Climate-Smart Fiber Hemp

Tennessee State University (TSU) is recruiting growers for its USDA-funded fiber hemp initiative, which supports Tennessee farmers in producing industrial hemp as a climate-smart crop. TSU's researchers are measuring how well hemp absorbs carbon, its effect on soil health, uses for hemp fiber and hurd in bio-based construction and bioplastics, and its lifecycle greenhouse-gas benefits.

TSU says financial and market incentives are available to help small- and medium-scale farmers and veterans move into fiber hemp, aimed at lowering barriers to entry and increasing profitability.

• Farmers interested in growing industrial (fiber) hemp in Tennessee.

• Incentives are aimed at small- and medium-scale farmers and veterans.

TSU lists these incentives for farmers moving into fiber hemp:

• Transition assistance and cost reduction: resources for reducing input costs, support from public and private partnerships for infrastructure and equipment, and access to technical assistance and market integration programs.

• Market-driven profitability: growing buyer demand for domestic fiber hemp and expanding contract opportunities for farmers.

TSU does not publish payment amounts.

Take TSU's Farmer Recruitment Survey to get involved. TSU's site does not publish an application deadline; the USDA-funded project runs through September 14, 2028.

For more information, contact the TSU Department of Agriculture hemp research team.