Planted area for industrial hemp grown in the U.S. totaled 54,152 acres in 2021, with the value of U.S. hemp production reaching $712 million. As industrial hemp continues to take midwestern fields by storm, researchers are eager to recruit producers to learn more about the unique crop.
University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educators are collaborating with growers to collect field data and offer groundbreaking research in the new Midwestern Hemp Database. Applications for producers are now welcomed for the 2022 growing season.
“The database is an interactive platform, updated weekly, that helps guide growers,” said Phillip Alberti, Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educator. “Together, we’re working with growers and researchers to understand the performance of industrial hemp varieties used in the Midwest and production practices.”
More than 180 hemp growers have participated in this project throughout 2020 and 2021. Past results are available here.
In return for information about their crop that will be analyzed by university staff and shared with the public, producers will receive discounted cannabinoid testing on samples through partnerships with private laboratories. Prices vary depending on the laboratory, ranging from $35 to $40 per sample.
“Several years in, and we are still figuring out what is and is not working in the Midwest,” added Alberti. “This project allows us to learn a lot in a short period of time while allowing growers to make the most informed decisions possible.”
The database also caters towards regulators with the adoption of USDA-approved rules on the horizon.
Four midwestern land grant universities collaborated on the database: Michigan State, University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Purdue University.
“This project puts data from around the Midwest into an easily accessible and interactive format,” concluded Alberti. “Growers can feel confident using this database to make informed decisions about their operation.”
Applications for the 2022 growing season close on July 24.
Read More About Hemp:
Why Protein is the Next Frontier in Hemp Breeding
Hemp Industry Coalition Advocates Policy Reform that Leverages Seed Certification
Hemp Research Takes Over the U.S.
22nd Century and KeyGene Achieve Breakthrough in Hemp Plant Transformation
