Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The first day of the meeting began with a welcome from the project Chair, Heather Darby of University of Vermont and host, John McKay from Colorado State University.

NIFA representatives provided a brief update to the group before a panel of industry representatives provided background about their company or organization and discussed what they see as the key research needs and priorities to move the industry forward. Panelist included Rich Fletcher, New West Genetics; element6 Dynamics and Hemp Feed Coalition, Corbet Hefner from Formation Ag, Wendy Mosher from New West Genetics, Julie Vernor from PanXchange, and Chad Rosen- from Victory Hemp Foods. The group then heard from representatives form ARS units working in hemp, including the Forage Animal Production Research Unit, the Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit, the Cotton Structure and Quality Unit, and the Plant Genetic Resources Unit.

In-person attendees split into breakout groups to discuss priorities for the next 5 year S1084 proposal.

The second day of the meeting included tours of the USDA National Germplasm Repository on CSU’s campus and the Charlotte’s Web facility.

Detailed minutes are attached for more information.

S1084 has developed into a nation-wide network of interdisciplinary scientists who regularly collaborate to conduct joint projects, engage stakeholders, and share knowledge and best practices. When the project first started, only a small number of states had active hemp pilot programs. Participants from states that were exploring but had not yet begun hemp research were able to get critical insight from their peers and avoid challenges faced by the earliest pilot programs (e.g., sourcing seed) through participating in S1084.  They were also able to access information and guidance from other states to assist their producers while they worked to conduct regionally relevant trials and navigate potential local markets. Despite the difficulties of simply sourcing and distributing seed, accessing germplasm that could be the basis of improved varieties, and serving stakeholders dealing with a highly unstable market and regulatory landscape, S1084 continues to have strong collaborative participation that will stay the course toward developing sustainable and viable opportunities for this versatile crop. Some of the outputs and activities that demonstrate the broad reach and activity of this group include:

• Members reported 42 peer reviewed research publications and 35 fact sheets/extension publications facilitated as a result of their participation in the project.
• Reported 36 grant proposals submitted and awards of $10.2 million resulting from their participation in this group.
• Organized and held a National Hemp Research and Education Conference in 2020. The conference resulted in a special issue of GCB Bioenergy with 5 conference-related articles, including one summarizing results from a national survey of hemp stakeholders conducted by S1084 members in preparation for the conference.
• Established a protocol for conducting multi-state variety trials in hemp for both dual-purpose and essential oil production.Twelve to fifteen cultivars have been tested at up to 15 locations each growing season for a total of 25 unique cultivars tested at nearly 60 site-year locations attempted over the first four years of this trial. Not all site-years have produced usable data in the early stages but we have refined our methods and gathered valuable information on the adaptability of available cultivars in different regions across the nation.  Extension professionals from the multistate project have shared results with stakeholders through factsheets and online reports. A publication summarizing the results for 4 years of the dual-purpose variety trials is in preparation.
• Distributed the first production budgets available for fiber, grain, and cannabinoid crops. Conducted national surveys of production costs and consumer preferences through leveraged grant funding. Results are being prepared for publication.
• Leading multiple national surveys of hemp producers and consumers. These surveys are being conducted to identify the regional differences in production costs and practices. In addition, the consumer surveys are being conducted to identify hemp products that consumers are most likely to consume.
• Completed a national survey of diagnosticians, researchers, and industry to assess the presence and distribution of common diseases and pests in hemp. Responses (n=148) were collected, and results grouped by US region. A manuscript entitled “Occurrence and Distribution of Common Diseases and Pests of US Cannabis: A Survey” has been submitted to Plant Health Progress.
• Conducted efficacy trials to identify products that will control diseases of hemp. These trials have identified some fungicides that are effective against specific pathogens and are approved for use on hemp. Multi-state members also surveyed cultivar trials for the presence of disease and insect damage. Because of resistance screening associated with S-1084, we have identified at least one source of resistance to powdery mildew.
• Leveraged the geographic diversity of S1084 members to develop a collection of feral hemp in an effort to identify non-proprietary genetics of potential interest that could contribute to germplasm improvement efforts. Members have secured NIFA grant support through the Supplemental and Alternative Crops program. S1084 was a partner of the USDA ARS Hemp Germplasm Bank from its establishment and seeds from feral collections will be deposited into the bank and characterized. 

The primary benefits of this project result from establishing the base expertise and resources needed to support a long-abandoned crop in a period of resurgence. State regulators, USDA, and producers looked to this group as key source of non-biased information for an industry that was often referred to as the “Wild West.”  It is hard to imagine that as many states would have established pilot research programs prior to the AMS implementation of the final hemp rule had S1084 and its network not existed.

Munir, M., K. Leonberger, K. Kesheimer, M. Bolt, M. Zuefle, E. Aronson, M. Ricciardi, C. Schluttenhofer, D. Joly, H. S. Smith, J. Coburn, J. F. D. C. Leme Filho, S. I. Rondon, C. D. Smart, A. Collins, A. Garfinkel, and N. A. Gauthier.  Occurrence and Distribution of Common Diseases and Pests of U.S. Cannabis: A Survey. Manuscript submitted to Plant Health Progress.

Note: other publications reported by S1084 members as resulting from their involvement with this project can be found in the next 5-year S1084 project outline in NIMSS.