Let's Talk Hemp

Tag: hemp industry

  • What’s Next for the Hemp Industry? Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Expo Highlights Innovation; Call for Unity

    What’s Next for the Hemp Industry? Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Expo Highlights Innovation; Call for Unity

    By Heather Collins

    2020 has been a pivotal year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has made a tremendous impact nationwide and globally. These uncertain times have forced businesses, farmers, restaurants, and the hemp community to shift quickly and respond to safety concerns to protect industries.

    The producers of the NoCo Hemp Expo and the Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Trade Show made the hard decision to reschedule NoCo7 to the following year, which will now take place March 25-27, 2021.

    “The decision to reschedule NoCo7 was not easy, but we felt the need to protect everyone’s health and safety. This community is so collaborative. That’s what’s going to make this industry stand out as we look towards the future,” said Morris Beegle, Let’s Talk Hemp Media Co-founder and Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo. “We’re excited about in-person events, but until we get the green light, we will continue to plan virtual conferences that further educates and unites our industry.”

    Additionally, NoCo Hemp Expo producers are expanding multimedia platforms, including a year in review, fall virtual conference & trade show, a hemp-themed digital magazine, podcasts, weekly newsletter, and more. Stay tuned for additional details on NoCo7 at www.nocohempexpo.com.

    SUMMER SOLSTICE Conference Highlights Innovation; Call for Unity

    As NoCo7 organizers chart a new course for the second half of this year, the recently held Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Trade Show, held June 16-19, 2020, was well received.

    More than thirty guest speakers, including presenting sponsor PureHemp Technologies, kicked off conversations centered on the evolution of hemp and its potential during these ever-changing times. Participants accessed six live webcast Supersessions, which covered important topics relevant to the industrial hemp market today:

    ·        Innovation: Technology Advances Across the Hemp Supply Chain

    ·        Investor Outlook & the Financial Future of The Hemp Industry

    ·        Food Sovereignty, Nutrition & Hemp’s Role

    ·        Bast & Hurd: Industrial Hemp Opportunities in Building, Biocomposites, Biofuels & More

    ·        The 2020 Hemp Crop: Harvesting, Drying, Handling & Finding Markets

    Among the highlights included an earnest discussion on the arbitrary .3% vs. the 1% solution in which hemp advocates declared the current ruling as a roadblock for farmers. “We need to change federal guidelines while working with the USDA. We can do that by telling the stories of the farmers. Their stories will hopefully get us there so we can stop decriminalizing the pioneers of our industry. Without the farmers, we have nothing,” says Doug Fine, bestselling author, hemp farmer, and renowned industry advocate.

    Beegle agreed, “There is so much passion in our industry, and this .3% burden should not be on the farmer’s shoulders. Our only option in getting legislation passed is to stand together. We know there is a better solution out there, we need to unite on all fronts.”

    Additionally, panelists discussed hemp’s potential in using the entire plant for fiber, textiles, building materials and more, and addressed hemp as a key ingredient for food sovereignty.

    Participants also heard from investors regarding hemp’s economic outlook and viability as a commodity beyond the CBD market. “Fiber and hurd are the next big thing. Before, it was all about CBD and smokable flower. Let’s get the right suppliers with the right buyers and bring the best products to market,” said Julie Lerner, CEO, PanXchange, Inc. “We are in a nascent stage, and we still have some growing up to do, but need to be taken seriously.”

    Geoff Whaling, a hemp industry leader, offered sound advice for hemp farmers and manufacturers during these uncertain times. “Buckle down. Believe in your business and do not let anyone test your conviction,” said Whaling, Collective Growth Corporation. “In the words of a famous quote, ‘The dreams never die, just the dreamers.”

    Dreaming big might be the plan for many hemp farmers this year, but dreaming too big without the right strategy could be troublesome. “I encourage every farmer out there right now to talk about their end-use. Have a plan in place for the hemp you put in the field today,” said Andrew Bish, CMO, Bish Enterprises. “Decisions made later are not good – sort it out now, before it’s too late.”

    Traceability and supply chain were also significant points of discussion during the conference. Panelist Joe Witte urged companies to integrate an authentic supply chain and one that is trustworthy. “Embrace traceability because the companies and manufacturers that realize that traceability is everything are the ones who will win.”

    Sustainability and Food of the Future

    Hemp plays a vital role in sustainability and has the potential to be a superfood. It is high in antioxidants and could appeal to people everywhere for its health benefits. However, there are still some challenges that food brands face in order for them to include hemp as an ingredient in food.

    “We are putting a chokehold on this planet with the limitations. We need to be building the relationship with this plant,” said Winona LaDuke, hemp farmer, and nationally known environmental activist. “It’s all about cooperation these days. We need to learn together and form the next economy in equality and in our food system.”

    Investors believe that there is still a learning curve when it comes to hemp, yet they remain hopeful. “The birth of an industry doesn’t happen overnight. Entrepreneurs and investors need to recalculate, especially right now,” explained Patrick Rea, CEO, and Founder, Canopy Boulder. “Hemp companies need to take a look and a lesson from the natural products industry and study its success, including dynamics, value propositions, and growth over time.”

    If you are interested in learning more about the Experience Hemp SUMMER SOLSTICE Virtual Conference & Trade Show, visit the content Library and viewing pre-recorded archive footage from around the world.

    What’s Next: Fall Event – WAFBA Virtual Conference and Trade Show

    We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA), in conjunction with NoCo Hemp Expo and Let’s Talk Hemp media are also pleased to announce plans for a third virtual event coming this fall on November 11-13, 2020. Details and registration will open soon.

  • Protecting Your Hemp Intellectual Property

    Protecting Your Hemp Intellectual Property

    Protecting Your Hemp Intellectual Property

    The non-profit organization Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF) and The Fat Pig Society (FPS) want to invite you to participate in a third party neutral project that will protect  hemp farmers by accelerating the identification, validation and listing of clonally maintained CBD hemp plants. We intend to help identify hemp plants with the highest production and the lowest risk, while ensuring that your  Intellectual property rights and royalties are protected.

    Intellectual property (IP)  protection for hemp varieties is rapidly becoming the new hot spot in the hemp green rush. At the same time, hemp regulators are cracking down on the sales of seeds and clones that put farmers at risk. Regulations that mandate hemp to be a certified variety as defined by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (“AOSCA”) has already passed in many States.

    The Hemp industry needs a third party neutral Certification organization, like Underwriters Laboratory Certification for electrical appliances. An unsafe appliance can kill a consumer, and high THC hemp can kill a farm.

    We established a simple two-step process in order to participate:

    1. Sign the attached  “Material transfer agreement” and pay the $175 fee per plant ($165 for >100; $150 for >1000). Please make checks payable to Fat Pig Society with Genomic Selection on the Memo line.
    2. Assure seed delivery by May 15th, 2020 or clone delivery by June 1st, 2020 to the following address: Fat Pig Society  317 North Hollywood Street Fort Collins, CO 80521. All clones must be pest free.

    Our team will cultivate your plants in the Certified Organic container test field, and with the Organic Integrated Pest Management developed by the Colorado State University (CSU).  Thus, all of the plants in our program will be USDA certified organic.

    You will receive two (2) copies of each plant that will be propagated and clonally maintained in vegetative state that will serve as your future foundation plant stock. You will also receive a copy of the chemotype testing results, and a copy of all of the phenotypic (physical) traits we measured. This data contains all the necessary information to enter the Colorado Certified Hemp trials,  file for a listing with the  Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) and to file for Intellectual Property at USDA/PVP or USPTO.

    Besides being part of the first-of its kind program in the entire country, other benefits of participating in this project include:

    -We can identify  if you were cross pollinated with marijuana, kill them, and return the low risk plants for breeders to restart your seed line (or clones).

    – Our project will help you shorten the path to seed stabilization by growing a seed line and allow you to pick out those closest to the  breeding target for the next breeding cycle.

    – You can decide if you want to proceed to file IP or AOSCA, and we will provide the application materials, and all of the necessary information about filing fees estimates, and legal costs. Please Note that we can not fill out applications for plants that test >0.3% THC.

    – the data collected about your plants will be part of scientific studies conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder in collaboration with AGF.

    – If we identify a patentable clone variety, you can proceed to full commercialization, Phase 2, of this program. All participants will receive the estimated costs (including the estimated legal fees) and all forms for this next step. Phase 2 includes: Filing for Intellectual property protection- IP; filing for variety listing with AOSCA; entry in the Colorado Certified Hemp  program; plant genome sequencing with posterior analysis by scientists from CU Boulder; patent defense through gene sequencing to identify unauthorized use; and field trials to identify secondary factors like cannabinoid yield per acre, insect and disease resistance, terpenes, etc.

    Meet the Team:

    Terry Moran– Project Director- Created and regulated the Nation’s first Certified Hemp Seed Program at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and has an extensive background in plant breeding, IP, and listing with AOSCA.

    Dr. Daniela Vergara, PhD- President and founder of the Agricultural Genomics Foundation, a 501(C)3 non profit. Daniela is one of the world leaders in Cannabis genomics.

    Barbara Campbell–  One of the top plant patent attorneys in the USA, that will guide breeders and growers to the  best path to IP, including options such as ‘Plant Variety Protection’ through the USDA and ‘Utility or Plant patents’ at the US Patent Office

    Bill Althouse– Founder at Fat Pig Society and a  Certified organic hemp Farmer.  Bill has been selecting for the highest quality hemp CBD clones for over 13 years, has screened over 10,000 individual plants, and has built the test platform and protocols to screen CBD plants at scale.

    Iginia Boccalandro– Co-founder of Fat Pig Society and hemp farmer for 8 years. With her extremely approachable personality and knowledge of farming in both the US and South America, Iginia will be in charge of the public relations and administrative work.

    Contact- Iginia – 970-325-6556  Email fatpigsociety@gmail.com

    NEWS BREIFS

    The Hemp Manifesto

    Seminal Hemp Book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Available in Digital Format
    By The Jack Herer Foundation

    EU Hemp Association Publishes Manifesto for Post-Pandemic World
    By The European Industrial Hemp Association

    Myco students

    Student Builds “Myco-noe” Out of Reishi Mushrooms
    By NBC News

    NoCo Hemp Expo EARTH WEEK Conference Content Available Online through April 24
    By Let’s Talk Hemp

     

    HEADLINE NEWS

    Colorado Names April 7 Charlotte Figi Day to Honor Girl Who Inspired the CBD Movement
    By Westword

    Hemp Extractor Who Received Stimulus Assistance Shares Tips for Others
    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Bob Hoban: Heightened Need for Collaboration with Stimulus Dollars Out of Reach
    By The Hoban Law Group

    Last Prisoner Project to Supply Liquid Disinfectant to Prisons
    By Benzinga

    During COVID-19 Crisis, Hemp Could See Resurgence as America’s Best Wartime Crop
    By Miami New Times

    Dr. Jane Goodall Partners on Hemp Brand to Benefit the Jane Goodall Institute
    By Green Entrepreneur

    FOOD, BEVERAGE & SUPPLEMENTS

    Functional Remedies Names “America’s Heart Healthy Doc” Dr. Joel Kahn as Brand Ambassador
    By BusinessWire

    Pennsylvania CBD Wholesaler Expands Team with Former Zappos Executive
    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Nature’s Path Donates Organic, Hemp Foods to Frontline Healthcare Workers
    By Global News Canada

    Ojai Energetics Earns USDA Certified Organic Seal for Water Soluble CBD Tincture
    By Ojai Energetics

    FASHION, FIBER AND CONSTRUCTION

    Mohawk Launches “Renewal Hemp” Paper Made with 30% Hemp Fiber
    By Mohawk Fine Papers

    Hemp Fiber Processing Is No Longer Just an Idea – It’s Here
    By Textile World

    Texas-based Company Contracts for the Construction of the Largest Hemp Decorticator in the U.S.
    By Associated Press

    FARMING AND AGRICULTURE

    USDA Approves Hemp Plans for Florida, Kansas and Three Native American Tribes
    By Marijuana Moment

    Illinois Reports that Farmers Harvested 73% of Hemp Acres Planted in 2019
    By Illinois.gov

    CW Hemp Develops Lindorea Seed Named for American Farmers
    By CW Hemp

    U.S. Group Seeks Approval of Hemp Seed Meal for Chicken Feed
    By Feed Navigator

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Nicaragua Farming Cooperative to Grow Hemp for California Company
    By Textile World

    UK CBD Manufacturer Hit with Warning Letter from FDA Over Coronavirus Claims
    By FDA

    Icelandic Farmers Now Allowed to Import Industrial Hemp Seeds
    By Hemp Industry Daily

    Profile: Australia’s Growing Industrial Hemp Industry
    By Health Europa

    EVENTS

    NoCo Hemp Expo EARTH WEEK Virtual Conference & Trade Show, April 22-24, 2020

    NoCo Hemp Expo Expands 2020 Show at National Western Complex in Denver, August 6-8, 2020

    Diversify Hemp Meetup at NoCo Hemp Expo, August 6-8, 2020

    Pre-Order Your Copy of Doug Fine’s New Book, American Hemp Farmer

    American Hemp Farmer, the sixth book from author Doug Fine, follows the rigors and pleasures of an entire hemp season from soil preparation and genetics acquisition through harvest and regenerative marketing. It’s immersive. It’s wildly funny. The follow up to Doug Fine’s bestselling Hemp Bound, American Hemp Farmer pulls no punches, and because it is written by an actual hemp farmer and entrepreneur, it tells you what you need to know if you want to join the hemp renaissance.

    Pre-Order American Hemp Farmer Here
    https://www.tatteredcover.com/book/9781603589192

    About Colorado Hemp Company
    The Colorado Hemp Company, the producer of the 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo (NoCo7), is a leading organization for the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization in the USA. The entire team is committed to researching and developing alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe. The 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo will take place August 6-8, 2020, at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO.

    Contact
    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@nocohempexpo.com

  • USDA Draft Hemp Rules Await White House Approval

    USDA Draft Hemp Rules Await White House Approval

    While USDA has up to a year to finalize regulations governing hemp cultivation in the U.S., the agency submitted draft federal rules to the White House in mid-September to assure states and farmers they can participate in the 2020 growing season.

    By Steven Hoffman

    The hemp industry is anxiously awaiting federal rules for the cultivation of hemp in the United States, and it may soon get its wish. In mid-September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) completed a draft of proposed rules for growing hemp and submitted the document to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

    The new USDA regulations are expected to clarify changes that were included in the U.S. Farm Bill, which was passed into law in December 2018. Currently, most state hemp growing programs are operating under older rules included in the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill. The new USDA rules are expected to provide clarity on the legal definition of hemp and reinforce that hemp has been removed from the controlled substances list by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). According to UPI, the new rules also are expected to designate hemp as a commodity crop, simplify rules for interstate hemp commerce, and allow for tribal nations and U.S. territories to participate in hemp growing programs.

    Originally scheduled for release on August 1 in advance of the 2020 growing season, William Richmond, USDA’S Director of the Specialty Crops Program in the Agriculture Marketing Service, informed attendees of the American Herbal Products Association’s Hemp and CBD Congress held in Denver in mid-August that the regulations were delayed in part because USDA is struggling with a requirement in the 2018 Farm Bill for a national THC testing protocol. “Our goal is to provide a consistent, easy-to-follow regulatory framework around hemp production,” Richmond said at the AHPA Congress.

    Other issues impacting the rapidly emerging hemp industry include the availability of crop insurance and banking services for farmers, approval pesticides for use on hemp crops, and the import of hemp seeds, Geoff Whaling, Chair of the Washington, DC-based National Hemp Association, told UPI. Whaling predicted the USDA rules would be released “in a matter of weeks.”

    According to Hemp Industry Daily, the USDA regulations will be temporary for the first year, allowing states and farmers around the country to participate in the 2020 growing season and identify and iron out any small fixes. While the 2018 Farm Bill calls for federal authorities to allow states to set their own rules for hemp production, as long as certain criteria are met, states will need to get USDA approval first, a step, Hemp Industry Daily says, that won’t happen until after the national guidelines are released.

    According to UPI, the OMB has scheduled meetings to receive initial public comments regarding the USDA hemp regulations. Once released, members of the hemp industry will be invited to submit feedback before final rules are issued.

    The OMB, the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States, is responsible for producing the President’s Budget, but also measures the quality of agency programs, policies and procedures to make sure they comply with the president’s policies. OMB also coordinates inter-agency policy initiatives, according to Wikipedia. Current OMB Director Mick Mulvaney also currently serves as Acting White House Chief of Staff for the Trump administration.

    Photo: Unsplash.com

    # # #

    Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing brand marketing, PR, social media, and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and  Southern Hemp Expo, and Hoffman serves as Editor of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

  • 27 Andrew Bish – From Cornhuskers to Hemphuskers

    27 Andrew Bish – From Cornhuskers to Hemphuskers

    In this episode, we speak with Andrew Bish from Bish Enterprises and Hemp Harvest Works.

    We discuss the politics of hemp in Nebraska, Bish Enterprises’s new hemp harvesting technologies, and how the government and private companies are resisting the progress of the hemp industry.

    You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave us a Rating and Review!

     

    Let's Talk Hemp on Apple Podcsts

    “It’s time for the hemp industry to step up and say: enough of the bullshit!” – Morris Beegle on discrimination against the industry

    Show Notes:

    • What LB657 means for Nebraska hemp farmers
    • On the resistance to hemp farming in Nebraska
    • Whether or not feral hemp is harvestable in Nebraska
    • On Bish Enterprises’s new hemp harvesting tools
    • How drone technology is changing hemp agriculture
    • How Bish enterprises is supporting the Hemp Is Legal campaign
    • How the government and private companies are resisting the progress of the hemp industry

    Links Mentioned:

    Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Hemp Harvest Works

  • The Year of Hemp

    The Year of Hemp

    The Year of Hemp: New Farm Bill Ignites Market for All Things Hemp, Showcased at the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, March 28-30, Denver

    Featuring an Investor Forum, Business Conference, Farm Symposium and an Impressive Lineup of Workshops and Education During the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo.

    DENVER, Colorado (March 20, 2019) – Hemp growers, producers, manufacturers, investors and others are feeling bullish in 2019, since the passage in late December of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Better known as the Farm Bill, the legislation championed by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was nothing less than historic, in that it legalized for the first time in over 80 years the commercial cultivation and sale of industrial hemp, defined as containing less than 0.3% THC. Since then, the market for all things hemp has taken off.

    And, the exploding world of hemp will be on display at the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo, March 28-30, 2019, at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center in Denver. Now in its 6th year, the NoCo Hemp Expo is the largest gathering of hemp industry professionals under one roof. Given the excitement about the market today, nearly 10,000 attendees are expected.

    Indeed, the legalization of industrial hemp has been a boon for independent natural foods and specialty retailers, said Loren Israelsen, President of the United Natural Products Alliance, an expert on regulatory law, and a featured keynote speaker at NoCo6. “For smaller stores, this category has been a lifeline for them as they battle to maintain foot traffic in the stores as online sales continue to grow,” said Israelsen, who will present his perspectives on hemp, CBD, dietary supplements and the FDA at NoCo6’s Business Conference on Friday, March 29.

    According to Hemp Business Journal’s new report, The Global State of Hemp: 2019 Industry Outlook, U.S. sales of hemp products – from full-spectrum hemp extract and CBD products to hemp foods, textiles, building materials, bioplastics and more – estimated at $1 billion in 2018, are projected to grow 27% annually to reach $2.6 billion by 2022. Global hemp retail sales totaled $3.7 billion in 2018 and are projected to grow to $5.7 billion by 2020.

    NoCo Hemp Expo Program Highlights

    Featured speakers for this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo include Colorado Governor and hemp advocate Jared Polis; Native American tribal leader turned hemp farmer Winona LaDuke; David Bronner, 5th generation CEO of legendary soap maker Dr. Bronner’s; renowned market researcher Dr. Michelle Barry; regenerative agriculture and soil expert Ray Archuleta; hemp expert and author Doug Fine; hemp entrepreneurs Dani Billings of Nature’s Root and Janel Ralph of Palmetto Harmony; and other leaders breaking new ground in the industrial hemp market. For a complete list of speakers, visit here and for a full program schedule, visit here.

    Other NoCo6 event highlights include:

    Hemp Industry Daily Investor Forum, Thursday, March 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Legal updates and insights; investment trends and deal flow; opportunities and investments; networking; luncheon and more. Visit here for info.

    Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference, Friday, March 29, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Vertical integration; policy and regulation; compliance and certification; processing and manufacturing; market research; the global business of hemp. Visit here for info.

    Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium, Saturday, March 30, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Regenerative farming; soil health; genetics; new technology and equipment; regulations and compliance. Visit here for info.

    Expo Hall, Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
    With more than 225 exhibitors, NoCo6’s Expo Hall is open to B2B visitors on March 29 and March 30. The Expo Hall is open to consumers and the public on March 30. Features include the Bish Equipment Zone, HempToday International Alley, Science & Tech Spotlight, Adept Payments Workshop and Education Stage, EnviroTextiles Fashion Parade, Blu Nahulu Art Zone and more. Visit here for info.

    NoCo After Party, Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – Midnight
    Hang with friends at the Hemp Renaissance Ball After Party on Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – midnight at the Renaissance Hotel – Denver Stapleton. Buy tickets here.

    Press Conference, Friday, March 29, 9:00 am – 9:45 am
    For media attendees, NoCo Hemp Expo will host a press conference on Friday, March 29, 2019, onsite at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center at 9:00 – 9:45 am, before the conference and exhibition hall opens. To qualify for a Press Pass, journalists, editors and media must complete a press application here.

    “With more than 25,000 industrial uses, hemp is a gift to humanity and the environment,” said Morris Beegle, co-producer of NoCo6. “We have an incredible opportunity to build the kind of sustainable, regenerative, socially responsible marketplace we want, and NoCo Hemp Expo is where the hemp community convenes to plan and prepare for a bright future.”

    Tickets Are On Sale Now

    Tickets are available for the Pre-Conference Hemp Industry Daily Investor Forum, Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference, Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium and B2B Industry Day in the Bluebird Botanicals Expo Hall. For all ticket levels, information and to purchase tickets, visit our website.

     

    Thank You to Our Sponsors

    GenCanna™ is the Presenting Sponsor of NoCo6.

    Business Conference Sponsors include: Elixinol, New Hope Network, Benmar Extractions, Hoban Law Group, Lilu’s Garden, McAllister Garfield P.C., Frank Robison Law Group, and Steep Fuze Coffee.

    Farm Symposium Sponsors include; Bluhen Botanicals, Bish Enterprises, Colorado Breeders Depot, Front Range Biosciences, Hempsac, New West Genetics, ProVerde Labs and Rad Extracts. Meet all of our Sponsor Partners here: https://nocohempexpo.com/sponsors/.

     

    About the NoCo Hemp Expo

    The 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo and founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting and advocacy. NoCo6 provides support to nonprofit organizations including Bee Heroic; the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary in June 2019. Learn more at NocoHempExpo.com, or visit us on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, #NoCo6. 

    # # #

    Contact
    Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
    Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@nocohempexpo.com

  • Happy Hemp Giving!

    Happy Hemp Giving!

    By Hunter Buffington

    As we begin 2018, I wanted to investigate all the ways that you can support Industrial Hemp through donations. This blog will focus on two types of nonprofit organizations. The first 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofits, are organizations that focus on public charity and education and ALL donations are tax exempt. Another type of nonprofit organization common in Industrial Hemp is the 501(c)6. A trade association allowed to work on public policy and legislation driven by its members. These organizations accept and also depend on donations to meet their budgets; while donations are not tax deductible, they can be written off as a business expense.

    One of the most recognizable and well-known Hemp nonprofit organizations is Hemp History Week a 501(c)3 which works together with grassroots organizations, farmers, producers and advocates … to change Federal policy on Industrial Hemp in the United States. Connect with them online to participate in the 9th Annual Hemp History Week, June 4th-10th, 2018. Vote Hemp another 501(c)3 is a nationally based grassroots organization that focuses on supporting “…changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to grow the crop…Our ultimate goal is having hemp grown on a commercial scale in the U.S. once again and for the crop to be able to be processed here as well”. The National Hemp Association a 501(c)3 that focuses on Hemp as a commodity and acts “To support the growth and development of all aspects of the industrial hemp industry…dedicated to shifting the perception of hemp as being an alternative crop to a mainstream commodity.”

    The Hemp Industries Association, a 501(c)6 nonprofit trade association with chapters across the country including a chapter in Colorado. The Colorado Hemp Industries Association, formed in 2017 is a 501(c)6 “membership based nonprofit trade group that represents the interests of the hemp industry and to encourage the research and development of new products made from Industrial Hemp”. COHIA supports the mission of the national organization but focuses on hemp policy, economic development and trade development in Colorado.

    In Colorado we have a number of 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations working to educate the public including: the Industrial Hemp Research Foundation, located in Denver the IHRF works to build the body of knowledge about the known and potential applications of Industrial Hemp. Based in Colorado Springs, the Realm of Caring “has a mission to improve lives through Research, Education, and Advocacy… Through Advocacy, we spread the truth about cannabis and expand access to those in need.”

    The NoCo Hemp Expo has two favorite organizations that (while not in Colorado) exemplify our vision for Industrial Hemp. With a holistic understanding of the Hemp plant and its attributes we love the Wumaniti Earth Native Sanctuary in Taos NM, a 501(c)3 with a mission “to educate and promote the healing properties of hemp that support agricultural and sustainable economic lifestyles while healing both the earth’s land and our physical bodies”. This organization combines all of the social, economic and environmental outcomes that can be made real through Hemp.

    We are also proud to recognize the 2018 NoCo Hemp Expo nonprofit benefactor Athletes for Care. A 501(c)3 formed by a group of pro athletes “who are uniting as one voice to advocate for research, education, and compassion when addressing important health issues facing athletes and the public at large. The A4C elevates the conversation about the benefits of Hemp by providing retired athletes a community of support and access to Hemp related care. These athletes are the best spokespeople for the health benefits of Hemp and work with us to educate the public on the beneficial use of Industrial Hemp for health and wellness. Join us at the NoCo5 Collaboration Lounge to learn more about these organizations and how to support their work and how you can get involved in the movement to bring Industrial Hemp back to the United States.

     

  • Hemp Can Help Heal Hawaii’s Agricultural Past

    Hemp Can Help Heal Hawaii’s Agricultural Past

    On June 10th hemp enthusiasts from around the world will descend on Hilo, Hawaii to discuss innovations in the hemp industry and its exciting future on the islands. The Hawaii Hemp Conference will host a mini expo and marketplace and a Let’s Talk Hemp speaker series. One focus of the conference will be the history of agriculture on the Hawaiian islands and how modern hemp farming can help repair the damage done by centuries of degradation.

    Hawaii has a complex agricultural history. After colonization, Hawaii quickly went from sustainable farming practices to industrial monoculture sugarcane operations. As Hawaiian’s farming methods and culture were being eroded by this new system so too were their soils and landscapes.

    Traditional Hawaiian culture revolves around farming and the ancient ahupua’a system. An Ahupua’a is a pie-shaped section of land that starts at the top of a mountain and extends down to the sea. The ahupua’a were farmed in terraces and were how Hawaiian communities were organized.

    Today most food is imported to the islands, but originally Islanders had to subsist on what they could cultivate on the ahupua’as. This necessitated an advanced farming system revolving around the staple taro that included bananas, sweet potatoes, and coconuts, as well as many others including sugarcane.

    It didn’t take long for the first colonizers to notice the natives farming sugarcane. Very quickly after, many parts of the islands were cleared for monocrops of sugarcane. The industrial sugarcane operations that dominated Hawaiian society for almost 100 years had a tragic environmental and societal effect on the islands. The plantations used damaging farming methods and forced labor that caused deforestation, left the soil depleted, corrupted waterways, and eroded the traditional culture.

    The last of the destructive sugarcane operations has closed and now Hawaii is looking to the future and how they can provide food for residents and repair the environmental damage. Doug Fine, sustainable lifestyle pioneer and hemp industry leader says, “No matter what direction Hawaii’s farmers and entrepreneurs take, Step One is soil rebuilding after a century and a half of monoculture, over-grazing, or other soil issues. The fact that hemp not only helps rebuild soil but provides a valuable harvest from season one makes it integral to Hawaii’s agricultural Renaissance.”

    The governor of Hawaii, David Ige, has made food security and self-sufficiency a top priority for his administration, and hemp can play a large role in this need, as well as in other exciting and creative solutions to Hawaii’s challenges. Says Fine, “Hawaii has extra issues that mandate food and industrial independence: namely shipping costs. So on the Hawaiian islands, we might very well see the early adoption of high tech hemp applications, such as 3D printing of auto parts, as well as large-scale hemp cultivation for human and livestock feed.”

    Addressing these needs and the opportunity for hemp to be a solution will be a theme of the conference. Hemp’s merits as a low-input crop lend itself beautifully to large-scale and small-scale terrace farming where the soil and environment need to be repaired. Two panels will directly tackle these issues, After Sugar: Making a Living from the Soil and Soil Building and Soil Healing On A Volcanic Island Chain. While these discussions are specific to Hawaii, the talks will have broad implications for anyone working on hemp farming where the land has been compromised from a history of agricultural degradation.

    Get you tickets now for the Hawaii Hemp Conference to learn more about the amazing opportunities for hemp on the islands (and the mainland) and meet with others in the field doing wonderful work with hemp.

    The Hawaii Hemp Conference is produced by Colorado Hemp Company and  presented by Functional Remedies, which cultivates organic hemp and a produces whole plant processed full spectrum hemp extracts.

    Laurie Hanselmann is a writer, nonprofit management guru, and lover of the natural world. She enjoys exploring how to find more meaning and connection in her life as a ‘Type B’ person through self improvement and productivity hacks. You can find her at persistentlybetter.com.

  • Colorado to Form Hemp Industries Association (HIA) State Chapter

    Colorado to Form Hemp Industries Association (HIA) State Chapter

    FORT COLLINS, CO, February 04, 2017 — Colorado HIA embarks on efforts to become official HIA state chapter. Behind this venture is a collaboration of farmers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, artists, producers and community members, all hoping to lead the way in state and federal hemp standards and legislation.

    This initiative started off with a series of state wide informational sessions, inviting the public to learn more about Colorado’s rapidly growing hemp industry, as well to take part in the Chapter’s formation. HIACO offers a productive outlet for individuals of any background to make social, legislative, and environmental change.

    Fueling HIACO is the potential behind the plant. Serving as an extremely sustainable and versatile crop, hemp can produce an array of commodities including food, cosmetics, construction materials and pharmaceuticals. Colorado residents have already taken advantage of this opportunity with 312 active registrants growing on 8988 acres.

    HIACO wraps up its final informational meetings February 4th in Grand Junction and February 9th in the Denver area. To learn more about HIACO and their upcoming events, visit https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoHIA/.

    About HIACO:
    The mission of the HIA, a 501(c)(6) membership-based non-profit trade group, is to represent the interests of the hemp industry and to encourage the research and development of new products made from industrial hemp, low-THC oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis. To become an official HIA member, visit https://www.thehia.org/join-us or https://hiaco.org for more information.

    Media Contact:
    Hunter Buffington
    hunter@hiaco.org
    (970)-388-2289

  • The Green Angel is Coming!!

    The Green Angel is Coming!!

    by Thomas Ivory, Jr.

    The Green Angel is being manifested and she needs YOUR help to take flight!!

    Dismantled, yet not in dismay; in fact nothing but heavenly thoughts are floating by the warehouse as the paper cutter etches out each and every individual serrated leaf.

    Purples and oranges and greens are naturally dyed with naturally grown vegetation and bugs like rabbits brush and cochineal.

    The five components that make up the Angel are her halo headdress, her broad fan wings, her torso buds, her feet roots, and her long glorious leaf train.

    Stunning and mesmerizing is she strutting the catwalk, her leaves waving joyfully in the breeze; the spotlight shining, like the eyes of Zeus, on her glistening royal coloring. 30% hemp fiber, 70% post-consumer fiber, and 100% divine!!

    Never before has Colorado sourced industrial hemp paper been approved as suitable material for the infamous Paper Fashion Show in Denver… until now! Thursday, April 6th, all the goddesses will be dancing at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.

    The week before the Show, Hempsters at the 4th annual NoCo Hemp Expo will get a unique opportunity to interact and engage with the Green Angel herself. She will be on display and featured in this year’s new Fashion Alley – sponsored by Hempy’s and EnviroTextiles of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

    Their hard work will be yours to share along with eco-friendly apparel at the NoCo4. There, you can walk the red carpet to the Digital Workshop Center’s Green Hemp Screen, where you can have your photo taken on the green screen stage and choose your background. Tweet or print photos on hemp paper also!!

    Only now, at this moment, just weeks before any revelations, the Green Angel is still a twinkle in the dress fashion designers’ mind.

    Joel Defender, Kevin Buecher, and Gravie are leading the song to conjure her creativeness. They invite you to join them in cutting and gluing. Every Thursday at 7pm for the next six weeks, the crew gathers at the Loveland Creator Space to make a lot of magic.

    On the catwalk, the Green Angel is no doubt mystical. She holds many surprises. At the end of the runway, her inspiration — the hemp plant in all its glory — is designed for her to unfold her dress, stretch out wide her wings, and hold up her head proud and tall, as the broad fan leaves of the cannabis plant.

    Loveland Creator Space
    Thursdays @ 7pm for next 6 weeks
    320 Railroad Road
    Loveland, CO, 80537

    NoCo Hemp Expo
    March 31st – April 1st 2017
    The Ranch Events Complex
    5280 Arena Circle
    Loveland, CO, 80538

    13th Annual Paper Fashion Show
    Thursday, April 6th, 2017
    Denver Center for the Performing Arts
    Seawell Ballroom
    1101 13th Street
    Denver, CO, 80204