The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food & Environment Extension held a virtual Hemp Field Day on Dec. 8 and 9, 2020 from 10 AM to 12 PM each day. All programs were free and open to growers, industry, and researchers. These events were conducted and organized by the the team of hemp extension specialists and researchers, most of them affiliated to the University of Kentucky. The goal of this event was to share science-based studies with hemp growers and those connected to the hemp industry to improve knowledge of hemp production and processing. The restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the event but there was a total of 315 virtual attendees. University of Kentucky Extension specialists and researchers included faculty from the Plant and Soil Sciences, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Economics, and Entomology Departments, and the Colleges of Engineering and Pharmacy, as well as a representative from Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Program, They all provided presentations on a range of topics related to hemp regulation, production, pest management, marketing, and processing. My presentation was titled” FOUR AND SIX LEGGED PESTS OF HEMP”

Post surveys on both days found that participants where connected to hemp as either current growers (13.5% of participants), future growers (14%), industry professionals (33%), Extension professionals (21.5%), or university researchers (18%). Attendees represented several U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and countries throughout the world. Participants indicated an increase in knowledge of between 35% and 96% in all topic areas. As a result of attending the 2020 Virtual Hemp Field Day, individuals noted that they were either somewhat likely or highly like to complete each of the following behaviors; Consult with regulatory authorities while planning for a hemp crop (83%), Choose a lab that participates in a testing proficiency program (92%), Use a labelled pesticide on hemp (65%), Learn more about minimizing risk from hail (57%), Use supplemental THC testing to schedule THC compliance sampling (85%), Use trichome color to schedule THC compliance testing (49%), Implement new hemp leaf disease management practices (72%), Implement new hemp insect management practices (71%), Consider the potential of hemp for biofuels (42%), Modify marketing strategies to improve economic outlook (65%), and Grow hemp for medicinal products (52%). The survey also recorded that due to participating in the program, 18% of hemp growers anticipated an increase in yield of 10% or more, and 26% anticipated an increase in quality of 10% or more in future crops. Participants placed an average value of $70 on this event. Overall this event and format was noted as successful with one individual commenting, “UK is the leader in hemp research, and this webinar exceeded my expectations and was "as advertised"...Great job putting this together.”

In the future, the hemp field team of specialists and researchers will continue to work together to take research to hemp growers and industry professionals as a way to improve the production and value of this crop in Kentucky and throughout the world. 

The studies conducted for study hemp insects were funded by the USDA NIFA and currently several other funding sources are evaluated. This far a peer-reviewed publication was obtained this is

1. Villanueva R.T., N. Gauthier, and M. Ahmed. 2020. First record of Coccus hesperidum L. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in industrial hemp in Kentucky. Accepted in Florida Entomologist. Florida Entomologist 103: 514-515, https://doi.org/10.1653/024.103.00415