USDA to study hemp acreage and production 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will survey producers throughout the U.S. as part of its hemp acreage and production survey.

The survey collects information on total planted and harvested area, yield, production, and value of hemp in the United States. Data will be collected for hemp grown in the open and under protection.

“This inaugural survey will set the benchmark for hemp acreage and production to assist regulatory agencies, producers, state governments, processors, and other key industry entities,” said King Whetstone, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. “This data will also support the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to administer and monitor states and Indian tribes who are approved under the 2018 Farm Bill to grow domestic hemp that will supply production for this emerging industry.”

Farmers are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Also, within the next few weeks, NASS representatives will contact selected growers to arrange telephone interviews to complete the survey.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.