Since the reintroduction of hemp to the US after a 60+ year hiatus, university specialists have worked to address research and educational needs.  Rapid increase in acreage since 2014 has left growers with challenges in finding accurate, research-based information.  The UK Hemp Working Group has worked to provide growers with this needed information, including annual field days.  In 2020, however, the annual hemp field day was cancelled as a result of the pandemic.   Thus, the working group adapted program content and created a virtual version of the field day.

The 2020 Hemp Field Day was held two days in December 2020. University of Kentucky Extension specialists and researchers from the Departments of Plant and Soil Sciences, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Economics, and Entomology, as well as, the Colleges of Engineering and Pharmacy and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, provided presentations on a range of topics related to hemp regulation, production, pest management, marketing, and processing.   Participation was 170 on day one and 145 on day two of the event. Attendees included current growers (13.5% of participants), future growers (14%), industry professionals (33%), Extension professionals (21.5%), or university researchers (18%) and represented multiple U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and other countries. Participants indicated that they were either somewhat likely or highly like to use a labelled pesticide on hemp (65%) and to implement recommended hemp leaf disease management practices (72%).   The survey results indicated that 18% of hemp growers anticipated an increase in yield of 10% or more and 26% anticipated an increase in quality of 10% or more for future crops. Participants placed an average value of $70 on this event.   

In the future, this team of specialists and researchers will continue to work to take research results to hemp growers and industry professionals as a way to improve the production and value of hemp in Kentucky. In 2021 this event will again be held virtually, and all video files will be available to growers through the website.