COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Show-Me Hemp Conference
On March 1st we attended the Show-Me Hemp Conference along with our sponsors Midwest Hemp Council, Whitefield Hemp Partners, and Show-Me Hemp Association for a day of education and networking. We made some great new connections and were able to reconnect with others, too through the virtual portal. Our thanks go to One Voice for Ag for having Rachel in the panel discussion at the closing reception!
Help Us Welcome Our Newest Sponsors!
Body in Balance grows all the hemp used in their products locally in Illinois.
As a women-led business in the Hemp industry, we encourage and empower the women who are leading the hemp initiative through agriculture, research, and medicinal or consumer products.
Hemp banking has challenges. We have solutions.
Most banks won’t bank hemp-related businesses. At West Town Bank & Trust, we don’t just bank hemp, we embrace it. We’ve built a hemp program uniquely tailored to the challenges of hemp-related businesses. We provide a full suite of commercial banking services and we’re experts on the rules and regulations, so you feel unquestionably safe and secure banking with us.
Simply put, hemp-related businesses bank at West Town Bank & Trust because we know hemp.
IHGA MEMBERSHIP CARDS
Get Your 2021 Membership Card!
After over 2 years of community building, the IHGA is thrilled to announce that we are now providing Membership Cards to all dues paying members and sponsors!
IHGA membership cards are made in the US
They are 100% hemp paper made from 100% US grown industrial hemp
If you are a dues-paying member or sponsor, please be sure your address is accessible in your member profile under "my account" (see slides below)
We will never sell or reveal your personal information.
Check your dues or sponsorship expiration date and renew for 2021 if needed.
If you aren't a member yet but want to join our community, click here to sign up, pay your dues, and get your membership card!
Our most sincere gratitude goes out to all IHGA members and sponsors and also to Tiny e Paper Co. for helping making this hempy dream come true!
EVENTS
Farmer Safety Forum - March 9 @ 6:30PM
New to the practice of commercial hemp farming?
There is no better time than now to begin your understanding of the science behind the plant. Panelists include Origo Labs founder Tim Cash, Kalee Hooghkirk, hemp famer and founder of United Hemp Co., and Ebonee Smith, digital creator and founder of Ogafropuff.com.
Hosted in collaboration with Illinois NORML and Origo Labs, this free event will provide attendees an in-depth understanding how to read a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and why COA’s matter. COA’s can address levels potency, heavy metal contaminants, the presence of yeast and mold, terpenes, and more.
Farmer Safety Forum - March 12 @ 1pm
Webinar Four: Agronomy
Learn about hemp agronomy.
The discussion will focus genetics, with an emphasis on growing for cannabinoids, fiber and grain.
This event is free for MHC members, $10 for non-members.
Speakers: Ben Brimlow, Lead Agronomist, IND Hemp Jeremy Klettke, CEO, Davis Farms of Oregon
IHGA Q1 Membership Meeting - March 23 @ 6PM
Save the Date!
On Tuesday, March 23rd we will host our
1st quarter meeting over Zoom.
Dues-Paying Members and Sponsors will receive the agenda and a registration link via email in the coming weeks.
Be on the lookout for your invitation or get on the list by paying your dues at IllinoisHGA.com/pay-dues.
VIBE CHECK
Illinois Hemp Harvest Numbers
On February 24th, 2021, the Illinois Department of Agriculture released the annual hemp harvest numbers for the state. Here are the numbers from this year as well as a comparison to last year:
At first glance it's obvious there has been a drastic reduction in the number of acres that were planted and harvested this year compared to last. This isn't the whole story though. Conclusions both troubling and promising can be drawn out from the data that we have available. Let's start with the bad news and finish up with the good.
Licenses Increase but Harvest Reports Decrease
This graph shows the number of harvest reports that were filed in 2019 vs 2020. It illustrates that hundreds of growers are holding a license but did not plant or harvest hemp in 2020. This is in stark contrast to 2019, when almost everyone who had a license planted and harvested some amount of hemp.
Planted and Harvested Acres are Less Than Half of Last Year
This graph is showing a steep decline in planted and harvest acres compared to last year. The pandemic and last year's oversupply that the industry still hasn't completely stabilized from contributed to the over 50% reduction in planting this year.
Amount of Flower and Seed Harvested Both Decreased
These graphs indicate that both the flower and seed market have seen significant reductions in total weight harvested. Still, Illinois added over 1.2 million pounds of hemp flower to the market in 2020. At this point it's unclear whether this will amount to another oversupply which could drive prices down further or if this is an indication of production stabilizing to meet demand.
Reduced seed production means less locally grown hemp seed is available for food products. It also means less locally produced viable seed stock will be available for next year.
Alright enough with the bad news. Let's get to the good stuff!
Fiber Harvest Tripled in 2020 from 2019
This graph shows hemp growers in Illinois have gained some knowledge and skill raising cannabis as a natural fiber crop. In a not totally unexpected but definitely pleasant and welcome surprise, Illinois actually tripled the amount of hemp harvested for fiber in 2020. The numbers are still relatively low considering fiber hemp is usually sold by the ton, but this is a strong indicator of increased interest in hemp for fiber.
Percentage of Harvested vs Planted Acres Significantly Increased
This is a very encouraging graph. It tells us that growers of hemp in Illinois were more successful harvesting what they planted in 2020 than they were in 2019. It shows that hemp growers in Illinois have improved their knowledge of the crop and their skill at producing it overall. This statistic is objectively good no matter how you look at it.
LBS/Acre of Hemp Harvested in 2020 Increased over 2019
Ending on a high note, this graph shows the most important statistic of all. Average yield has grown from slightly over 400lbs/acre to nearly 600lbs/acre. This means Illinois' hemp growers have, in just a single year, become nearly 50% more efficient at raising hemp. Any way you look at it, this is an objectively positive statistic.
The Illinois Hemp Growers Association would like to say a special thank you to everyone who grew hemp in 2020. You are among good company.