HELENA, MT – The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced that the Hemp Marketplace is now available to buyers and sellers of hemp and hemp derivatives. The online portal can be accessed by visiting the department’s website.
“With hemp being a relatively new crop grown in Montana, the department recognizes that these markets are still developing,” said MDA Director Ben Thomas. “The Hemp Marketplace was developed to help facilitate connections between buyers and sellers. I’m looking forward to seeing how the marketplace will continue to advance the industry.”
The Hemp Marketplace concept originated from the same idea as the department’s Hay Hotline, only instead of hay and pasture, the online tool connects buyers and sellers of hemp and hemp derivatives. Because hemp is a regulated crop, only growers that are licensed through the Montana State Hemp Program are permitted to list hemp for sale and all listings must be comply with the 0.3% threshold for THC.
Users can enter new listings or view existing listings free of charge by visiting MDA’s main website, then selecting “Hemp Marketplace” from the “Topics” dropdown. MDA staff are also available to help assist with listings by phone at (406) 444-2402, by email at [email protected], and by fax at (406) 444-9493.
Montana is also the first state to establish a checkoff program for hemp. The establishment of a hemp checkoff was completely producer-driven and aims to use 1 percent of commodity revenue to help Montana hemp production remain “cutting edge.”
Ben Thomas, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, observes that just like any crop, hemp takes investment; particularly in research, but also in marketing and education.
Montana’s hemp industry experienced massive growth early on. In 2018, Montana had 22,000 acres of hemp planted, and by 2019, the acres had more than doubled with about 51,000 acres in production. But issues with developing markets and a lack of processing facilities are expected to limit that growth in 2020 although as of now, there are over 10 processing facilities in the state, equipped to process CBD oil and the grain side of hemp.
Thomas says he expects a slow, steady and responsible growth of the inudstry in the growing, harvesting and processing of hemp in the state.
