Licensed Hemp Acreage Quadruples Since 2018
Vote Hemp, a leading grassroots hemp advocacy organization, has released its 2019 U.S. Hemp Grower License Report, and it shows that licensed hemp acreage has quadrupled since 2018.
“We are seeing hemp cultivation dramatically expand in the U.S. in 2019,” said Eric Steenstra, president of Vote Hemp. “Now that we have lifted federal prohibition on hemp farming, it’s time to build the infrastructure and expand hemp cultivation and the market for hemp products across the country so that all can reap the benefits of this versatile and sustainable crop.”
According to the report, 13 more states have developed hemp programs for a total of 34 participating states that have licensed a total of 511,422 acres for hemp production — a 455% increase from 2018. States issued licenses to 16,877 farmers and researchers in 2019 and 2,880 processors in 2019. It is important to note that some states, such as Colorado, do not license processors, so this number is actually higher.
While these numbers are impressive, Vote Hemp does specify that less hemp is actually planted compared to what is licensed. The organization estimates that 230,000 acres will be planted but only 50 to 60% will be harvested due to crop failure, non-compliant crops and other factors.
To read the full report, click here.
