9% of all hemp acreage in Missouri failed testing in 2020

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, 9% of planted hemp acreage in the program’s first year failed testing. 69% tested within the compliance limits and was eligible for harvest in 2020.

There were 207 Producer Registrations and 78 Agricultural Hemp Propagule and Seed Permits approved and an additional 80 Industrial Hemp Samplers were certified to collect compliance samples in the Missouri Industrial Hemp Program in its inaugural year.

A total of 811 acres were planted in 2020, with approximately two-thirds of the approved producer registrants planting. 55% of all planted acres were dedicated to hemp flower, either CBD, CBG, or other. 37% of acreage was dedicated to hemp fiber.

Chart 1. Intended Use of 2020 Planted Acres, MO Dept. of Agriculture

Chart 1 illustrates additional details of intended use; data presented is based on producer-reported categories.
FIBER 37%, FLORAL (CBD) 46%, FLORAL(CBG/OTHER) 9%, GRAIN 1%, SEED 7%, PROPAGULES 0.2%

The outcome of those planted acres are shown in Chart 2, with 69% of planted acres successfully grown to harvest. A substantial portion of the remaining acres were unharvested due to a variety of factors including pest or disease, weather, lack of labor, lack of market, and unfavorable preliminary test results. A small amount of acres planted in 2020 (0.3%) were carried over into 2021, such as indoor production, or had final statuses pending at the end of the calendar year.

“It was a difficult year on many fronts for the 2020 hemp program. Shutdowns affected many and we saw a much smaller than expected number of people apply for licenses in Missouri’s inaugural hemp season. There are some real success stories in there and I think that it comes down to the pioneers in Missouri’s re-emerged hemp industry and sorting out the relationships we need to have to successfully do what we each can do best to contribute to this venture. There are a lot of improvements we need to make to protect our farmers and the hemp industry’s contribution to the economy of Missouri. I’m very happy to know that we’ve taken the first step. It is Time to build this in a way that participants can thrive and set Missouri as a leader in the country,” said Tyler Morgan of Missouri Hemp Trade Association.

“If we have regulations that put our members at risk then we also have regulations that put our own State economy at further risk. I think we have it in us to protect our citizens and our state from undue harm caused by regulatory uncertainty. We can do it in a way that sets the bar and raises a standard for a thriving industry,” Morgan concluded.