IDOA ready for third hemp season

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture is committing more resources to support the industrial hemp industry, including the addition of a testing lab to work in conjunction with private sector labs.

Details of IDOA’s efforts to support the new industry were featured at the Illinois Hemp Summit on Feb. 22.

“It’s been a hard two years of trial and error, complications from changing federal regulations, rainfall and, of course, the impact from COVID have created a very challenging environment. You persisted and persevered, and there is still work to do,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II.

“We’ve built networks of like-minded people and shared our hard-learned lessons. We have a couple of years behind us now, lessons learned to guide us into the third year of the program.

“The department continues to work with its private sector partners to ensure reliable access to processors for farmers, and the department has also worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to craft a hemp plan that works for farmers — not a cookie-cutter report from D.C.”

Costello added that the gains made in this young program wouldn’t be possible if not for the creative, innovative approach taken by those in the industry to ensure a healthy and growing hemp industry in Illinois.

Looking Ahead

Costello is optimistic going into 2022, noting a new hemp plan and new USDA partners will provide clarity moving forward.

“We continue to build a strong regulatory foundation at the department to support you. New markets and new opportunities continue to grow for our products, and it is our goal to do all that we can to ensure Illinois remains a leader in the Midwest and across the globe in this new industry,” he said.

The director, who served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, also highlighted the importance of the Homegrown for Heroes program.

The program allows Illinois farmers, ranchers, fishermen and producers who have served or are still serving in any branch of the U.S. military to use a special logo on the agricultural products they sell to the public.

This special designation sets these farmers apart in the market, allowing these heroes’ products to be visible to consumers while giving them the chance to tell their story.

“With the Illinois hemp industry poised for growth, I would love to see our nation’s veterans contribute their vast talent to moving forward in this industry,” Costello said.

Policy Extension

David Lakeman, IDOA Cannabis and Hemp Regulation Division manager, said the department is extending its policy that allows for cooperation between licensed cannabis cultivation centers, craft growers and hemp farmers.

“All of the feedback we’ve received suggests that program has been an enormous success. We want to continue offering all of the possible resources and markets for our hemp farmers, and so that policy is being extended effective today,” Lakeman said.

“This is a program we know has been vital to the hemp industry as we have faced an enormous set of challenges this last year and the year before, coming into a new industry and essentially having the first year be the year that COVID hit with unprecedented public health challenges, security challenges and now challenges with inflation and even with availability of materials.”

Lakeman echoed Costello on the industry’s innovation and resilience.

“We are determined as a state and as a department to be a resource to you as you make it through some of those issues,” Lakeman said.

Testing Availability

Another concern IDOA has received is testing availability, and the department is working with its partners and the private sector to expand testing capabilities and capacities.

“The department is in the process of building out a testing lab at our physical location in order to act as a force multiplier for our private sector labs. We intend to have that be a resource for all of you and for inspectors in assuring that we can meet those compliance standards set in the 2018 farm bill and through our work with USDA,” Lakeman said.

“I know there have been a number of challenges. We continue to step up to add resources to the department so that we can assist you and we hope that you’ll reach out to us if there are things we can do better.

“If there are things that you need to know, if there are resources you need, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to meet those needs and take care of those concerns that you have.”

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton pledged Gov. J.B. Pritzker administration’s support to make Illinois the No. 1 state in the nation for hemp production

“We know that there’s a need for increased processing capacity. We see you and we hear you, and we are working to make Illinois primed for this emerging industry to grow roots,” she said.

“We are ready to move forward because Illinois has always been an agricultural powerhouse, and as I often say, ag connects us all, and hemp is our latest link to the land.”