Nominations for the 2026 Board will be accepted at the January 21, 2026, iHemp Board meeting. Voting will take place at the February Board meeting.
If you have an interest in supporting the industrial hemp movement in Michigan, now is the time to step up and be on the team that will help shape the future. Send your nomination request to info@ihempmichigan.com or attend the January zoom board meeting.
If you have further questions about what Board or Committee positions are available, send an email to info@ihempmichigan.com or contact Blain Becktold at 616.502.0881.
We Need Your Voice
Please contact your Michigan state Representatives and Senators to ask them to support the Bills to send the Michigan Industrial Hemp Growing Program back to USDA. You can use the information below as talking points if you call their office or if you prefer to send an email.
To Whom It May Concern:
I support proposed House Bills #5094 & 5095 and Senate Bills #608 & 609 which sends the Michigan Industrial Hemp Growing Program back to the USDA. Importantly, growers, processors, and MDARD itself are aligned in wanting this program returned to USDA oversight.
I urge you to take action to transition Michigan’s hemp growing program from state-level oversight to the federal USDA program. Michigan’s hemp industry has the potential to be a strong driver of agricultural innovation, economic development, and job creation, but under the current state-run system, we are falling behind.
Many competing states have already opted into the USDA program, which provides a standardized, predictable, and business-friendly framework for hemp producers. By remaining in a state-run system, Michigan creates unnecessary regulatory burdens, leaving our growers at a competitive disadvantage.
iHemp Michigan, the leading Industrial Hemp organization in Michigan, is member-based. We represent hemp farmers, seed cultivators, processors, manufacturers, and hemp businesses statewide. Our members are engaged in defining industrial hemp’s path to success, from seed to sale and beyond. We are committed to empowering hemp farmers, fueling industry leaders, and educating consumers to ensure hemp flourishes in the Midwest. We work to promote responsible and fair regulation, provide grower education, and enable full access to the evolving marketplace.
Unlike growers of other commodities such as corn, soybeans, or wheat, hemp farmers must register and pay $1,250 annually simply to grow an agricultural crop. This fee places an unnecessary burden on growers and hampers the industry’s development. By returning the growing portion of the Industrial Hemp Program to the USDA, this cost barrier would be eliminated.
Michigan’s agricultural sector has always been a leader in innovation and productivity. Yet by clinging to a state-run hemp program, we are putting our farmers at a disadvantage and stifling an industry with tremendous economic promise. By aligning with the USDA program, Michigan can level the playing field, expand opportunities for farmers, and encourage private investment in hemp-related industries.
After years of legal hemp cultivation in our state, we believe hemp has great potential as a new crop in Michigan, yielding many possible products for various commodities and value-added market outlets. However, a great deal of research investment is required to answer questions about hemp ranging from basic agronomy to pest management, processing, and marketing. Recently, the use of hemp meal in livestock feed for laying hens was approved for commercial use and is manufactured here in Michigan.
When these Bills come before you, we respectfully ask that you vote to restore the USDA administration of the hemp growing program in Michigan. We further urge you to consider sponsoring the Bills so that others can recognize the importance of swift passage. Farmers are already making decisions about their 2026 crops, making timely action essential. Our farmers deserve a fair chance to compete, and our state deserves to be a leader, not a follower, in this fast-growing sector.
Thank you for your leadership and support of Michigan’s agricultural future.
