The Hettinger Hemp Day hosted today by North Dakota State University (NDSU) was focused on industrial hemp applications.  North Dakota has little cannabinoid production but has become a key production area for hempseed. NDSU was the first producer of hemp in the state.  Hempseed production increased to 3181 acres in 2020 in ND, out of 3372 total acres. 

John Mortensen, Hemp Program Coordinator the ND Department of Agriculture hemp program disclosed that current permitting for hemp in the state is reduced by half this year to date.  High commodity pricing for crops is the most likely factor in suppressing hempseed acreage for 2021, as you have read here a number of times since these prices began to climb to historic levels.  There are currently ~450 acres of hemp permitted…