The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a list of commodities that are eligible for help from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The program is designed to help producers of these crops, who have experienced disproportionate losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many commodities have made the list: corn, soybeans, cotton, alfalfa, fruits & vegetables, small grains, and more. However, there is one commodity that has been left off this list, and that is hemp. There is a growing effort to get the crop put on to the list as well.
Yesterday, I talked with Andrei McQuillan, Chief Operating Officer at EcoGen Laboratories. EcoGen is the largest vertically integrated hemp producer in the United States. McQuillan told me about some of the concerns they have with being left off the list.
The USDA told the hemp industry that they had to show pandemic-related loss of five percent to qualify. McQuillan says they have far exceeded that threshold, but still remain off the list.
McQuillan says that as an industry, hemp is still getting its feet under it. This pandemic has been an inconvenience to getting the ball rolling faster. However, he sees the industry infrastructure growing. McQuillan says that he is very optimistic of the growth in the industry in 2021.
McQuillan says any farmers looking at getting into hemp production, must have a strong business plan in place before they even plant their first seed. Like any crop, a good solid plan will help you further down the road.
To learn more about EcoGen Labs, you can log on to their website.
