Industrial Hemp Podcast

Lancaster Farming newspaper editors talk to farmers and experts about industrial hemp.

1937 International: Hemp Textiles, Pakistan to Product 03/18/2026

Hemp in New Zealand: Policy, Markets and the Long Game 03/12/2026

The Mythic Possibilities of Hemp Fiber 03/04/2026

The Mythic Possibilities of Hemp Fiber Long before we talked about hemp as a commodity crop with profound industrial potential, hemp was something simpler: a plant grown in soil, worked by human hands and shaped into useful things. This week on the Hemp Show our guest is Laura Sullivan — hemp farmer, Extension educator at the University of Vermont and fiber artist whose work explores hemp not as a commodity but as a material with cultural and ecological meaning. Laura recently completed her Master of Fine Arts, using hemp fiber grown on the research farm to create garments and installations that blur the boundary between agriculture and art. “I’ve been working in science for over five years now and I have seen a lot of really great data come out that has changed absolutely nothing about how we operate in our world where we have so many solutions at our fingertips and yet no way to implement them,” Sullivan said. “So I thought that art could reach people in a way that white papers and data and graphs and science don’t always seem to.” In one of Sullivan's pieces, hemp garments embedded with seeds were watered until they sprouted, making visible the idea that clothing, like food, begins in the field. Sullivan notes that synthetic fiber now dominates the global textile system, and that most of it originates not from farms but from fossil fuels. “Synthetic fiber currently makes up about 70% of textiles globally,” she said. “Synthetic fiber is any fiber that is made of plastic, which is derived from oil. Alternatively, we have this other group of fibers — derived from the soil… and to the soil they can return.” Her work also draws on mythology, ancestry and traditional fiber practices, using hemp and wool to create large-scale symbolic pieces that connect ancient textile traditions with modern agricultural realities. Plus, News Nuggets and a very special visit from everyone’s favorite Kentucky hemp flooring guy, Greg Wilson, who looks at hemp like this: “You gotta grow it, you gotta make it and you gotta sell it. And I look at our business model and I always say, if you’ve got two hands, you can’t carry three buckets.” See Laura's Work: Learn More University of Vermont Extension Hemp Program Vermont College of Fine Arts News Nuggets European hemp stalwart HempFlax Group is departing Romania after historic 14-year run Sask Polytechnic and EnviroWay develop biodegradable plastics from hemp and flax fiber waste Time for a little home hemp? Sponsors HEMI King’s Agriseeds Forever Green Equipment – KP4 Hemp Cutter HempWood /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/40254640

Field to Fabric: Building a Hemp Denim Supply Chain in Pennsylvania 02/25/2026

Hemp as an Indicator Species: Mapping the Future of Bio-Based Building 02/19/2026

Hemp as an Indicator Species: Mapping the Future of Bio-Based Building This week on the Hemp Show, we widen the lens. Hemp is more than a crop — it's part of a larger material system that connects farms, forests, manufacturers, builders and cities. Architect and urban researcher Kaja Kühl joins the podcast to explain why she calls hemp and straw “indicator species” — materials that signal the health of a regional building ecosystem. Through her Bio-Based Materials & Construction Resources Map, she has been documenting the farms, processors and builders already working across the Northeast. In this conversation, we explore what it would take to scale regenerative construction from rural landscapes into dense urban markets — and why regional supply chains may matter more than centralized industrial models. We discuss: • Hempcrete as a carbon-storing wall system • Why moisture regulation and indoor air quality may be hemp’s most overlooked strengths • Straw panel manufacturing and collaborative scaling models • The advantages — and challenges — of building in a dense Northeastern region • Housing as long-term carbon storage infrastructure Kühl also reflects on building two carbon-zero hemp homes in New York’s Hudson Valley and what she learned working alongside early-stage material startups. As federal climate policy shifts, atmospheric carbon does not. If emissions oversight weakens, land-based carbon strategies — including fiber crops like hemp — only grow more consequential. This episode situates hemp inside a broader conversation about how we build, where materials come from and how regional economies can store carbon in the walls around us. News Nuggets Farm Bill / Hemp Language – Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (Draft Bill Information) – Industry Response & Policy Updates EPA Endangerment Finding Learn More – Kaja Kühl’s Practice Bio-Based Materials Collective Thanks to our Sponsor /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/40167015

Inside the Trojan Horse of Intoxicating Hemp 02/12/2026

Inside the Trojan Horse of Intoxicating Hemp This week on the Hemp Podcast, we have a long conversation about hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids with Chris Fontes, president of the U.S. Hemp Authority and founder of Trojan Horse Cannabis and High Spirits Beverages. Trojan Horse Cannabis was the first company to bring so-called intoxicating hemp derivatives to market, changing the hemp space forever. For decades, hemp advocates said hemp was different from marijuana because hemp couldn’t get you high. But the 2018 Farm Bill created the perfect conditions for the birth of a whole new chapter in the story of hemp. Fontes said when he read the hemp language in the 2018 Farm Bill, “My first thought was: We have uncontrolled THC. There is now a version of THC that is not controlled. Something could be done with this.” THC is the chemical compound produced in the cannabis flower known for its psychoactive properties. Applying basic principles of math, Fontes realized that this legal THC “can be put into a product at a 10 milligram standard dose and could be shipped through the mail to anyone in the country at the time as there was no state by state blocking and interstate transport was explicitly protected,” he said. Thus, the intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid market was born. And that’s where this conversation gets interesting. This isn’t your typical fiber and grain hemp discussion. But if you want to understand why lawmakers are reacting, why definitions are shifting, and why the word hemp feels contested right now — you have to understand where this market came from. That’s what we have in store for you in this episode. Enjoy. Learn More High Spirits Beverages U.S. Hemp Authority USDA Hemp Overview HEMP Act of 2025 (Bill Text) Hemp Planting Predictability Act (Bill Text) CRS Report: The 2018 Farm Bill’s Hemp Definition and Legal Framework News Nuggets Italy’s Industrial Hemp Seed Lines Surpass EU Germination Standards Hemp and Marijuana Are the Same Species — So Why the Different Laws? Federal Hemp Definition Shift Could Impact Fiber and Grain Markets Washington Still Hasn’t Decided What CBD Is Thanks to our Sponsors IND Hemp Americhanvre Cast Hemp /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/40022280

Spring Hemp Preview: Webinars, Short Courses, and Conferences 02/05/2026

Spring Hemp Preview: Webinars, Short Courses, and Conferences This week on the Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock is joined by Lancaster Farming staff reporter Dan Sullivan to talk about one Pennsylvania farmer’s decision that’s captured national attention. Farmer Mervin Raudabaugh Jr. in development money to preserve his Cumberland County farm for future generations. Sullivan explains how he found the story, why it resonated with people in and out of agriculture and what it says about the challenges farmers face regarding preserving their land. From there the show turns to upcoming events for the hemp community in the next few months, with a focus on education and connection. Listeners hear from Maylin Murdoch about Cornell’s 2026 hemp webinar series that will be focused on how hemp is measured and evaluated in the field and in the lab. Andrew Bish, president of the Hemp Feed Coalition, joins us to talk about a monthly webinar series that highlights research into hemp as an animal feed ingredient. Fiber artist, hemp farmer and extension educator Laura Sullivan gives us a preview of a four-week online short course at the University of Vermont that will be focused on growing fiber hemp for textiles and building materials. The webinar series are free. See registration links below. And finally, we talk hemp with Morris Beegle, who introduces Industrial Hemp International, a new Denver-based conference that has evolved from the former NoCo Hemp Expo. The new show has an emphasis on fiber, grain and international supply chains. Learn More Dan Sullivan’s story — Data center developers offered farmer $60k per acre; He preserved the land instead Cornell Hemp Webinar Series January 28 – May 6, 2026 | Every other Wednesday (1–2 p.m. ET). A free, biweekly webinar series from Cornell AgriTech focused on how hemp is measured — from field data and lab standards to fiber testing, post-harvest practices, and life-cycle assessment. Hemp Feed Coalition Webinar Series Ongoing throughout 2026 | Monthly, third Thursday. A free, monthly research-focused webinar series examining hemp as animal feed, featuring researchers working on poultry, dairy, companion animals, and cannabinoid measurement. University of Vermont Fiber Hemp Short Course February 24 – March 17, 2026 | Tuesdays (4 weeks). A free, four-week online short course from UVM Extension focused on growing fiber hemp for textiles and building materials, with sessions on agronomy, harvesting, and regional manufacturing. Industrial Hemp International (IHI) March 25–27, 2026 | Denver, Colorado. A two-day conference (plus opening night) focused on industrial hemp fiber, grain, and international supply chains, evolving out of the former NoCo Hemp Expo. Sponsored By IND HEMP Americhanvre Cast Hemp King’s Agriseeds Hemp Cutter /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/39993545

Hemp in Pennsylvania: Commodity Crop or Shadow Cannabis Market? 02/02/2026

Hemp in 2025: Cliff Hangers, Course Corrections and Community 12/30/2025

In the Hemp Studio with Farmer Steve Groff 12/03/2025

A Necessary Correction: Jeremy Klettke on Hemp, Policy, and Responsibility 11/26/2025

The Sky Has Not Fallen on Industrial Hemp 11/19/2025

The Sky Has Not Fallen on Industrial Hemp This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we take a close look at the biggest federal hemp policy shift since the 2018 Farm Bill and what it means for the industry. Our guests on the show are Danielle Bernstein of Laurelcrest and Morgan Tweet of IND HEMP. Bernstein brings the perspective of a cannabinoid ingredient manufacturer working inside global supply chains, regulatory systems and the emerging non-alcoholic THC beverage and wellness markets. Tweet represents the fiber and grain sector, where this new language marks the first time the federal government has formally recognized industrial hemp as its own regulated category. Together, they break down what changed in the new law, what didn’t and why the intoxicating-hemp loophole has finally closed. They explain how this marks the start of a 365-day window for Congress to build a permanent national framework that covers cultivation, processing, final-form products and impairment-based standards. They discuss what the new definition of hemp means for farmers, processors, CBD manufacturers and retailers, and why the era of THCA flower, synthetics and converted cannabinoids is effectively over. They also talk about how grain and fiber stand to benefit from long-needed regulatory clarity, and why a patchwork of state rules has failed to provide stability or safety. Tweet and Bernstein outline the three-phase federal policy model they’re proposing and make the case for unity rather than panic or infighting. They also describe how HEMI — the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative — will help coordinate industry messaging, gather feedback and drive momentum over the next year. Their message is simple: the sky is not falling, but the easy part is now behind us. The next twelve months will define what hemp becomes in the United States, and everyone with a stake in the future of the plant should be participating in shaping that framework. Learn More News Nugget from HempToday Sponsors King's AgriSeeds — Forevergreen / KP4 Hemp Cutter — HEMI — /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/39101285

CBD Farmer & Hemp Builder React to New Federal Hemp Definition 11/15/2025

Code, Carbon and Hemp-Lime Construction with Jake Waddell 11/12/2025

Oh, For The Love of Farming... 11/06/2025

The Winds of Cansayapi (Part Three) 11/04/2025

The Winds of Cansayapi (Part Three) Welcome to part three of our Cansayapi Trilogy in which we explore the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium, held Oct. 3-5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Southwestern Minnesota. Part Three opens where part two left off, with the sounds of a waterfall that melts into the rhythms of the Red Tree Singers as they chant and pray and lead the way into Day Three of the Hemp Building Symposium. After a news nugget from HempToday, this episodes opens with a tale of three Minnesota architects — Janneke Schaap, Simona Fischer and Anna Koosmann — who provide a roadmap for getting biobased building materials like hemp-lime and straw bale construction adopted into state building codes. Then we hear a collection of one-on-one interviews with farmers, builders and advocates. In order of appearance, you will hear: Marcus Grignon — Hempstead Project Heart, Menominee Nation Ira Vandever — Indigenous Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Cooperative, Navajo Nation Tom Knouss — RootDown Building Collective, Charleston Alex Sparrow — UK Hempcrete, England Gabriel Gauthier — ArtCan Hemp Construction, Quebec Guillaume Delannoy — FRD-CODEM, France Micaela Machado — Old Pueblo Hemp Co., Tucson Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association (IHBA), Ireland News nugget from Bipartisan U.S. group calls for ‘Frankenstein’ intoxicating hemp market to be curbed Be More Pirate — Sam Conniff’s Be More Pirate, recommended by Alex Sparrow as a blueprint for creative rebellion and collaboration. Sponsors — IND HEMP, building a sustainable hemp supply chain in Montana and beyond. — HEMI, the Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative, connecting businesses with the potential of industrial hemp. — Americhanvre Cast Hemp, Pennsylvania-based hemp building specialists advancing circular design and education. — SunRay Hemp, Alaska-grown innovation and community-driven hemp projects led by Ray DePriest. /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/38907650

Voices from Cansayapi (Part Two) 10/24/2025

Voices from Cansayapi (Part Two) On this episode we continue on our journey with host Eric Hurlock to Cansayapi, the place where they paint the trees red, the Lower Sioux Indian community, the home of the Medewakantan Band of Dakota people in Southwestern Minnesota. You will hear many voices on this episode — people who were there, people who were involved, people who are lighting the Eighth Fire. You will hear from: Danny Desjarlais — Lower Sioux Hemp Builder Cameron McIntosh — Americhanvre Cast Hemp Steve Allin — International Hemp Building Association Honovi Coup Trudell — son of John Trudell Samantha & Matt Marino — Homeland Hempcrete John Peterson — Dakota Hemp Dave Gertz — Renewabuild / Just Biofiber Pamela Bosch — Highland Hemp House Clarence Baber — Hawaii hemp advocates Brian Mogli — Industrial hemp advocate Katie McCormick — Pamunkey Indian Reservation hemp home project Joni McSpadden — Citizen of Cherokee Nation Rusty Peterson— IND HEMP Jared Sones — Victura Hemp Dallas Goldtooth — Host/MC; actor, writer, activist Donate to the New Dakota Language Hemp School Today! Pidamaya (thank you) for considering supporting the new K–4 Dakota Immersion School set to be made with hemp, opening in 2030. Ways To Contribute By Check: Write a check to the “Lower Sioux Indian Community” and write in the note: “New School." Send or give check to: Lower Sioux Indian Community 39527 Reservation Highway 1 Morton, MN 56270 Online via the “Honor Tax” Website: Your contribution goes to the Lower Sioux Indian Community. Click “Add note or comment” and type “New School.” Ukic̣aġapi kte (Let’s grow together), For questions or more information on the school, please contact: Vanessa Goodthunder — 507-697-8253 Vanessa.Goodthunder@lowersioux.com Thanks to Our Sponsors! SunRay Hemp () — 62° North IND HEMP King’s AgriSeeds Americhanvre Cast Hemp /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/38770525

The Road to Cansayapi (Part One) 10/17/2025

USDA Hemp Report: Garbage In, Garbage Out 10/09/2025

Fighting Powdery Mildew With UV Light & Breeding Hemp for Better Grain and Fiber 10/01/2025

Inside Cornell AgriTech: Germplasm, Robots and Hemp 09/26/2025

Grain & Fiber Hemp Field Day at Cornell 2025 09/23/2025

Grain & Fiber Hemp Field Day at Cornell 2025 On this week’s podcast, host Eric Hurlock travels to Geneva, New York, on the top of Seneca Lake to take part in Cornell’s Hemp Field day, held Thursday, Sept. 11. This episode covers both the morning and afternoon sessions for the field day. The day started in Jordan Hall on Cornell’s Agritech Campus, where hemp program director Larry Smart got things started with a reminder why we were there in the first place. “Hemp is an interesting crop, has a lot of potential, but there are some things that we just don’t understand about this crop,” he said. The morning session was focused mostly on hemp grain as a livestock feed. Cornell scientists presented their research on broiler chickens, dairy cows and horses. Andrew Bish from the Hemp Feed Coalition talked about the opportunity that hemp seed meal presents for farmers. “If 5% of the chickens are eating 20% of their diet in hemp seed meal, you need almost 275,000 acres of hemp grain produced in the United States,” he said. The morning session ended with Pennsylvania farmer Herb Grove from Brush Mountain Bison in Centre County, where he grows hemp grain and operates a bison feed lot and finishing operation. “We started the bison industry in 2011, and we started raising hemp in 2019. 2011, we had six head of bison. At the end of last year, we had 300 animals on feed." The afternoon session of the field day shifted from science to practice. Bob Pearce from the University of Kentucky talked about the S-1084 multistate trials, which bring together universities from Louisiana to Vermont to test hemp cultivars across latitudinal differences and growing conditions. "That’s the ultimate goal, making sure that a grower in New York knows which cultivars to pick for that location, and a grower in Kentucky or Tennessee has the opportunity to choose a cultivar that is well adapted to their conditions,” he said. There were equipment demonstrations, discussions with seed suppliers, and a very interesting talk from Lynn Sosnoskie, weed science specialist at Cornell, who, because of the lack of chemistry labeled for hemp, stressed the importance of non-herbicide methods of weed management, especially equipment clean-out. “We have to be focused on the weed seeds that we are moving from field to field, especially because we have Palmer amaranth in New York state now. We have waterhemp in New York state. These are two pigweed species. They are exceptionally competitive with our crops. They are spreading. You do not want to have one of these weeds get established in the fields where we have very few options of weed control,” she said. The day ended with a demonstration of the mobile decorticator. On this episode you will hear the voices of: Larry Smart, Cornell University Chuck Schmitt, New York Department of Agriculture & Markets Luis Monserrate, Cornell University Andrew Bish, Hemp Feed Coalition, Bish Enterprises Raj Kasula, Wenger Group Natalie Trottier, Cornell University Morgan Tweet, IND HEMP Xuedan Zhu, Cornell University Tom Overton, Cornell University Herb Grove, Brush Mountain Bison Lynn Sosnoskie, Cornell University Bob Pearce, University of Kentucky Jacob Bish, Cornell University Terry Moran, Kanda Hemp Robin Destiche, KonopiUS Corbett Mitteff, KonopiUS Reuben Stone, UniSeeds The trip to Cornell continues on the next episode with one-on-one interviews with Christine Smart, director of Cornell’s Agritech campus; Larry Smart, plant geneticist and head of Cornell's Hemp program; Luis Monserrate, doctoral candidate studying hemp fiber yields; and Jane Hamilton, a doctoral student studying the effects of UV light on powdery mildew on hemp. Learn More: Cornell University – Hemp Program New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets New York State Office of Cannabis Management Hemp Feed Coalition Kreider Farms / Kreider Feeds University of Kentucky Kanda Hemp UniSeeds KonopiUS HempIT IND HEMP Bish Enterprises Hemp Harvest Works Brush Mountain Bison News Nuggets from U.S. Democrats sign off on framework to rein in hemp intoxicants while protecting CBD Trump administration push to trim red tape leaves hemp industry still tangled in rules Texas agencies directed to tighten oversight of hemp THC products under new order Thanks to our Sponsors IND HEMP Forever Green, distributors of the KP-4 Hemp Cutter National Hemp Association (NHA) /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/38318420

The Godfather of Hempcrete: Steve Allin and the International Hemp Building Symposium 09/11/2025

Dallas Goldtooth and Danny Desjarlais Preview the International Hemp Building Symposium 09/10/2025

In Search Of: A Pennsylvania Hemp Textile Supply Chain 09/05/2025

Regenerative Hemp Field Day at Pocono Organics 08/27/2025

Sustainability Report: Does Hemp Live Up to the Hype? 08/21/2025

Sustainability Report: Does Hemp Live Up to the Hype? This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast we’re looking at hemp’s environmental promise. We’ve all heard the claim the hemp can save the planet—but what does the science really say? I talk with environmental scientist Lorelei Alvarez and strategist Joseph Carringer, co-authors of the brand-new Hemp and Sustainability Report, published by HempToday and CannaMarkets Group. Together, we dig into the evidence, the hype, and the responsibility that comes with hemp’s potential. The report breaks down hemp’s impact on carbon, soil, water, and lifecycle assessments, pulling from peer-reviewed research to separate fact from fantasy. Lorelei and Joseph challenge legacy claims like “one acre of hemp equals four acres of trees,” while also highlighting real opportunities where hemp can reduce emissions, improve soil health, and support sustainable supply chains. The message is clear: hemp won’t single-handedly solve our environmental problems, but when grown and processed responsibly, it can be part of the solution. One of the things I like about this report is that it raises the standard for how we talk about hemp. It asks us to back up our stories with evidence, to tell the accurate version of hemp’s potential rather than the inflated one. That honesty gives the industry a stronger foundation to grow from, and it gives farmers, processors, and entrepreneurs the tools to make smarter choices. Check out the Hemp and Sustainability Report for yourself, and see what the data has to say. Hemp’s future is still being written—and we all have a role to play in shaping it. Special Report: Hemp & Sustainability - HempToday Special Reports Combo Package Hemp News Nuggets, August 20, 2025 Powered by HempToday Hemp seed meal for laying hens clears key hurdle in U.S. but faces state bottlenecks Cannabinoid firm’s takedown another ‘wake-up call’ in Italy’s treacherous hemp market Florida’s debate over ‘intoxicating hemp’ packaging masks deeper flaws in state rules Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP Forever Green, distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter /episode/index/show/lancasterfarming/id/37898900

The Hemp Waltz, Sides 5 and 6 08/15/2025

Raleigh '25, Sides 3 and 4 08/06/2025

Greg Wilson and the Golden Ratio of HempWood 08/05/2025

Industrial Hemp Podcast

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