Hemp webinar to discuss possible regulation announcements
By Bryce McWilliams
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 6, 2019
Fast facts
- National Agricultural Law Center webinar will cover new regulations if available, and issues relating to industrial hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill.
- Webinar will be Sept. 18, noon EDT (11 a.m. CST)
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2018 Farm Bill has opened a window of opportunity for cultivation of industrial hemp – an industry whose products were valued at nearly $700 million in 2016. However, before U.S. growers can go all out for industrial hemp, there’s a regulatory waiting game that needs to play out.
Rusty Rumley, senior staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, will outline the current regulatory landscape for industrial hemp in a Sept. 18 webinar that starts at noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT, and is scheduled to last about an hour. There is no cost to attend the webinar.
The 2018 Farm Bill lays the foundation for the commercial production of industrial hemp in the United States. State departments of agriculture and tribal governments are currently waiting on regulations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under which states will create their own plans to regulate the cultivation of industrial hemp. These plans must be approved by the USDA. Understanding the new regulations and other potential hurdles are critical for the successful production of industrial hemp in the United States.
Rumley will highlight any new USDA regulations if they are issued by the time of the webinar.
The global market for industrial hemp consists of more than 25,000 products, according to the Congressional Research Service, including textiles, recycling, food and beverages and cannabidiol, better known as CBD.
“Industrial hemp is a rapidly growing segment of the agricultural sector in many states and the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill will further benefit the new industry,” Rumley said. “There are myriad challenges going forward that will need to be addressed such as the ability to sell direct to consumers, issues with crop insurance, the use of pesticides and the legal status of CBD.”
For more information on upcoming webinars, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. See more of what the National Agricultural Law Center does on Twitter at @Nataglaw.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The Center works with producers, state and federal policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The Center is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact 479-575-4607 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact: Sarah Cato
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(870) 815-9035
sscato@uark.edu