Farm Bill amendments pose threat to hemp businesses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The U.S. House of Representatives is proposing changes to how hemp is defined.

The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, also known as the Farm Bill, was introduced by the House last week.

The bill could negatively affect a hemp business in Louisville if it became law.

Cornbread Hemp makes hemp supplement products that are sold to all 50 states in the country.

“Our mission is to create a great product from hemp, from Kentucky and we knew that no one else would do it if we didn’t tackle it,” said Jim Higdon, co-founder of Cornbread Hemp.

The small business is fighting the farm bill. 

The bill redefines industrial hemp as hemp “grown for the use of the whole grain, oil, cake, nut, hull, or any other non-cannabinoid compound, derivative, mixture, preparation, or manufacture of the seeds of such plant,” the bill said.

“Our products contain THC and the 0.3% as permitted in the last farm bill. But this farm bill would recriminalize THC and hemp products and will make our products much less effective,” said Higdon.

If the bill passes as it stands now, Higdon said it would have a significant impact on their business.

“Without the THC in those CBD products, we would lose a lot of customers. So, the fact of the farm bill is causing us the risk of losing the business as we understand it today,” said Higdon.

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, visited Cornbread Hemp on Tuesday to commemorate small business month. He said the farm bill could hurt small businesses.

“There was just an amendment last week to a farm bill that could shut down potentially at businesses like this. So, we’re really fighting to make sure that small businesses like this one can continue to grow, can continue to thrive, and don’t feel as negative impacts from Washington,” said McGarvey.

“So, it’s important for us to get the attention of Congressman McGarvey and all the congressmen from the Kentucky congressional delegation to understand the impact of the farm bill would have on a business like ours as we continue to grow,” said Higdon.

The legislation was referred to the house committee on agriculture last Tuesday.

The bill also affects the dairy industry, conservation programs, the supplemental nutrition assistance program and more.

The farm bill expires every five years.