
CBD Oil Farm to Pharmacy - Facts & Fiction
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Midwest Hemp Council Member, Chris Moorman of St Gene CBD, talks with Rochester's Channel 4, along with Harry Webb of Webb Family Pharmacy.
Farmers rush to grow hemp again in Indiana
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Midwest Hemp Council Member, John Bales of Biodynamic Ventures, owns various greenhouses in Indianapolis, operating under a license with Purdue University, growing CBD clones for farmers.
Retailers stress importance of knowing products before making CBD oil purchase
FOX59 News met with Midwest Hemp Council member Tabatha Starr of The Real Food Shoppe yesterday to talk about CBD products on the market. 
BioDynamic and Falling Waters Collaborate on Hemp Cultivation at Eastside Indy Facility
BioDynamic Green Haus and the aquaponic growing farm, Falling Waters, have begun a research collaboration on the Eastside of Indianapolis. This one-of-a-kind facility has been growing local produce items and micro-greens for over 5 years in Indiana. 
LEADERSHIP IN LAW 2019: Justin E. Swanson Justin Swanson acknowledges he’s known as “the hemp guy” for his specialized focus on advocating for the legalization and production of hemp. In that capacity, he’s helping re-pioneer a crop that holds intriguing promise and prospects while also battling some of the misconceptions around the budding industry. 
Indiana Hemp: A New Cash Crop Hemp
Hoosier farmers facing declining profits and the financial uncertainties of the United States' ongoing trade war with China won a chance to cash in on a new crop this month. 
Retailers stress importance of knowing your body, products before making CBD oil purchase
Tabatha Starr, Real Food Shoppe, is a MHC member, and a knowledgeable educator and advocate of quality CBD. 
Hoosier Farmers Joining Hemp Industry
Midwest Hemp Council recently featured on Fox 59 News. "We want to know how we did it and what did it cost," Petty said. "We’ve been asked all along to show economics. Well, you can’t show economics if you’re not growing and you’re not producing." - Jamie Petty, Midwest Hemp Council Treasurer 
Illinois Stewardship Alliance Releases Industrial Hemp Guide
On Friday, Illinois Department of Agriculture is expected to release the Industrial Hemp Cultivator and Processor applications to allow farmers to apply for a permit to grow industrial hemp in Illinois for the first time in 80 years.
Growing Industrial Hemp in Michigan
“Michigan is uniquely positioned to grow, process and manufacture industrial hemp. We are one of the nation’s most agriculturally diverse states - making it a natural fit,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This emerging crop not only cultivates new opportunity for our farming community, but it also creates an avenue for new businesses to crop up across the state.” 
Hemp is hot, but is it worth the risk? “The market is highly fragmented, and there is no reliable source for pricing and production data,” noted Bourcard Nesin, the report’s lead author and analyst at Rabobank, a leading global food and agribusiness lender. “The road ahead is rocky, risky and untraveled. If hemp really is a good long-term opportunity, there’s no harm in being methodical about how you approach it.” 
Hemp Training 101: From Soil to Harvest Seminar Join BioDynamic Ventures, to learn from the best in hemp farming for cannabinoids/CBD. Instructors will be covering insightful topics such as: Field preparation, Nutrition, Planting, Watering, Cover crops, Harvesting, Organic and non-organic farming, Processing, Drying. 
Midwestern farmers should look for is diversification
"Jamie Campbell Petty, co-founder of the Midwest Hemp Council, said it’s possible for farmers to make more money per acre than they could with corn or soybeans, and she’s encouraging them to try out the diversified income stream." Midwest Hemp Council Member, Mark Boyer, "is still excited for the crop’s potential. He’s expanding his hemp operation to 100 acres in 2019, and adding hemp seed oil to his line of Healthy Hoosier products." 
New Michigan City Company Will Manufacture Cannabidiol
Please welcome Hippo Extracts to Indiana!! They have already rolled up their sleeves and jumped in by supporting education and networking throughout the state! 
Indiana’s Burgeoning Hemp Industry Could Expand If New Rules Become Law
The House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee unanimously approved a bill Thursday that could widen opportunities for hemp farming in Indiana. 
Groundwork for industrial hemp farmers
One hundred farmers will grow industrial hemp for research purposes in Indiana this summer. The Office of Indiana State Chemist capped the number of applications at 100 for quality control reasons. Most hemp will be planted in April or early May. 
Statement from FDA on new steps to advance cannabis-containing and cannabis-derived products The FDA is announcing important new actions to advance the consideration of lawful marketing of cannabis and cannabis-derived products |
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THE MIDWEST HEMP EXPO MIXER WAS A SUCCESS FOR ALL WHO PARTICIPATED Another successful Hemp Networking Night as the Midwest Hemp Council, Indiana Hemp Industries Association, and the Indiana Farmer's Union Hemp Chapter hosted more than 100 guests from all over the Midwest for the CBD Expo Welcome Mixer. |
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CONGRATULATIONS ILLINOIS! FINAL HEMP RULES WILL ALLOW FARMERS TO PLANT HEMP THIS SUMMER The Illinois Department of Agriculture has submitted their final draft of rules for the industrial hemp program. There were a few noteworthy changes made from the initial draft that was posted back in late Dec. 2018. |
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CBD PRODUCTION TO BEGIN IN SEYMOUR THIS FALL! Kocolene announced last week it has received an industrial hemp license, becoming one of just a few Hoosier companies legally allowed to grow and handle hemp in Indiana. It acquired the license in January after a two- to three-month process that included background checks. |
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HOOSIER HEMP NETWORKING NIGHT ANOTHER SUCCESS! Midwest Hemp Council, Indiana Hemp Industries Association, and Indiana Farmers Union - Hemp Chapter would like to thank all who joined us for another successful networking event on Feb. 26th at Centerpoint Brewing. Farmers, processors, distributors, and others in related logistics were present for the opportunity to support one another and work together to successfully grow this industry in Indiana. |
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SENATE BILL 516 PASSES INDIANA SENATE WITH GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S SUPPORT Last year, the governor doubted the state's readiness to regulate the hemp industry. But this year, he is behind a push in the legislature to get hemp growing in Indiana's fields, telling IndyStar he is "supportive of efforts to establish a hemp program." |
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HEMP BILL DELAYED IN INDIANA SENATE; ISDA TO FOCUS ON PROCESSING FACILITIES “We are excited to continue to work side by side with ISDA to help build the hemp market from seed to shelf in Indiana. The Indiana General Assembly should trust Hoosier farmers to grow hemp responsibly once again in Indiana.” - MHC President Justin Swanson |
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2019 INDIANA HORTICULTURE CONGRESS & TRADE SHOW 2/12-2/14 The Indiana Horticultural Congress is an educational meeting designed to meet the needs of fruit, vegetable, wine, organics, and specialty crop growers and marketers in Indiana and surrounding states. All interested individuals are invited to attend. |
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PRODUCTION AND INCREASE OF INTEREST IN HEMP BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT RECENT KENTUCKY ROUNDTABLE Kentucky Agricultural Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who was the key speaker at the round-table, said that his department has approved nearly 4,200 applications to produce up to 42,086 acres of industrial hemp in 2019. |
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SENATOR RANDY HEAD CLARIFIES SB 516 LANGUAGE TO CLEAR UP CONCERNS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT "I'm writing up an amendment to clear up some concerns that the governor and the State Police had about law enforcement and that sort of thing. I think we're going to have a pretty tight product, so anyone in the program knows they're growing industrial hemp and something that's not intoxicating. " - Randy Head |
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THE INDIANA LAWYER: HOOSIER LEGISLATORS MAKE SECOND ATTEMPT AT REGULATING HEMP “Right now, the momentum is pointing towards setting up a state regulatory program,” Justin Swanson said of Indiana. “I think there’s consensus among lawmakers that they want our farmers interacting with the state agency as opposed to a federal agency.” |
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HOOSIER HEMP NETWORKING NIGHT AT ROOSTER'S KITCHEN IN INDIANAPOLIS A HUGE SUCCESS More than 60 guests turned out for a very successful Hoosier Hemp Networking Night at Rooster's Kitchen in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. The event was hosted by the Midwest Hemp Council, Indiana Farmer's Union and the INHIA. |
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THE MIDWEST HEMP COUNCIL, INDIANA HEMP INDUSTRIES ASSOC., AND THE INDIANA FARMER'S UNION HEMP CHAPTER HOST AN EVENING OF NETWORKING Registration for our evening of hemp networking is now closed. We are very excited about this event, hosted by Rooster's Kitchen, on Wednesday, January 16, 2018 at 630 PM. Thanks to owner and chef, Ross Katz, who will be preparing a menu for the evening that will highlight products from our local businesses and generous sponsors, Trietsch Farms Evo Hemp Dreem Nutrition and Foods Alive. |
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GROWERS ANXIOUSLY AWAIT ACTION BY INDIANA LEGISLATURE ON INDUSTRIAL HEMP - HOOSIER AG TODAY PODCAST The farm bill’s legalization of hemp as an agricultural crop has many farmers excited and eager to try it out on their farm. Mark Boyer, farmer in Miami County and champion for the legalization of industrial hemp, says that the Indiana Legislature still needs to update state law to allow hemp production. |
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THE MIDWEST HEMP COUNCIL BOARD CELEBRATES THE END OF HEMP PROHIBITION
On Thursday, December 20th, the MHC Board met to discuss goals for 2019 and review legislative and regulatory priorities. As the meeting coincided with the 2018 Farm Bill being signed, thus removing hemp from the Controlled Substance Act, we raised our mugs of local brew to Hemp History and all of those who have worked tirelessly to make it happen! Congratulations, Hoosiers! Let's get to work! Justin Swanson, President Jamie Campbell Petty, Treasurer Alan Kimbell, Secretary |
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STATE CHEMIST ROBERT WALTZ RESPONDS TO FARM BILL AND SAYS MANY SEED SUPPLIES ARE LOW AND ALREADY COMMITTED Hoosier chemist responds to today's passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and suggests farmers will need to wait a little longer to begin full-scale grow outs.. |
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WHAT IS CDB OIL? CANNABIDIOL AS A LEGAL AGRIBUSINESS IN THE HOOSIER STATE Did you know that Indiana has one of the most expansive CBD laws in the country? There could be a seismic shift coming in 2019 regarding where Hoosiers can source their CBD, allowing farmers to diversify income, according to Justin Swanson at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP. |
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INDIANA FARMERS NEED INDUSTRIAL HEMP TO PROSPER Indiana farmers continue to take it on the chin. Some of the latest data from the U.S Department of Agriculture shows the prices of the state’s two primary cash crops – corn and soybeans – have fallen into the proverbial crapper due to imbalanced supply and demand. (Reposted from Forbes.com) |
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MEMBER MARK BOYER FEATURED IN IBJ ARTICLE On June 7, Boyer planted 300 pounds of hemp seed—obtained through a Purdue University researcher—on a 10-acre plot. The plants will mature later this summer, when he will take their seeds and turn them into hemp oil—and hemp oil only. Under the research rules, he can’t use the rest of the plant. |
