Those who haven’t completed the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s 2021 Hemp Acreage and Production Survey still have time to do so, according to the federal government agency.
“Every response matters to ensure we have accurate data needed to inform decisions about the hemp industry,” National Agriculture Statistics Service acting Administrator Kevin Barnes said in the November release about the program. “This critical survey will set the benchmark for hemp acreage and production to assist regulatory agencies, producers, state governments, processors and other key industry entities.”
The USDA advised anyone who isn’t a hemp producer but takes the survey to answer a few questions at the beginning of the questionnaire to ensure NASS does not contact them regarding hemp in the future. The survey can be completed over the phone, online, or through traditional mail.
Under the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp – a cannabis that contains 0.3% or less THC content by dry weight – can be cultivated under certain conditions.
Hemp is used to produce paper, clothing, textiles, animal feed, plastic, and even food products.
Federal law requires information provided by survey-takers to be kept confidential, with the results to be released earlier next year.
“This inaugural hemp survey will establish a necessary benchmark and provide critically-needed data for the hemp industry,” Barnes said after the initial batch of surveys were sent last month, the website Marijuana Moment reported. “The information collected can help inform producers’ decisions about growing, harvesting, and selling hemp as well as the type of hemp they decide to produce. The resulting data will also foster greater understanding of the hemp production landscape across regulatory agencies, producers, state and Tribal governments, processors, and other key industry entities.”
