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: 100

Industrial Hemp Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Hemp Fiber & Grain Field Day at Cornell AgriTech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:59
On the latest episode of the Hemp Podcast, we take the show on the road once more — this time to Cornell University's Hemp Fiber and Grain Field Day at the Agritech Campus in Geneva, New York. Among the many voices on th…
Seed to Sovereignty: Voices from Lower Sioux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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MORTON, Minn. — The Lower Sioux Indian Community celebrated the opening of its new hemp-processing facility with a full day of hemp education and demonstrations on September 5, 2024. This processing plant brings the trib…
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This week's podcast is Part Two of our Lancaster County Hemp Circuit Coverage. Editor's note: Hey there, it's me Eric. I'm traveling this week to Minnesota for the Field Day at the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation, so in o…
Pennsylvania Hemp Shines Bright in the Spotlight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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This week on the Hemp Podcast we bring you Part One of our coverage of the Lancaster County Hemp Circuit, a two-day, four-farm hemp event that shone a bright light on hemp in Pennsylvania and attracted attendees from all…
Lancaster County Hemp Circuit: Four Hemp Farms in One Event [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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On this week's Industrial Hemp Podcast, we talk to the organizers of the Lancaster County Hemp Circuit: Sarah Mitchell, Steve Groff and Alyssa Collins. The circuit, an event centered on growing and processing industrial…
Special Message [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:51
Hey there. I made a mistake on this week's episode, so if you hear something weird on the show, go back and downloaded it again. I fixed the issue and uploaded the new file. Thanks! -eric
How Will the AAFCO Vote on Hemp Grain Affect the Industry? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:55
Members of the American Association of Feed Control Officials are scheduled to vote early next month on hemp seed meal as an ingredient for laying hens. Pretty standard stuff, according to the group's executive director,…
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Duration: 41:09
This week on the hemp podcast we saddle up and gallop out to Gordonville, Lancaster County, for Horse Progress Days, a two-day celebration of all things horsepower. Nearly 40,000 people were in attendance July 5-6, mostl…