Category Archives: Industrial Hemp

Industrial Hemp Update

Next Texas A&M AgriLife “First Tuesday” Hemp Zoom Update Our next meeting is Tuesday, July 5, 5:15-6:30 PM. Register in advance for this meeting: https://agrilife.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0td-6rrjsjH9WmoXz4dmBB3zu6-_-mCzLI After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. It has been a hot summer for hemp… Temperatures in much of Texas couple with lack of rainfall in many areas is making hemp production tough.  What we are experiencing this year in cannabinoid, fiber, and grain hemp is not unlike conditions in the Yuma, AZ area in 2021. … Read More →

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—July 2020

Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension/TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX; (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu July 8, 2020   Texas Department of Agriculture Hemp Licensing   The TDA hemp page, https://www.texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/Hemp.aspx, has further new items of interest.  In a June 19, 2020 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension webinar TDA assistant commissioner Dan Hunter noted to date TDA had issued: 861 producer licenses 351 crop permits 84 handler/sampler licenses (but only 73 listed as of July 7 at https://www.texasagriculture.gov/Portals/0/Files/ACP/Hemp/Handler_Sampler_List.pdf 158 handler licenses 19 processor licenses (as of… Read More →

“June (late) planting and poor seed quality led to a thin stand for CBD hemp in this New Mexico field in 2019

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—March 2020 Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu March 4, 2020 USDA & Texas Department of Agriculture Rules Updates Texas Department of Agriculture legal counsel Tim Kleinschmidt was a February 19 guest during a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension webinar. He noted final Texas hemp rules will be published in the Texas Register on March 6. TDA will seek to open the online portal for hemp license applications the second full week of March (March… Read More →

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—February 2020

  Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu February 10, 2020 USDA & Texas Department of Agriculture Rules Updates In late January USDA approved the Texas Department of Agriculture state hemp plan. This is an important step in the move toward legal hemp in Texas in 2020. What is somewhat surprising is TDA’s public comment period is still open another two weeks to Feb. 10. Does this mean that TDA might make some changes in their approved rules? Possibly. Will… Read More →

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—January 2020

  Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu January 23, 2020 USDA extended the public comment period by 30 days to conclude in late January. This likely delays final approval of state plans, like Texas, a similar amount. Additional Information from USDA There is additional information from USDA. The overall USDA hemp program information is at https://www.farmers.gov/manage/hemp Some topics will not be relevant for Texas in 2020 but will have potentially favorable implications for hemp in Texas in 2021. Additional… Read More →

Another Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas

Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu October 31, 2019 On Tuesday, October 29 USDA released their interim rules which Texas and other states will now use in crafting their state-specific guidelines for hemp production. I have not read the document yet (161 pages), but it is available at https://www.farmers.gov/manage/hemp then click on “Hemp Production Webpage.” There you will find a link to read or download “Interim Final Rule” in PDF. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ag law specialist Tiffany Dowell-Lashmet,… Read More →

Hemp Disease Prognosis for Texas

Dr. Tom Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist There is intense interest in growing hemp (Cannabis sativus) commercially in Texas. Along with considerations of applying the best agronomic approaches for growing it, there is a need to consider potential pitfalls, particularly insect pests and diseases. There is very little information on hemp diseases in Texas. The national host indices list just three fungal diseases of hemp in Texas, but this probably reflects a lack of observations. With a small hemp acreage in Texas, there will probably be a… Read More →

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas

Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu September 11, 2019   The discussion of industrial hemp, particularly for cannabidiol (CBD), continues unabated in Texas.  Colleagues report they hear as many as four hemp processing facilities being proposed in a local area.  I can only imagine there are double and triple the number of CBD processing facilities being proposed versus those already in operation in other states.  Texas A&M AgriLife is increasing our knowledge of industrial hemp.  Several information programs across… Read More →

Texas A&M AgriLife Coniderations for Industrial Hemp

Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu   Texas A&M AgriLife staff have received hundreds of inquiries about industrial hemp.  Like you, we will be watching closely to see if the required federal rules and a State of Texas plan are in place soon enough to readily permit 2020 production. Texas A&M AgriLife has updated one article and released three new documents that are intended to help producers cut through all the information they hear. These four documents are: Industrial Hemp… Read More →