Based on Farm Service Industry (FSA) data released last week, US hempseed acreage has fallen by 51%. Last year FSA reported 11,052 acres of hempseed planted.  This year 5409 acres have been reported by farmers.  The chart below illustrates the overal steep declines, primarily with the two leading producers, Montana and North Dakota.

The only other states reporting over 100 acres are North Carolina and Indiana.  The balance is being produced across a dozen or more states.   

Noteworthy changes this year are North Dakota and Montana’s precipitous drops as the leading hempseed production states in the Northern Plains.  Conversely, South Dakota has leapt out of the gates with 1500 acres this year, in their first year of hemp production.   Newcomer Kansas has also…