In the Hemp Studio with Farmer Steve Groff

In the Hemp Studio with Farmer Steve Groff

Author: Eric Hurlock, Digital Editor December 3, 2025 Duration: 48:49

We have a special in-studio guest this week on the Industrial Hemp Show.

Steve Groff, third-generation Lancaster County farmer and hemp innovator from Holtwood, Pennsylvania, stopped by the Hemp Studio at the Lancaster Farming Office in Ephrata.

We talked about machinery, long fiber, seed spacing, planter design and why farmer economics need to make sense if this industry is ever going to scale.

"Farmers are gonna have to get 10 or 20% more profit per acre for this hemp out the gate," he said.

We also talked about the green decorticator he's been working on.

And when we got back from lunch at Tacos El Gordo in Ephrata, we talked about the recent changes to the federal definition of hemp and what it will mean for the industry.

Steve Groff

https://stevegroff.com

Tacos El Gordo

A special thank-you to Tacos El Gordo for fueling our in-studio conversation during this episode.

https://lancastertacos.com/

News Nuggets

Intoxicating hemp ban deepens uncertainty at some publicly traded cannabis firms

HempToday reports that the federal crackdown on intoxicating hemp-derived THC is reshaping financial forecasts for Curaleaf, Tilray and CBD-only companies, exposing fragile balance sheets across the sector.

Chinese study shows novel pre-treatment could cut energy use in hemp-fiber processing

A research team at Qingdao University has developed a low-temperature, chemical-free fiber pre-treatment that may reduce energy use by up to 60% while improving fiber quality — an encouraging development for textile-grade hemp.

Austria's plan to put hemp flowers under tobacco monopoly is called unconstitutional

Austria is facing a constitutional battle after approving a measure that would place smokable hemp under the national tobacco monopoly, threatening hundreds of hemp shops despite EU rules allowing hemp flower trade below 0.3% THC.

Learn More

Curaleaf Holdings

https://curaleaf.com

Tilray Brands

https://www.tilray.com

Charlotte's Web

https://charlottesweb.com

cbdMD

https://www.cbdmd.com

Qingdao University

https://www.qdu.edu.cn

Austrian Cannabis Association (ÖCB)

https://oecb.at

HempToday

https://hemptoday.net

Thanks to our Sponsors

IND HEMP

https://indhemp.com

Forever Green / KP4 Hemp Cutter

https://hempcutter.com

Americhanvre Cast Hemp

https://americhanvre.com


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
10th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Gathers Many Voices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
This week's hemp podcast is a recap of the 10th annual NoCo Hemp Expo in Estes Park, Colorado, April 11-13, where industry stakeholders gathered to collaborate, commiserate and celebrate the state of hemp in 2024. The ep…
Experimental Hemp Micro Processing With Steve Groff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:04
On this week's hemp podcast, Lancaster Farming talks to Steve Groff from Cedar Meadow Farm in Holtwood, Lancaster County, where he is getting ready to plant 70 acres of industrial hemp. "This year it's all fiber. And we'…
The Bee's Knees: Ken Meyer on the Buzz About Hemp in South Dakota [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:49
In this week's hemp podcast, Lancaster Farming speaks with Ken Meyer, beekeeper and hemp processor from South Dakota. Meyer and his family run a fourth-generation beekeeping business as well as the state's first industri…
Right Coast Hemp Hosts Hempcrete Workshops in New Jersey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:21
On this bonus episode of the Hemp Podcast, we talk to Mike Mercadante from Right Coast Hemp in Manahawkin, New Jersey, where the company is holding the first of a series of hands-on hempcrete work shops, May 10-12. The w…
Mill26 is Making 100% Hemp Paper in Upstate New York [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:46
Hemp Podcast guest James "Jimmy" Cottrell II is a fourth-generation paper maker at family-owned Cottrell Paper in Saratoga County, New York. He started cutting the grass in high school and began working at the mill after…
Good News from the National Hemp Association [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
This is a special weekend edition of the Hemp Podcast. Lancaster Farming speaks with Geoff Whaling, chair of the National Hemp Association. I will update the details of this episode soon. For now, enjoy the audio. Learn…
Jean Lotus Trains an Eagle Eye on Hemp Building Worldwide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:38
Jean Lotus is an award-winning investigative journalist and publisher of HempBuild Magazine. She is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she has been covering the hemp industry since 2017, and is our guest on this week…

«1...678910