US produced $824M worth of hemp on 54,200 acres last year, feds report

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to adjust national acreage to 54,200 acres.

U.S. farmers grew about 54,000 acres last year worth an estimated $824 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a first-ever national accounting of cannabis production released Thursday.

The survey results from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service are the most complete look yet at the size and value of the young hemp industry. The agency counted acreage in all 50 states and got pricing and production data never before available about cannabis growing.

The USDA counted 33.500 outdoor acres of hemp production worth $712 million, and 15.6 million square feet of indoor hemp cultivation worth $112 million.

Flower was by far the most profitable hemp product grown last year. The USDA counted $623 million in hemp flower production, followed by $41.4 million for hemp fiber, $41.5 million for hemp seeds and $5.99 million for grain fiber.

The USDA also counted clones and young plants, which totaled 20.2 million in 2021.

Colorado planted more outdoor hemp than any other state last year, with 10,100 acres. But Montana harvested the most outdoor hemp, with 4,500 acres, the agency found.

For indoor hemp, California was by far the national leader for 2021, checking in at 3.9 million square feet. Colorado was next, with just under 2 million square feet, followed by Oregon with 1.7 million square feet.

Check back for more data from the national hemp survey and reaction to the numbers.