The North American hemp market is currently estimated at over $400 million in retail sales and growing at about 10% per year. Clearly, there is demand for hemp and we would like to help farmers and processors in Vermont and throughout the Northeast evaluate this opportunity and promote sustainable practices for this agricultural crop.
This new publication shares grower and research experiences in the Northeast that have begun to shed light on best management practices for the planting, harvesting, and processing of industrial hemp.
Industrial Hemp Training Program: For Agricultural/Technical Service Providers
̽̽ Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) program offered this free course in collaboration with the following organizations: Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM), Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), SUNY Morrisville, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners (MOFGA), Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY (NOFA-NY), and Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (NE-SARE). This course was only for Agricultural/Technical Service Providers.
Offerings included up to 13 webinars (7 are required), up to 5 in-field intensives (1 is required), and admission to attend the 2021 and 2022 Industrial Hemp Conferences! You will also be asked to complete a pre- and post- course survey. All this is FREE and you can also earn Certified Crop Adviser credits! View the View the July, August and September
Questions? Please contact Susan Brouillette, susan.brouillette@uvm.edu, or Heather Darby, heather.darby@uvm.edu or 802-524-6501.
Planning to grow hemp this season? Please go to the to review the most up to date information and requirements.
We have also created an Industrial Hemp Booklet for field notes and records that contains several excel spreadsheets for tracking information. We are making printed copies made as well. You can access the .
The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) administers federal crop insurance programs. This fact sheet provides current federal risk management programs available for producers growing hemp in 2022 - .
Industrial Hemp Project Crowdfunding Opportunity
We began our industrial hemp research program in 2016 with the help of program donations – thank you! Interest in the crop and research-based guidance has continued to grow, and we need your help to keep this research project going. To date we have implemented research trials to study best planting dates, varieties, and field management for hemp fiber, seed, and CBD production.
In order to expand our hemp research, outreach, and education capacity, we need your help with our continued request for support!
Please help support our Hemp Research and visit our today.
2020 Hemp Growing Season Webinar Series
Coordinated by ̽̽ Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program and the Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
These webinars were offered LIVE and FREE on Thursdays from noon to 1pm. See below for dates/topics, along with the links to the taped recording and the presentation copy (PDF). Closed captioning options are available for the videos.
- June 11th – with Stephanie Smith, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. View the
- June 18th – with Heather Darby and John Bruce of the ̽̽ Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program. View the .
- July 9th – with Heather Darby and Scott Lewins of the ̽̽ Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program. View the .
- July 30th – with Ann Hazelrigg, ̽̽, and Chris Motyka. View the .
- August 6th - with Chris Callahan, ̽̽. View information and the .
- August 13th – with Robert Shipman and/or Michael DiTomasso of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. View the .
- September 10th – with Robert Shipman and/or Michael DiTomasso of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. View the .
This is material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28588.
Hemp Production 101 - Webinar Copy
facilitated and lecture with Heather Darby. For the first half, Stephanie Smith from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets will talk about Vermont's Hemp Program and describe the intersection between the state and the federal governments. The second half will dig into the agronomic aspects of hemp production for seed, fiber and CBD.
Industrial Hemp No Trespassing Sign
We have been receiving request for the template of our ̽̽ research trial .
We ordered ours a few years ago from Premier Signs & Graphics at 1651 St. Albans Road, Richford, VT 05476, 802-848-3151. Material options were coroplast, PVC, and maxmetal. We also purchased the u-posts from the same vendor. You can use the template and order them from who you wish.
Virtual Hemp Research Tour
— you’ll see our first year’s progress from obtaining our first seed and establishing the plots to observing plant growth throughout the season.
Conference Proceedings from Industrial Hemp Conference
Hemp Presentations From the 2019 1st Industrial Hemp Conference
Following are the PDF versions of the presentations listed chronologically. To access the presentation videos, contact susan.brouillette@uvm.edu.
- .
Online proceedings for the Industrial Hemp Conference are available for $75 and includes video recordings of presentations conducted during the conference. The proceedings are housed at . If you have not yet been to this site, you will need to create an account. To do so, on the left bar under “Login,” click on “Create new account.” You will need to complete some basic information and confirm your account via email. Once you have created an account, you may enroll in the proceedings. You will enter your payment into eXtension’s PayPal system.
- Monique McHenry, PhD,
- Christine Motyka,
- Joe Veldon,
- Keanan Stone,
- Trevor Hardy,
- Heather Darby,
- Steve Kostell,
- Jane Kolodinsky,
- Reuben Stone,
- Jay Noller,
- Rye Matthews,
- Keith Morris,
- Christine Motyka and Scott Lewins,
- Chris Bailey,
- Brenden Beer,
- John DiGiuseppe,
- Marc Tardiff,
- Zoe Stapp,
- Bob Escher AIA and Alex Escher,
- Scot Waring,
- Jay Noller,
- Heather Darby,
Online Proceedings of Hemp Presentations
Online Proceedings of Hemp Presentations From the 2017 Vermont Grain Growers Conference
At the 13th Annual Vermont Grain Growers Conference, held on March 23, 2017 in Essex, Vermont, five workshop sessions were dedicated to industrial hemp production. Proceedings—video recordings of the presentations—are now available online. They may be accessed for a one-time fee of $35 at . If you have not yet been to this site, you will need to create an account. To do so, on the left bar under “Login,” click on “Create new account.” You will need to complete some basic information and confirm your account via email. Once you have created an account, you may . You will enter your payment into eXtension’s PayPal system.
The History of Hemp
The History of Hemp
Industrial hemp is a historical crop. It is estimated that hemp was first cultivated in China between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago, making it one of the first cultivated crops. It was brought to the U.S. in 1645 and was a major crop until the 1940s, used in making paper (it is said that the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp paper), cloth (the first U.S. flag and first pair of jeans were made of hemp), and ropes and sails used by the U.S. Navy. Currently, hemp is being used for cosmetics, foods, fiber, building materials, biofuel, and soil remediation.
Related Articles of Interest
- (April 18, 2018)
- (April 20, 2018)
- (September 2021)
- (January 2022)
- (October 2022)
Factsheets
Research Reports
Visit our research reports page to see results of our hemp research trials to:
- Evaluate varieties best suited to our region;
- Determine ideal seeding rates and optimal planting dates; and
- Assess weed, pest, and disease pressure.