Federal crop insurance will soon be available for hemp.  The federal Agriculture Improvement Act (H.R. 2) (the Act) – which has been approved by both houses of Congress and is now just awaiting the president’s signature – will amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act, 7 U.S.C. §1501, et seq., so that hemp will be a covered “agricultural commodity.”

Federal crop insurance is available only for certain enumerated agricultural commodities, such as wheat, cotton, flax, and corn.  Historically, cannabis, marijuana, and/or hemp have not been included among those commodities.  That is about to change, at least in part.  The Act, known popularly as the 2018 Farm Bill (the Farm Bill), will amend the definition of “agricultural commodity.”  Pursuant to Section 11119 of the Farm Bill, the term “hemp” will be added into 7 U.S.C. § 1518 (“‘Agricultural commodity’ defined”), right between “native grass” and “aquacultural species.”Continue Reading Federal crop insurance grows: Hemp to be covered