Biden Nominates Vilsack to Run USDA, University Develops Cannabis Genetics Test: Week in Review

President-Elect Joe Biden has nominated Tom Vilsack to run the USDA, a role he also held during the Obama Administration.


This week in hemp news, a man who many hope will be an industry advocate was appointed to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), researchers detailed a new test they’ve developed to determine ratios of CBD vs. THC in cannabis, hemp received expanded insurance options and more.

On Dec. 8, President-Elect Joe Biden nominated Tom Vilsack to run the USDA, which many hemp advocates argue is beneficial for the industry. Vilsack held the same role under President Obama from 2009 to 2017 after serving as governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007. Here are some ways hemp advocates hope Vilsack will advance the industry.

Also on Dec. 8, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable’s Minority Empowerment Committee and the Minority Cannabis Business Association hosted a webinar, “Cultivating Entrepreneurship in the Hemp Industry.” The four-guest panel included a discussion with a grower, processor, doctor and attorney about what small and minority-owned hemp business leadership should know and consider. Senior Editor Patrick Williams has recapped the webinar with 3 major takeaways for these businesses to consider. Read more

Hemp industry businesses are still startups grappling with various issues in a developing industry, according to a recent grower survey released by Hemp Benchmarks. While only 9% of survey respondents reported issues with hot crops, the growers did have various other challenges, including price volatility, pests and more. Read more

The USDA is hoping to quell some challenges facing hemp growers with expanded access to its pilot crop insurance program, the pilot Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) plan, in 2021. The USDA is expanding the program to new states, including Arizona and Texas, and more counties in Tennessee, Colorado, and Kentucky. In 2021, the MPCI will also allow coverage if growers have a contract to purchase the insured hemp and meet all applicable state, tribal, and federal regulations. Read more

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Minnesota are hoping to help resolve the issue of reliable genetics for hemp growers. A team at the university has recently developed a genetic test that can predict whether cannabis will produce mostly cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While the team acknowledges that other similar tests have been developed, the University of Minnesota’s research has discovered on the molecular level why certain cannabis varieties produce more CBD and why others produce more THC. Read more

On the CBD side of the industry, The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking public research on CBD to supplement its ongoing assessment of plant-based treatments of chronic pain in adults. Read more
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