Montana is the first state to institute a checkoff fund for hemp, after hemp producers in the state voted to go ahead with the program.  Checkoff programs are common among crop and livestock producers, with assessments of 1% on farmer output.  Checkoff funds are used for research, market development, and education. “Got milk?” and “Pork – the other white meat” are two well-known marketing campaigns funded with checkoff dollars.

The process for the hemp checkoff started over a year ago, with a petition from 25 hemp producers to the Montana Department Agriculture.  This initiated a series of department hosted listening sessions with stakeholders, that included a vote to determine whether to hold a referendum.  The key point for producers in other states is that the process takes time, different for each state, but leadership is an essential element.  The industry needs…