Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

U.S. Hemp growers are disappointed the recent Coronavirus Food Assistance Program commodity expansion does not include hemp. Last week, the Department of Agriculture expanded the commodities covered under the program that provides COVID-19 relief to producers. CFAP includes commodities that USDA can prove saw losses of five percent or more in the first quarter of 2020. The U.S. Hemp Growers Association says, “We believe our farmers did present evidence of losses to our growers that were five percent or more in the first quarter of 2020.” Hemp is such a newly legal crop that it does not have the advantage of data gathered by USDA agencies. Currently, the data available to understand the market is gathered privately by several data companies. USHGA believes two datasets showed a five percent pricing decrease and more in hemp and hemp products in the first quarter of 2020. The statement says, “All hemp farmers are now wondering what kind of treatment they will receive should there be future problems.”