Getting Hemp Ready for the 2020 Growing Season – A summary of the USDA Interim Rule for Hemp Production

The Hemp production program of the 2018 Farm Bill is getting a nationwide roll-out under the USDA’s newly issued Interim Final Rule for domestic hemp production.  The Rule provides two “Plans” [...]

There is a lot more to learn about Hemp. While hemp is a very old crop (as in thousands of years old) it is still quite a mystery.  Little is known about hemp breeding and production due to its [...]

Asexually reproduced plants (think about strawberries, garlic, ginger, etc.) gained a new method of federal intellectual property protection with the 2018 Farm Bill.  The Plant Variety Protection [...]

Cannabis has quickly moved from taboo to a massive mainstream phenomenon as States pass laws moving it from an illegal drug, to a medicine, and in some places, to an adult recreational activity.  [...]

  Behind the colorful vegetables, leafy greens, and most of the grains that go into our breads (and beer and feed and a whole bunch of other stuff) is a plant breeder that spent years – [...]

Intellectual property protection for seed varieties ushered in an era of great benefits – herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, healthy oil profiles, longer shelf-life, drought tolerance – the [...]

Growing a good crop – be it grain or vegetables – depends a lot on the quality of seed put into the ground.  But how do you know whether the seed is any good?  Plant it and wait?  Most folks [...]