USDA report estimates hemp market at $824 million

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revealed the true value of the American hemp market – and the numbers speak for it. Hemp grown for flowers, for example, was much more valuable than hemp grown for industrial purposes. On the other hand, the production level has decreased compared to the figures collected in 2018.

The survey also included other nuggets of information, such as the fact that hemp producers in the US are predominantly male and that it’s difficult to make a living in the industry without a sideline.

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service applied to the White House in July 2021 for permission to conduct a survey of approximately 20,000 hemp farmers to assess the size and demographics of the industry.

On February 17, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published the results of the 2021 Hemp Acreage and Production Survey in its National Hemp Report. The survey collected data for “outdoor” and “shelter” grown hemp.

Industrial hemp growers planted a total of 54,152 acres for all purposes, and 33,480 acres of that were harvested. Total US outdoor hemp production has been estimated at $712 million. Production of hemp grown under protection in the United States has been estimated at $112 million. The total area of ​​protected hemp fields was 15.6 million square feet.

“The release of this landmark report provides a necessary benchmark for hemp production to support producers, regulators, state governments, processors and other key industry players,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “Not only will this data guide USDA agencies in their support of domestic hemp production, the results can also help inform producers’ decisions about growing, harvesting, and selling hemp, as well as the types of hemp they produce.” decide to inform. The poll results may also inform policy decisions about the hemp industry.”

The 2021 Hemp Area and Production Survey collected various information including total area planted and harvested, yield, production and value.

Hemp grown for flowers was the most valuable compared to other industrial uses – $623 million in open field (down from $712 million) and under shelter at $64.4 million (down from $112 million).

“The USDA has done an excellent job of responding to farmers’ concerns, but there are certain items that need to be changed in the law to ease the burden on US farmers,” said Jonathan Miller, US Hemp’s general counsel Roundtable, opposite High Times.

The USDA also found that growers in the hemp industry are predominantly male, among other characteristics. The survey found that 82 percent of hemp producers are male. They also found that 52 percent of respondents said farming is their primary occupation — meaning only about half of them make a living without a sideline. The report also includes additional information on the characteristics of the hemp producers, including years of operation, age and breed.

NASS provided the following highlights of the report – broken down by hemp grown outdoors and hemp grown under shelter.

The US totals for outdoor grown hemp in 2021 were:

• Flower hemp production was estimated at £19.7 million; Production used was £15.7 million. The area harvested for floral hemp has been estimated at 15,980 acres. The average yield for floral hemp has been estimated at 1,235 pounds per acre. The value of floral hemp totaled $623 million.
• Hemp grown for grain was 4.37 million pounds; Production used was £3.96 million. The crop area for hemp grown for grain has been estimated at 8,255 acres. The average yield for hemp grown for grain has been estimated at 530 pounds per acre. The total value of hemp for grain was $5.99 million.
• Hemp grown for fiber has been estimated at 33.2 million pounds; Production used was £27.6 million. The area harvested for fiber hemp has been estimated at 12,690 acres. The average yield for fiber hemp has been estimated at 2,620 pounds per acre. The hemp grown for fiber was worth $41.4 million.
• Production of hemp grown for seed was estimated at 1.86 million pounds; Production used was £1.68 million. The crop area for hemp grown for seed has been estimated at 3,515 acres. The average yield for hemp grown for seed has been estimated at 530 pounds per acre. The value of hemp grown for seed was $41.5 million.

By usage, the US totals for hemp grown under protection in 2021 were:

• Production of hemp for transplants and clones totaled 20.2 million plants; Utilized production amounted to 18.0 million plants. The value of the hemp grown under protection for transplants and clones totaled $23.8 million.
• Flower hemp production was estimated at 310,421 pounds; Utilized production was 256,124 pounds. The value of flower hemp totaled $64.4 million.
• Hemp grown for seed totaled 4,059 pounds; Utilized production was 3,121 pounds. The value of hemp grown for seed was $23.7 million.

For more information, you can access the full report on the NASS website at nass.usda.gov. Hemp data is also available in NASS’ online Quick Stats database.

For information on hemp growing regulations in the United States, visit the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Hemp Production website.