The ability to grow hemp in Arizona thanks to legislative work on this and stakeholder enthusiasm for the crop has now been in place for a few years. 

When talking to Arizona farmers about the crop, there have been some challenges when it comes to growing hemp in our desert climate. Many contend our high temperatures proved torturous on that first crop. 

But with all things in agriculture, technology is the hope to change things including developing improved seeds adapted to the environment the crop is grown in.

In the meantime, the USDA has released a survey they want Arizona farmers to fill out. The result of their hard work on this survey effort will be survey data that set the benchmark for hemp acreage and production, and provide needed data to regulatory agencies, producers, state governments, processors, and other key industry entities. 

The survey can be taken online, and Arizona farmers are encouraged to take the survey to help set the benchmark for future surveys on this emerging crop.