Marguerite Bolt

30 articles by this author

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The hemp industry is familiar with boom-and-bust cycles, with a surge in production acres in 2019 followed by a decline in the following years. According to Hemp Benchmarks, planted acres decreased by 42% from 2021 to 2022 in the United States. The report also showed a shift in the industry with an increase in fiber production acres from 2021 to 2022 (Hemp Benchmarks, 2022). According to the NASS report, Indiana hemp producers planted 255 acres in 2021 (Cornell University, 2022). Indiana hemp producers planted 646 acres in 2022 (OISC, personal communication). Most of the planted acres in 2022 were for grain and fiber hemp. There are 710 acres of hemp expected to be planted this season in Indiana. Over half of the planned acres are for grain and fiber hemp. The difficulty farmers face when growing this crop is not going unnoticed. Senator Braun (R-IN) and Senator Tester (D-MT) introduced[Read More…]





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Individuals interested in learning more about producing hemp for fiber and different post-harvest applications are invited to a field day at a fiber hemp farm in Martinsville Indiana on August 30th. This field day is hosted by the Midwest Hemp Council and Indiana Farmers Union. Attendees can expect a fun-filled day of learning and networking. Each session will include four stations, where attendees will learn about: The agronomics of hemp production, pests affecting hemp and how hemp fits into our Indiana agricultural landscape How hemp is harvested and post-harvest preparation before it goes to a processor The necessary processing steps of the hemp stalks, specifically decortication Novel and traditional applications of hemp fiber There are two sessions to choose from—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunch is included for both sessions. To learn more and register, please visit https://www.midwesthempcouncil.com/fiber-forum-field-day.