Hemp in Pennsylvania: Commodity Crop or Shadow Cannabis Market?

Hemp in Pennsylvania: Commodity Crop or Shadow Cannabis Market?

Author: Eric Hurlock, Digital Editor February 2, 2026 Duration: 33:32

We're back. Season 9 of the Hemp Show is here.

In this season opener of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we'll take you inside a hearing organized by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania that was meant to explain the hemp industry to state lawmakers — and ended up revealing something else entirely.

The original intent of hemp in the Farm Bill was about agriculture and manufacturing, but the conversation has been dominated by intoxicating cannabinoids, chemical definitions and law enforcement concerns.

This episode weaves together testimony from regulators, business owners and legislators and ultimately asks a simple but important question: When "hemp" is used to describe everything, what does the word actually mean anymore?

Will farmers who want to grow fiber and grain get the short end of the stick again?

Listen to what the hearing revealed and why clear definitions may be the key to Pennsylvania's hemp future.

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Learn More:

Pennsylvania Hemp Program (PA Dept. of Agriculture)

https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/industrial_hemp

Video of the Hemp Industry Hearing (Pennsylvania Farm Show)

https://vimeo.com/1154816396/314acd404f

Center for Rural Pennsylvania (Hearing Organizer)

https://www.rural.pa.gov

2018 Farm Bill – Hemp Definition (USDA)

https://www.usda.gov/farmbill

Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast Archive

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/podcasts/hemp

Thanks to our Sponsors:

IND HEMP

https://indhemp.com

Americhanvre

https://americhanvre.com

King's AgriSeeds

https://kingsagriseeds.com

Hempcutter.com

https://hempcutter.com

HEMI

hempinitiatives.org/


There’s a quiet revolution happening in fields and factories, and it’s centered on a single, versatile plant. Industrial Hemp Podcast, guided by Eric Hurlock, the Digital Editor at Lancaster Farming, moves beyond the headlines to explore what’s actually happening on the ground. This isn’t just theoretical discussion; it’s a direct line to the people driving the industry forward. Each episode features conversations with the farmers who are planting and harvesting these crops, facing very real agronomic challenges and opportunities. You’ll also hear from researchers, processors, and policy experts who are shaping the future of hemp for fiber, grain, and other industrial applications. The dialogue digs into the practicalities-from planting techniques and harvesting equipment to market trends, regulatory hurdles, and technological innovations that are changing the game. It’s a clear-eyed look at an agricultural sector finding its footing, reported by journalists with deep roots in farming communities. For anyone curious about the business, science, and sheer hard work behind industrial hemp, this podcast serves as an essential, grounded resource. Tune in for honest talk that cuts through the hype and gets to the root of this growing field.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Industrial Hemp Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Hempcrete Hero: Little House on the Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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We have an outbuilding at home — we call it the Little House. It's a small old barn that sits out in our back yard, maybe 25 feet from the back door. It was a barn for animals at one point, then a garage, then an apartme…
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This week on the Hemp Show, we continue our hemp adventure in Poland, catching up with American expat Michael Klepacz, owner of Natural Materials Unlimited. Klepacz sits near the end of the hemp supply chain — he doesn't…
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This is part ten of a ten-part podcast series documenting the European Industrial Hemp Association's 23rd Annual Conference in Poznan, Poland, at the Institute of Fiber Plants and Medicinal Medicine, June 10-12. Bob Hoba…
Julia Bialecka — Replacing Styrofoam with Hemp and Mycelium [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This is part six of a ten-part podcast series documenting the European Industrial Hemp Association's 23rd Annual Conference in Poznan, Poland, at the Institute of Fiber Plants and Medicinal Medicine, June 10-12. Julia Bi…
Colin Steddy — Soil, Carbon, and Grassroots Farming Down Under [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:06
This is part five of a ten-part podcast series documenting the European Industrial Hemp Association's 23rd Annual Conference in Poznan, Poland, at the Institute of Fiber Plants and Medicinal Medicine, June 10-12. Colin S…
Jan Slaski — Hemp Breeding on the Canadian Prairies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:15
This is part four of a ten-part podcast series documenting the European Industrial Hemp Association's 23rd Annual Conference in Poznan, Poland, at the Institute of Fiber Plants and Medicinal Medicine, June 10-12. Jan Sla…