Completed Project Report


Helping Farmers Navigate the Risks and Challenges to Producing and Selling Hemp in California and Oregon

  • Award Amount: $49,999
  • Regional Center: Western Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2020 ERME Underserved
  • Project Director: Rex Dufour
  • Email: rexd@ncat.org
  • Organization: National Center for Appropriate Technology

Extension RME Regional Centers
Extension Risk Management Education Region Map

Project Overview


Due to COVID, we virtualized all the workshops which took place in Jan, Sept, Oct, and Nov 2021, focused on CA and OR, but were actually national in scope. These workshops were attended by 217 hemp farmers and folks that work with farmers. Half of the respondents that filled out evaluations stated that they would make changes to their operation as a result of the webinar information.  The regulatory environment and young, volatile market were listed as primary barriers for farmers.  Most of the growers were not aware that there were any crop insurance options, and none of the growers (that filled out the evaluations) had signed up for any crop insurance.  Several of the growers suggested that the THC levels were strangling the hemp/CBD market and wanted the permitted THC levels raised.  Many of the growers noted that contracts had been broken with processors in 2021, and that this young volatile market needed more outlets, such as forage for animals and food for humans.  Also noted was the relative paucity of good information and research related to how to grow hemp, pest management, and cultivar research.

Number of Participants: 217

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

DESCRIBE ANY UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT:

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE PROJECT IF YOU WERE TO DO IT AGAIN?

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR YOUR PARTICIPANTS?

INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES