Minnesota Ag Department Hosting Industrial Hemp Production Forum Feb. 9

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is hosting its 2022 Industrial Hemp Production Forum on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, from 9 a.m. to noon. The half-day virtual event is designed for anyone interested in hemp and hemp production. It is free to attend.

Forum topics include updates on the MDA’s hemp licensing requirements, the new inspection requirements for those processing raw hemp from the field, and opportunities in fiber production.

2022 will be the second year Minnesota will operate under a federally approved state plan that governs hemp production and regulation. The state previously worked under a hemp pilot program from 2016-2020.

Hemp Forum Agenda

9 a.m. —  Welcome

• Commissioner Thom Petersen

9:10 a.m. — Hemp Program Licensing

• Tony Cortilet, MDA Hemp Program Manager
• Katy Mutschler, MDA Hemp Program Coordinator

10 a.m. — MDA’s Risk-based Testing Approach

• Denise Thiede, MDA Seed, Weed, Hemp, and Biotechnology Manager

10:30 a.m. — Processing Inspection Updates

• Tony Cortilet, MDA Hemp Program Manager
• Katy Mutschler, MDA Hemp Program Coordinator

11 a.m. — Opportunities in Hemp Fiber Production

• Riley Gordon, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

11:50 a.m. — Closing Remarks/Adjourn

For more information on the 2022 Industrial Hemp Production Forum and to register, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/hempforum2022.