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Challenges from the field: experiences of first-year hemp farmers in Nebraska

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Caldwell, Jason, Colclasure, Blake C., Granberry, Tyler·2025·Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
DOI 10.1017/s1742170524000334
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Abstract

Despite its recent history as a controlled substance, hemp holds promise in contributing to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in the United States. Due to reclassification in the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp grown for fiber, grain, and cannabidiol has become an intriguing new crop for many farmers. However, the introduction of hemp into an established agricultural landscape has been met with challenges. This qualitative study explores the experiences of 15 first-year hemp producers in Nebraska, United States. The producers in this study describe the complexities they encountered, including navigating stringent state and federal regulations, securing insurance and loans, and overcoming the public and political stigma associated with cannabis. Additionally, gaps in research and development have contributed to producers' difficulties in accessing credible information, high production costs, and labor shortages. Lastly, farmers expressed having a lack of control options to combat the presence of weeds and insects. Based on these findings, we conclude that, although challenges are to be expected with any new crop, many of the issues encountered by the farmers in the study could be overcome or lessened by research, agricultural extension, and government support. We recommend continued research in hemp production, both in crop production and processing, along with dissemination of meaningful results, to aid producers in building their knowledge base. Additionally, government agencies that oversee hemp production could improve accessibility through revisions to regulations and financial resources for producers.

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  • Due to regulatory uncertainty, a surplus of hemp biomass and flower carried over from 2019, and a steady decline in wholesale pricing, U.S. farmers more recently have been planting less hemp than they did in 2019.

    “However, due to regulatory uncertainty, a surplus of hemp biomass and flower carried over from 2019, and a steady decline in wholesale pricing, U.S. farmers more recently have been planting less hemp than they did in 2019 (Caldwell et al. 2025).”

    From A critical review of industrial fiber hemp anatomy, agronomic practices, and valorization into sustainable bioproducts (2025) · cites this paper as Caldwell et al. 2025

    The 'Known challenges' section reports uncertain regulations, unstable markets, and a 71% decrease in total hemp production in 2022 following market saturation in 2021. It does not establish that U.S. farmers planted less hemp than in 2019 or attribute that trend to biomass and flower carried over from 2019 and steadily declining wholesale prices. The available passages have no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Caldwell, J., Colclasure, B. C., & Granberry, T.
Affiliations
University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
Corresponding author
Colclasure, Blake C.
ORCID
Venue
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2025
Volume
40
ISSN
  • 0889-1893 (ISSN-L)
  • 1742-1705
  • 1742-1713
DOI
10.1017/s1742170524000334
OpenAlex
W4406998492
Cited by
3
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1
FWCI
3.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Agricultural economics and policies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agricultural Innovations and Practices
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agricultural Development and Management
Keywords
2018 Farm Bill, hemp regulation, crop insurance, agricultural credit, cannabis stigma, labor shortage, agricultural extension, sustainable agriculture, Nebraska

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