Industrial hemp operators are running out of time to influence federal policy, according to Morgan Tweet, chief executive and co-founder of Montana-based IND HEMP and executive director of the Hemp Economy and Market Integrity (HEMI) coalition, who argues that congressional action this summer will set the competitive terms for the sector for years to come.
Tweet's warning centres on the ongoing Farm Bill reauthorisation and parallel tax-code debates, which she says will define not only what the hemp industry stands to lose in regulatory costs but what market access it could gain if stakeholders engage aggressively with lawmakers now. The timeline, she contends, is compressed to a matter of weeks before key committee markups lock in provisions that are difficult to reverse.
The stakes are particularly acute for fiber and grain hemp producers, a segment of the industry that has historically operated in the shadow of cannabinoid-focused operators and has received comparatively little attention in federal policy discussions. IND HEMP, which cultivates and processes hemp primarily for industrial end-uses including textiles and food-grade grain, represents a supply-chain link that trade groups say remains under-represented in Washington lobbying efforts.
The broader hemp sector has faced sustained headwinds since the initial post-legalisation expansion following the 2018 Farm Bill, including price compression, inconsistent state-level enforcement and unresolved questions about THC thresholds for compliant crops. Industry advocates argue that without favourable treatment in the next agricultural spending package — covering crop insurance parity, research funding and clear tax classification — domestic producers will cede ground to cheaper imports, particularly from China and Eastern Europe.
Tweet is calling on growers, processors and downstream buyers across the hemp value chain to make direct contact with their congressional representatives before the summer recess, framing political engagement as a commercial imperative rather than an optional advocacy exercise. HEMI has positioned itself as a coordinating body for fiber and grain interests specifically, distinct from hemp trade associations whose priorities have historically skewed toward CBD and wellness applications.
The outcome of this legislative cycle will also carry implications for adjacent food and beverage categories, including hemp-seed oils, protein powders and grain ingredients that have gained traction on retail shelves over the past three years. Brands and ingredient buyers reliant on domestically sourced hemp inputs are monitoring the Farm Bill process closely, aware that policy-driven shifts in domestic production economics could force reformulation or supply-chain restructuring.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.